Russell Brand, Jonathan Woss and Andrew Sachs

[JoolsToo]

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/3263328/Russell-Brand-and-Jonathan-Ross-joke-radio -phone-calls-just-werent-funny.html

Have we not had a discussion about this? I'm surprised.

Seedy, sordid, unfunny little men pad obscene amounts of money to be obscene.

What's your view?

i have no problem with his money at all, actually. i know people who've worked alongside him and his output and commitment are phenomenal, i hear. plus, i'm sure he could make that money if he was released to do endorsements etc on commercial telly. or he could go to america, he's well regarded there by the celebs so they'd likely support a show he did.

I'm not sure the US would tolerate a stunt like this though. Aren't they quite conservative about sexual innuendo, privacy etc? More so than here anyway.

howard stern. i think ross could have been the aceptable face of that, with his cheeky cockney thing, and bought viewers to a subs network with his connections to the celebs over here.

Here is the full recording of what they did

Shockingly horrible thing to do to a 78 year old man in my opinion

For anyone who can't bear to listen to the entire 11-something minutes they called him 4 times, leaving messages on his answerphone stating several times that Russell Brand had slept with Andrew's Granddaughter. They kept calling leaving messages in an attempt to fill up the tape apparently.

Extremely childish and not all that funny.

Aitch, don't you think that if Ross had been offered more, he would have taken it? I don't think his constant innuendo would be acceptable for mainstream US, I've lived there and it is really not tolerated the way it is here. I also think that most of his audience would keep watching on Friday nights if he was replaced, and the celebs do the show for the publicity of a large audience rather than him. It is in no way obvious to me that they enjoy his increasingly lewd remarks.

IIRC, Ross has boasted that he is worth 1000 BBC journalists. That would truly mean he has incredible output and commitment

Found it

"In December 2007, Ross claimed he was worth "1,000 BBC journalists". He's also worth around 720 nurses, 150 hospital consultants, and at least 18,000 sight-saving operations in Africa. "

I agree with you Upwind. If he was replaced on the show but the calibre of guests remained, I'm sure people would still watch.

Other shows continue without the original presenters.

i'm not convinced. i think JR by and large is great at what he does, don't know who's as good in this country. any suggestions? frank skinner was oddly good as an interviewer, i thought, occasionally pierced the veneer. apart from him...

and i'm not saying ross is suitable for mainstream america (although he could be if he wanted to, he's not a stupid man), i said subscription network. and i don't know if he would go just for the money, i believe he values security after his career doldrums of the past. probably why he's shitting it now.

Is JR so good as an interviewer though? His guests are very often just a prop for him I find.

no, i don't think he's a good intervewer, far too all about jonny at the moment. that's not the point though... who's better?

I think Ross is grossly overpaid and get annoyed too whenever I hear him, he just aint worth it. Russel Brand's career is based on being riske, he's just silly and wouldn't expect more really. The problem is the producers who aired it but they did run it by sachs first.

Btw though good point Aitch about Frank Skinner. He was very good I thought. Why isn't he on TV anymore? V talented chap imo.

I can't believe that there isn't up and coming talent that is better than Ross. I could happily give his broadcasting a swerve.

there must be thousands of people better than him..

Some of the contributors to shows like "mock the week" or "have I got news for you" would be well able to take on that kind of role, it will be amusing to see how they cover the story.

I really do believe that Ross has just killed his own career - I've heard people say about him that is is "amazing how he gets away with saying things like that, nobody else could". Those malicious calls have just killed off that goodwill he has always enjoyed. Now his lascivious remarks will be tolerated less well, and that is his trademark.

I wondered what his trademark was I find him quite banal and irritating to be honest, he is very me me me, usually the people he interviews don't get a word in..

i think they are just keen for the diversion!

look people worse than us!

Agree LL,

Brown and Cameron should have bigger things to worry about, especially now. This story is not really that important!

Oh, yes, upwind - I'd watch if Dara O'Brian did it. he's very clever and very funny without being a twat. JR I find either sychophantic, lecherous or self-absorbed. Often all 3 together...

I have skimmed the thread (I am not supposed to be here).

I think the whole thing was pretty distatseful but my goodness what a hooha.

Slightly dissappointed to see Andrew sach's grandaughter has gone to The Sun, I smell Max Clifford. Just seems a bit undignified. i think I'd just keep my head down (not that I'd shag RB in the first place)