Jonathan Ross

And of course, JR started to take off in the 80s when a 30 something man married a 19 year old and we all cheered and called it a royal wedding.

Is the age gap itself a problem or the age at which they met?

Stephen Fry's partner was mid-20s when they met, not 16. Tom Daley was 18 when he met his husband who was 18 years older.

Plenty of famous women with partners with the same or even larger age gaps:

Joan Collins is 34 years older than her husband but they've been married 34 years now. Holland Taylor is 32 years older than Sarah Paulson. Cher's current beau is 39 years younger.

Let's not forget Caroline Flack was 32 when she dated 17-year old Harry Styles. Age of consent, yes, but...

It's like a witch hunt on this thread. You can dislike a celebrity or think they make inappropriate jokes but that's very different from making serious accusations. People are not automatically guilty by association. Most of the references made here are relating to work colleagues, it's part of working in an industry to mix with people and be public friends especially comedian circles. It means nothing. No doubt there are certain predatory types out there and I hope they are revealed but it's ridiculous to just speculate, not to mention libelous. Many of these predatory type men also had women propping them up and protecting them too. Otherwise they wouldn't get away with it. Delving into people's past and mentioning the age when they met and reading into it is pathetic behaviour IMO and very unhelpful.

Well it wasn’t an oddity - it was celebrated on the cover of a middle of the road magazine

The idea that a 16yo being with a 26yo was normal in those days is absolutely bonkers. I am exactly the same age as his wife. I went on one "date", as a 16yo with a man of 24. My Dad went absolutely wild and the man's friends told them what they thought of him too.

The Mandy Smith thing got a lot of publicity precisely because it was so weird...and becuase her Mother courted publicity. She later married Wyman's son. The whole things was very messed, up and that's what people thought at the time. It sold newspapers is the reason it got publicity, precisely because no-one thought it was normal.

I’m not sure you can make him guilty by association, and back when him and Jane got together, this age gap was common and not frowned on.

I’m not sure you can make him guilty by association, and back when him and Jane got together, this age gap was common and not frowned on.

I don't like Jonathan Ross. I've always found him annoying. The Andrew Sachs thing was disgusting. And he clearly chose some dodgy mates.

However, I don't think it's fair to suggest that he has done anything wrong unless there is actual evidence of this. We don't actually know what he did and didn't know about Brand.

It is possible to be a wanker without actually being a criminal, and it's important that we maintain that distinction.

To be clear, I'm not saying that he hasn't done anything wrong. Who knows what may come out in time about anyone in the public eye.

I just think we need to be careful about throwing out allegations based on gut feeling alone.

You're on the Walliams thread defending him too, aren't you?

You got there before me. If Jonathan Ross, or anyone else, is proven to be guilty of a crime, then throw the key away. I think it’s awful to start implying criminal behaviour, without evidence. I can’t stand him, but that doesn’t make him guilty of anything.

I have never understood why given he made those horrible calls to Andrew Sachs with Brand that he wasn't sacked by the BBC. How he is still working?

Jonathan Ross is revolting. He has that sort of sleasy air about him - I can't quite put my finger on why but there is something a bit vile there. Maybe it's because he gives an impression of thinking he's ultra actractive to women when he obviously isn't. Or on his chat show sometimes laughs along an inappropriate jokes.

Like this when Aisling Bea takes on an inappropriate question and runs with it to make them all uncomfortable. Romesh Ranganthan also not impressed with Ross. It's grotesque.

No-one one's said he's guilty of anything , except things that are on the public record

He's just so gross. He says here "I was just backstage at THE URINAL chatting to Miranda Hart". That's so nasty, cruel and denigrating of women - implying that a noted and successful comedic actress and writer is a man in drag just because she is tall. She just laughs along no doubt to show she can take a joke. One minute in here:

The whole thing is pretty unpleasant so called comedy mainly insulting people just after he makes another supposed joke denigrating women (Saying they in their finery they all look like "the one you'd definitely sleep with on the apprentice") at about 2:50 Patricia Hodge is in the centre of the table looking very unamused.

Is he next?

thought this could be a good place to discuss his ‘jokes’ about a 15 year old going home with Walliams. He clearly knew far more about Brand and Walliams than he let on.

Repulsive.

That was more extreme. She was 14 when they started dating and he was a lot older than 24. I don't know how he got away with that it definitely sent the wrong message.