Russell Brand, Jonathan Ross, Andrew Sachs and the BBC.
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BBC management asleep on watch again.
Please suggest they get much sharper.
The BBC is a precious resource envied around the world, but they need to modernise.
I totally agree with Mitchell
Brand and Ross are past their sell-by date.
JEGH
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Is this THE watershed moment when the Corporation realises that it had lost control over QUALITY? One hopes so and that the repeated complaint by viewers and listeners of the dumbing down of the BBC is now realised by the senior management and that vigorous steps are taken to shake out the perpetrators (staff and performers) who showed so little respect for their (paying) audience.
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Public relations is not the only, or even the most important issue.
The BBC should take whatever time is necessary to properly investigate this issue, announce its findings and consequences and then offer its executives up for interview.
Responding - without proper consideration - to the demands and the schedules of PR commentators and of the Daily Mail threatens creative freedom.
The BBC is right to take its time.
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Suspension = Paid holiiday.
Dismissal is a more appropriate punishment.
I can't think of any employment area in which they could earn even a modest salary.
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BoD 2, The only reply I get is that the BBC has to appeal to everybody.
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Definately sack them both, only such action will make them and others realise that offensive material, for a cheap laugh will not be tolerated.
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I have signed in as a blogger (first time ever!) because I have been horrified to hear about the Ross/Brand story.I am very glad to hear that at last they have been suspended. I object strongly that my licence money goes to pay towards such dreadful acts. I am usually a great fan of the BBC but will never listen to Radio 2.
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I hear Brand and Ross are being suspended on full pay. No doubt they will both be returning to our screens as soon as all the fuss dies down. As a certain Oscar Wilde once said (and we all know what happened to him) "To get into the best society nowadays one has either to feed people, amuse people, or shock people -that is all."
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I was listening to Russell,s programme as I always do when the answering-machine "incident" took place. Why has jonathon not "owned up" to the fact it was him left the f-word on the machine. Russell has never sworn on his radio show and he is a brilliant. broadcaster.. This has been whipped up by the daily mail who have been running a vendetta against Russell. I reiterate he is a wonderful broadcaster. By the way I am 63 yrs. old
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We hear talk of subliminal advertisig - that it is effective. The behavour of Brand and Ross is fuelling brash and distasteful behaviour in the young. We note Radio 1 listeners do not feel these two have done anything wrong. They have been brainwashed that their actions are acceptable.
To the tens of thousands of decent folk who do not listen to their programmes - but have had the behaviour of these two overpaid employees of the BBC brought to theirattention by the media coverage of their activities I say the BBC must pay attention to the outcry of the vast majority of licence fee payers, and never mind suspend them (dougtless on full pay) - they should be dismnissed before further damage is done to the BBC
pdniom
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Russell Brand got "caught up in the moment". Did that moment last all night and the next day. Or was he absent from life while the program was waiting for its air time.
He still can not apologise without excuses or catch phases.
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It must be something to do with the threat of financial armageddon. There's no other explanation for the rise and the triumph of what you might call Daily Mail Culture into the headlines of the BBC.
Forgive me if I'm off message here, but are Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross making a juvenile call to somebody's ansafone more important than the threatened collapse of world capitalism?
Anyone can make a mistake and this was a huge one. I'm not excusing their behaviour which was deplorable. But is it really worth days and days of being the top story everywhere in British media? If Andrew Sachs' granddaughter had been a minor, perhaps. But I get the impression that Voluptua, star of the Satanic Sluts troupe, can look after herself.
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You have just announced Russell has just resigned and you don't have a blog on this yet so I will post my comment here
Well done Russell, you have done the right thing. There are other people out there who will employ you and I am sure you will be able to return to Auntie next year. By resigning you have hopefully prevented the introduction of more rules and more censorship at the BBC. If Jonathon and the relevant head of production will now do the same the whole incident can be allowed to blow over as soon as possible.
