Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand suspended from BBC

[di marco]

Jonathan Ross is facing fresh criticism today after appearing to joke about sex with an 80-year-old woman on his Radio 2 comeback show.

The broadcaster has returned to work this week after serving a three-month suspension from the BBC for his part in the Manuelgate scandal, which saw him leaving a series of lewd messages on the voicemail of Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs.

In Ross's first radio show since the row yesterday, the host's producer Andy Davies told listeners that he had been grabbed by a "frisky" OAP as he worked in the garden of his villa in Spain.

Ross replied: "Eighty, oh God! I think you should, just for charity. Give her one last night, will you? One last night before the grave. Would it kill you?"

Davies's wife Abigail has since confirmed that the woman does exist, explaining: "It's very sad because she has Alzheimer's Disease. She takes a fancy to any man in the street and tries to kiss them."

Ross's comments, which were broadcast shortly after 10.00am, have since been condemned by Tory MP David Davies.

"On Radio 2 you don't expected X-rated references to sex, and especially sex with an 80-year-old, during the day," Mr. Davies explained. "[Ross] should have gone ages ago. There's no way this man should be on the air. He needs to be replaced now."

However, speaking outside his home yesterday evening, Ross insisted that his comments had been misinterpreted.

"I hope no one has been upset by the show," he told the News Of The World. "It was a kind of light-hearted remark about giving her a cuddle. It wasn't 'give her one' - I meant, 'Give her one last cuddle.' You know there was no malice intended. There was no harm intended, OK?"

[Perdita]

Ofcom has fined the BBC £150,000 over its handling of the Andrew Sachs phone call controversy.

The TV regulator ruled that the Corporation had breached the Broadcasting Code on two occasions in deciding to air the incident, which involved radio hosts Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross leaving a series of lewd voicemail messages for the veteran actor.

Ofcom said that the broadcast had "unwarrantably and seriously infringed" the privacy of Sachs and his granddaughter Georgina Baillie - performer with the Satanic Sluts - and described the programme as "gratuitously offensive, humiliating and demeaning".

More to follow.

[Chloe O'brien]

Jonathan Ross should pay the £150,000 fine imposed on the BBC over the Andrew Sachs phone call controversy, MPs have claimed.
The chatshow host left a series of lewd messages on Sachs's answerphone during an appearance on Russell Brand's Radio 2 show in October. He was later suspended without pay for three months, while Brand decided to resign from the corporation.
Broadcasting regulator Ofcom yesterday announced the record penalty after finding that Ross's behaviour was "gratuitously offensive, humiliating and demeaning".
Critics have now claimed that it would be wrong for programming funding to be cut as a result of Ross's stunt.
Liberal Democrat spokesman Don Foster told the Daily Mail: "This money should come out of Jonathan Ross's salary, so that broadcasting does not suffer as a consequence of this error."
Labour MP Gerald Kaufman added: "If one wants to see justice done, the fine should be directed at those that commit the fault, and in this case those who were responsible for allowing the material to be broadcast."
Meanwhile, Lord Rees Mogg, a former BBC governor, commented: "I think it would be a nice gesture if Jonathan Ross decided to pay the fine, or at least contribute. It is not fair that the BBC has to pay the fine, but they chose to hire him knowing the sort of entertainer he is."
However, a BBC spokesperson has dismissed the suggestion, insisting: "Jonathan Ross has already paid a significant financial penalty through being suspended without pay for three months. Ofcom's ruling is against the whole BBC, not one individual."

[Perdita]

THE BBC’s £150,000 fine for the Sachsgate scandal cannot be demanded from Russell Brand or Jonathan Ross without a change in the law, it was revealed last night.
Watchdog Ofcom said it did not have the power to fine individuals after Cabinet Minister Hazel Blears suggested that the pair cough up the penalty for their phone prank.

The Beeb was given its biggest-ever fine for the “gratuitously offensive, humiliating and demeaning” treatment of Fawlty Towers legend Andrew Sachs, 78, and his grand-daughter Georgina Baillie.

Ross, 48, and Brand, 33, left the actor an answerphone message saying that Brand had slept with burlesque dancer Baillie, 23.

But it is the viewers who will have to foot the bill — as the money will come out of licence fee funds.

Ofcom’s statement came after Ms Blears told Radio 4: “Maybe Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand should pay it — that might be quite a good idea.”

Lib Dem Don Foster also demanded Ross pay the fine out of his £6million salary “so that broadcasting doesn’t suffer”.

Ofcom said it could only fine “the BBC and not individuals, to do so would require a change in the law”.

[miccisy]

Why should JR or RB have to pay the fine anyway? The fine is for showing/ airing the footage not for doing it.

It was the producers or editors whatever that chose to show it not JR or RB.

[di marco]

while none of this would have happened if ross and brand hadnt left the message in the first place, its not just their fault, its also the bbcs fault for playing it as well. if they want to fine individuals rather than the bbc as a whole then i think the editor of the radio show should also contribute as well as ross and brand

[Perdita]

But I begrudge paying fines for the BBC because they broadcast rude and offensive comments.

[di marco]

But I begrudge paying fines for the BBC because they broadcast rude and offensive comments.

thats why im saying that if they dont want the bbc as a whole to pay for it, then it needs to come out of the salaries of the other employees who allowed this to happen, not just ross and brand

[Perdita]

Russell Brand has received fresh criticism from MPs following his attack on Jack Straw.

The comedian hit out at Straw after the politician claimed that he and Jonathan Ross should pay the £150,000 fine imposed on the BBC over the Andrew Sachs scandal.

Writing on his Twitter page, Brand commented: "I demand Jack Straw pays the 7bn pounds he squandered on the Iraq war that we didn't want."

Referring to the arrest of Straw's son for attempting to supply cannabis in 1997, he added: "No wonder his son has to toke himself to sleep."

MPs have now claimed that Brand has failed to take heed of the controversy which surrounded his treatment of Sachs last year.

Tory politician Ann Widdecombe told the Daily Mail: "The comments are outrageous and just show Brand has learnt nothing from the scandal."

Philip Davies, a member of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, added: "It's just typical of this so-called comedian.

"He misjudged what people found funny last time, and he is no doubt trying his best to be humorous again. These comments show he just isn't."

Brand recently suggested that MPs are attempting to distract the public from the current row over their expenses.

[Abigail]

At the end of the day, the BBC producers have the final say on what makes the cut and what doesn't. They are more to blame than Jonathon and Russell for sanctioning the airing of it.

They're all in it together. Jonathon and Russell have had their punishment, the producers and people who allowed this to go out should face similar disciplinary action.