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?

Why was her image being discussed? What has it got to do with anything?

Hullygully - Well from MinkyBoarage's comments I suggest you ask JR and his wife. I can't help you I'm afraid. But if you look in your local paper, they usual masquerade as massage parlours my dear.

But BB, lots of people have complained because through the licence fee, they are paying the wages of these men.

FWIW, I think the media hype over this has been seriously OTT. However, it was still an unfunny and offensive act. Not offensive to me but to both AS and his grandaughter. Her dress and career choice have sweet FA to do with it.

I'm not interested in them being sacked,I'd far rather they actually realised it was inappropriate and offensive.

I think a few people were discussing her image in general.

I had commented that GB saying " Worst of all my poor grandfather had to confront the fact I'd slept with such a rat. What girl would ever want to have to tell her grandad who she has slept with?". was a bit mad seeing as how he knew what she did for a living and could easily see the images she had put up on her myspace acct etc.hat's why I persoanally mentioned her image.

Myre... I do get that but at the end of the day no licence payer is going to like everything they see and hear on the tv or radio.

I just think that it's turned into a witch hunt and an awful lot of complainers probably never actually witnessed the event just read/heard about it and thought hey yes, i'll jump on that band wagon.

The offence caused to her is over-hyped beyond belief that is the point that was being made I believe. A long with advice such as not to have sex with a selfproclaimed and notorious womaniser with his own radio show ..

Yes there are more complaints than radio listeners!

It started off with 1000 and now there are 18,000!

It actually started with 2 complaints. Then the Daily Mail got hold of the story. ^Now* it's over 18,000!!!!

It's just a lynch mob but it centres around the fact that Ross is grossly overpaid.

I feel left out perhaps I should complain, even though I never listened to the show ..

It is good that they've been suspended but they should hv been reigned in before now. However shocking I am a huge RB fan, I think he's hilarous but he'll probably never do another live bcast on the bbc again!

Yes, it's hyped up by the DM and OTT,I agree. I just don't think her image should having anything to do with it.

At 23 I certainly wasn't a saint and I often went out tarted to the nines. I'd have been mortified at my GF being called by some dodgy bloke I'd slept with.

It has been artificially blown up but it was out of order.

Yes, rebel you are absolutely right there. BBC journos didn't try to hide their disgust at his salary when their jobs were being cut. Why wouldn't they now relish the fact he's in trouble?

I'm not sure anyone on here is saying she has no right to be offended because of what she looks like (or that she is asking for it), more that there is no misogyny.

To say Brand and Ross objectify women is obviously true but they do it because other people find it funny (I, for one). And as for it being pathetic that JR thinks women want to sleep with him on this show. IT'S CALLED COMEDY, he humour being that it is obviously laughable.

Why should this girl be offended by people knowing that she slept with RB? It was a consensual act, I doubt it's one she regrets or that it was particularly out of character. The misogyny is in Daily Mail readers thinking that she should be ashamed and therefore being outraged on his behalf.

Andrew Sachs has a right to be offended as the call was rude and offensive and just unpleasant, but there is no other real issue.

I meant 'outraged on HER behalf'

Still confused.
Did Andrew Sachs pre-approve the broadcast of the messages?

Hey I've just had a couple of thoughts. Yes I know, big news, but here goes -

1. Its quite possible JR's Missus could post on here, as she is the Mum of 3 kids. Wonder what she would make of all this?

2. The other week on RB's show he was trying to get friendly with that (other) burlesque star Dita Von Teese. Don't know if he suceeded but I bet if he and JR had called her ex-Husband Marilyn Manson and said he'd had her over the couch then nobody would have been bothered in the slightest.

Well lots of posters have suggested that she is hardly virginal and therefore shouldn't be offended. Early on in this thread people were linking pictures of her suggesting she had no reason to be upset.

Humphreycushion - That will prob be discussed in the BBC enquiry. Its all a bit hazy at the mo!

JR missus could post and read here if desired i imagine she wonders how this got legs and starting running around

PM involved - what next question time

Statement From Mark Thompson, Director-General, BBC - Jonathon Ross and Russell Brand 29 Oct 08

The BBC today issued a statement from Mark Thompson, Director-General.

"I would like to add my own personal and unreserved apology to Andrew Sachs, his family and to licence fee payers for the completely unacceptable broadcast on BBC Radio 2.

"BBC audiences accept that, in comedy, performers attempt to push the line of taste. However, this is not a marginal case. It is clear from the views expressed by the public that this broadcast has caused severe offence and I share that view.

"Since Sunday, I have been in regular contact with the senior executives I tasked with handling this issue. The investigation that I instructed Tim Davie to conduct is nearing completion, and I am returning to London to review the findings and, in the coming days, announce what action we will take.

"In the meantime, I have decided that it is not appropriate for either Russell Brand or Jonathan Ross to continue broadcasting on the BBC until I have seen the full report of the actions of all concerned.

"This gross lapse of taste by the performers and the production team has angered licence payers. I am determined that we satisfy them that any lessons will be learnt and appropriate action taken. I have been asked to report to the Trust's Editorial Standards Committee before the end of this week and will discuss with the Trust the findings of the report and the actions I propose."

-Ends-

For more information, please contact:
BBC Press Office
Email: [email protected]

does that mean RB and JR are suspended/sacked?

Suspended

but cardie you are misunderstanding.

People are not saying she has no right to be upset because of how she dresses, she has no right to be upset because she did have a one night stand with Russell Brand. Clearly it was not part of some loving relationship or a great betrayal of trust.

Russell Brand actually does a whole routine in this stand up about the women he has slept with who have sold their stories to the papers for money. He doesn't get offended, complain about invasions of his privacy, what his mother thinks ..... it's an inevitable consequence of his behaviour. Why is it different for her because she's a woman?