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It will be wonderful to be free from Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand on TV after their sacking today by the BBC. I am delighted that my TV license will no longer be used to pay these two foul mouthed grossly overpaid louts. They both thought they were untouchable and above criticism. 'Biggest stars at the top of their game'? - I don't think so. There are plenty of other talented people out there who could do a far better job than the tasteless vulgar brand of humour we have had to endure. Friday Night Without Jonathan Ross - just heaven! They both crossed the line of reasonable behaviour.
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So Brand has resigned, good for him. At least he has got the balls to jump before he's pushed. Come on Ross, you next, and the Producer who ignored Mr Sachs views, let's have you all out.
What? Scared of losing your jobs? Tough, you went too far and didn't even have the brains to realise it.
Appealing to a younger audience/pushing boundaries my arse - young people have standards too you know.
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I take it back about Brands balls. Just found out he doesn't need the BBC, he's got irons in other fires so his resignation means nothing.
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do the radio and television bosses think that such filth is what we want to hear?
we have got Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsay spouting Filth every time they are on television, do the bosses and their children listen to this ? no wonder filthy language is all you hear when you go out. why do stars think they have to swear all the while, it shows a lack of education and common decency to keep swearing, I turn the programmes off, so lets have something on television worthy of the licence money we pay out.
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why have we not heard from the producer of this show on why they allowed this recorded show to be aired i understand a live joke can go further than intended what to me is a bigger crime is recorded material of this nature can be allowed to be aired which is a bigger offence
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However non-fictional Brands comments might have been, which is non of our business, his and Ross's actions on the radio two show were truly gross and far from humorous.
In response to the generalisation of youth aired during the Radio Four 6 o’clock news, I am 24 and know plenty of “younger generation” who also found Ross and Brands moment of madness truly sick. Please do not allow the minority of the Radio One listeners who supported Ross and Brand create a generalisation of the younger generations sense of humour.
D.
Many would say they completely misjudged what was funny, be it a momentary lapse of humour. However I really don’t think the comments of a 33 and 48 year old man should result in such a criticism of todays youth.
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So Brand has gone. A pathetic attempt at an apology but the results the same. Good riddance. Now what will the BBc do about Ross ? The sack would be appropriate.
Hopefully this is a first step in regaining the high standard that the BBC once maintained but surrendered in the belief that it would gain listeners by dumbing down.
Hopefully when Moyles et al are relegated to the archives we will have a national broadcaster of some repute.
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It seems to me that although Messrs Ross and Brand have been totally out of order, in the week after the offensive broadcast there were only a handfull of complaints and it wasn't until an artical in a Sunday paper that the torrent of complaints began to pour in to the BBC, 18000 to date I understand. It would appear to me that a majority of the plaintifs on this occasion did not actually hear the broadcast or if they did, they were not offended by it at the time otherwise they would have complained at the time, no, it would appear that with all the media coverage of this event since Monday morning, most of the plaintifs have merely jumped on the bandwagon, I don't condone for one minute what these two so called presenters have done and I feel for Andrew Sachs and his family, quite rightly these two need to be brought to task, Russel Brand has now resigned and Johnathan Ross should do so also or be sacked but please, stop jumping on the bandwagon, it isn't fasionable to complain in this way is it?, the BBC have been slower than a sloth to respond to this event but they will eventually deal with it and hopefully they will do the right thing but in the mean time, the matter is in hand and we should leave it be. I personally have a grievence against Danny Baker after he insulted me on a live radio program back in 1994 but I didn't complain, I just stopped listening to his program and decided that in my opinion he is a total pillock, okay I am not a much loved celebrity such as Andrew Sachs but I still felt wronged at the time, if I had complained, would there have been such an uproar, I think not, it is only due to the celebrity of the victim that this has gone this far, let the BBC deal with it and if they can't then let OFCOM, lets have an end to all this hysteria, the BBC has a code of conduct, let that be enforced.
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Well done Brand, you made ammends, at last by resigning. But clearly we'll have to wait to see if Ross can do something other than apologise for being juvenile - do you think that the BBC will sack him, anyone?
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@ Capatain31, well if it makes you feel any better I'm happy to complain to the Beeb about your treatment at the hands (mouth) of Danny Baker. I'll need to hear the show first to be fair (even if it's just a clip)....
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I now see with some alarm but with no suprise that Brand and Ross are being portrayed as the victims and that old fools like me are the villians of the piece. Apparently the young see it as acceptable. Well I disagree. No No No please would someone clever enough to start an on line petition give us all a chance to make a stand against these banal cretins. If you tolerate this then your children will be next.
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This a chance for the silent and apparently now not so silent majority to make a point. What is the difference ( apart from the fact that these two are middle aged ) and the lager fueled louts in our town centres? The line must be defined. Sack them both and serve them with an ASBO. Alternatively we could all make calls to their answer machines and talkk about their families............seems reasonable to me
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Captain31: I think you'll find most people have now heard the offending section of the broadcast, but, more to the point, Andrew Sachs will most definitely have heard what Ross and Brand recorded on his answerphone, the pathetic attempts at an apology made publicly by Mr. Brand (I have yet to see what Mr. Ross said by way of apology as he appears to have done so privately), and the days of resounding silence from the BBC on the matter.
Whatever you felt at the time you were offended by Mr. Baker is, frankly, irrelevant to this particular issue.
Oh, and, like you, I pay a licence fee which funds programmes like the one in question. Which makes me a shareholder, and therefore gives me, in a manner of speaking, a voting right in the matter. Just like anyone else.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
26
It seems to me that the experience of being insulted by Baker IS relevant.
Any case of feeling insulted or thinking someone rude is a matter of individual judgment.
You yourself have claimed that you were insulted by a post which didn't mention you, didn't have you in mind in its writing and yet was so construed by you.
How people should react needs to be addressed, otherwise we become prisoners of the sort of imagining that you were a victim of.
In your case of over reaction you apologised.
If you think the Baker case was met by an under reaction, please say so.
The proper reaction to everything, is the subject of this whole complex.
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Notes on a scandal
It has been said the current outrage over the Ross/Brand abusive phone messages to Andrew Sachs are a sign of a generational and cultural divide.....duh!
I have heard it said young people and other “comedians” think the phone calls were funny or “pushing the boundaries”. Only two complaints were received when the show was first broadcast so therefore not deemed offensive at the time.
It may be the public reaction is over blown, a “Diana” effect in response to the media picking up the story, but there is something deeper, socially, here.
Brand and Ross are no strangers to controversy, neither are “young” and only Brand might be called a comedian. But what they do has a social consequence and this is one of them . There is more to our society than the audience of a certain programme. It takes place in a wider context and what we have here is a response by a broad section of society. This is actually a good thing, as we need to reaffirm what is acceptable public social behaviour, a societal etiquette.
There will be a group of people who find stupid, sniggering and bullying “pranks” entertaining but that doesn't mean it is acceptable; i imagine some people found “Happy Slapping” funny.
Brand and Ross should have known better and if this is a reflection of the general content on Brand's programme, then his mum, whom he visited during his dark days, should have taught him better.
If there is one positive outcome from this episode it might be the BBC take a look at what they allow in their programming, and take a stand against bullying and humiliation as an excuse for entertainment.
People are influenced by what they see, hear and read and by allowing Brand and Ross to pass off this kind of content as having a value tells others it is acceptable and that is really the saddest thing of all.
I am talentless but could easily phone the Ross household and abuse his wife and children or even confess to having done something unsavoury to his dog...but would anyone think it was funny if I was broadcasting this on the radio?
People assume Brand, Ross and those who follow this vein of entertainment in every medium, are paid because they are valuable assets who respond to, and define popular culture. But they appear to pander to a small (less mature) section of society and it is not the first time the BBC, Ross and Brand have been found guilty of this.
The failure here is to lead, to be inventive and imaginative and to try and find new and interesting ways to entertain instead of reverting to the kind of nasty jokes most of us fail to stand up to in school, the street or at work.
I hope Brand grows up and tries to develop, as Andrew Sachs has done, into a more diverse creative talent and as for Ross...duh!
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For years my wife and I have become more and more marginalized by TV and radio comedy.
We have on occasion complained about shows but felt that our comments were ignored and that we were out of step when these shows won all the awards.
Because we did not find any humour in Jonathon Ross, Russell Brand or shows like little Britain and Catherine Tate, we were lead to believe that we were at fault.
Surprisingly we found that none of our friends enjoyed these programmes as the boundaries of acceptability and decencies were being pushed beyond the family viewing norms.
Last Christmas we watched a few highly advertised comedy shows on TV with our 40 year old children who were lead to believe that they were now the ‘cool generation’.
The event became a bit like the ‘Emperors Clothes’, they stopped laughing and in truth did not find these programmes funny and could not identify with the crudeness and true lack of humour.
Today our four children have joined us in condemnation of this recent outrage.
Take note that the public and your licence payer will accept nothing less than Jonathon Ross being sacked and the redefining of what is true comedy and not crudeness and profanity.
Henry and Janet Bowrey
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I agree that as licence payers we are all entitled to a view on the BBC. The fact that a great majority of Radio 1 fans think this is all a fuss about nothing says as much about the state of social behaviour in Britain as the BBC.
I actually thought that the job of a comedian was to be funny, not to "push the bounds"
I am glad that Russell Brand resigned but am slightly cynical about it as I'm sure it will do his career no harm, and as for Jonathan Ross, well I'll be extremely surprised if the BBC sack him, because he'll just be snapped up by ITV. There's no such thing as bad publicity after all for such trivial types. Someone on the production side also obviously cannot do the job and should go.
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My disgust is not about "edgy" comedy. Personally I have always hated "Last of the Summer Wine" though I love most of the author's other works. It is about the structures in the BBC that allow this to happen. Andrew Sachs what a gentleman says (paraphrasing) there is an end to the matter but I think they should be prosecuted-- what is the point of having laws if they are not used. There are three laws they have broken, at least. A good six months in stir under the telecommunications act 1984 might teach them a lesson. I agree Brand has gone up in my estimation by resigning he has become more honorouble there in my eyes.
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I am one of those who contributed my penny worth of vitriol about the Brand and Ross affair, complaining to Aunty and this column. During News Night yesterday I watched a short conversation between concurring “larrikins”, John O’ Farrell stated that the response was “Mob Rule” and Media Lead, well thank you Mr O’ Farrell for compounding the issue by insulting the intelligence of the British Public and raising my blood pressure further. Its not that we listen necessarily to Russell Brand, watch the dreadful drivel presented by Jonathan Ross or read and react to articles in the tabloid press, this item was aired full frontal by the BBC on its News Programme, and well done to them for that, this whole incident has provided an opportunity for people to record their disappointment in the degradation of many programmes and to point out that it is time that money spent on in particular Jonathan Ross would be better spent elsewhere. If that results in Mr Ross taking his dubious talent to independent television that’s absolutely fine the advertisers can pay whatever they think he is worth and the obscene amount of money paid for his pathetic programmes distributed to better conceived entertainment and new emerging talent.
Russell Brand has done the decent thing and resigned, I look forward to seeing him on the comedy club circuits which I enjoy.
Jonathan Ross is past his sell by date and its time for the BBC to bid him adieu.
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Shame on johnathon ross and russel brand for their obscene calls. Where is the amusement in this? How does it inform and educate the listener? Is it a good example? So what if the papers pointed it out and more complaints came? I pay the licence and expect the BBC as a whole to behave responsibly.
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There is little doubt that Brand and Ross went beyond what is the norm, with their answerphone messages...
However, they are both comedians of some repute, and as the ‘granddaughter’ in question seems well able to look after herself, this all seems much ado about nothing.
As for 'grandad' - Manuel hardly meets current standards of good taste...
It is a pity that the apparently rightist listnership of Radio 2, and Aunty, have lost the plot. If certain 'listeners' don’t want to hear the often childlike ramblings of Brand and Ross – tune out!
There are bigger issues here about free speech and censorship, both of which now seem to be at risk – just because the media seem hell-bent on talking up a recession, there is no need for a lurch back to the 'good old days' of far right – knee-jerk Thatcherism - at the BBC
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I think the J Ross show has become tacky and a lot more explicit like a lot of TV shows . Its not really clever to use the F word I mean would he sit down with the kids for Sunday lunch and say its Fing cold and Im going to shag your mum later ? I would hope not so why say it on a Friday night show. I think its what you call a cheap joke and the more times you use them the cheaper the show. So Brand has gone and so should Ross and his editors because they apparently dont know where to draw the line. monkeys dont have a sense of right and wrong we do so get a grip
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I think what they did was a bit silly, but come on it has been blown way out of proportion by the media!! Friends and I love Russel Brand and couldn't believe it when he began working on the BBC who knew how he was (always going for shock factor) but they still employed him..this was done for a reason, to get the younger generation in which he did now there going to loose them over a silly mistake. If Jonathon Ross goes too then who do the BBC have left for comedy, these two are the best at the BBC!! Im not saying they shouldn't be sorry for what they said of course they should but they don't deserve to loose their jobs!!!
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Every time today that I have listened to Radio 4, it has been stated that over 30,000 people have protested to the BBC about russell Brand and Jonathan Ross.....
How many people have now voiced their feelings in favour of the two entertainers since yesterday......
It would be interesting to know...just to get a bit of balance...
By the way...I am 59 and like both men and enjoy watching and listening.
I have given up on Chris Evans....he has now become too middle of the road!!!
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As a license payer, I have always felt that the money paid to Jonathan Ross by the BBC is grossly exorbitant.
He produces low level 'light' entertainment which should be financed by a commercial channel and not by public service.
The function of thge BBC should be to provide intelligent news, drama, music, education, documentaries and comedy as an alternative to mindless pop culture.
The current fiasco should provide a suitable marker for the BBC to bite the bullet and implement such a policy.
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Ok, Jonathan Ross can be annoying but is an amazing interviewer and has conducted some of the funniest interviews I have seen. He also pushes the boundaries which we really need. He does have a big salary which is probably one of the reasons people have reacted so strongly at this time. And by the way the BBC is one of the great enduring institutions we have, hope they sort this out and everyone learns from it.
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Why the big fuss? Isn't one of the BEST things about Britain its record of freedom of speech?
I strongly support Jonathan Ross and Russell Grant - I don't want to see them off the TV or the radio, they are amongst my favourite presenters.
So they went a bit far, so what? If everyone is so timid then we all buy in to the nanny state.
Has anyone reminded the BBC of the old saying "sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never harm me"????
Bring back Ross and Grant, they're great!
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I don't think Ross and Brand should take the wrap - the broadcast was sanctioned by editors and producers and the buck should stop with them. We know Ross and Brand are very controversial in their comments but that sets them apart.
Who are these 30,000 complainers anyway - do they regularly listen - many people enjoy these two presenters and basically there are no other entertainers to match. They will be missed. ITV will snap them up and watch the BBC ratings drop.
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Ross needs to go. A comedian? I've never heard him say anything amusing. An interviewer? Nah, not really interested in his guests, too egocentric to be successful here. A decent guy? I don't think so - seems to lack any sense of decency.
Younger people are complaining of an over-reaction to the situation. OK so we all have different tastes but surely we can all agree that any activity which causes hurt to another person cannot be considered as entertainment?
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In todays modern society we expect a lot from our entertainers. What one person may think is funny the other may take offence, we live in a democratic country with the freedom of speech. Both of the named entertainers are known for their personal styles and i am sure that they have a very large amount of Viewers/Listeners who look forwards to their respected shows. If poeple can not deal with modern humour and reality, why do they watch or listen to such shows.
The responsibility for what we choose as entertainment is a personal thing, and the variety should not be spoiled by negative attitudes.
To the BBC, please carry on with cutting edge and modern entertainment. Do not be guided by the straight laced minority, other wise we will never find the up and coming new faces of tomorrow.
PS Do our goverment have nothing better to do ? Try saving our industry !!!
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This is all out of poportion. If Jonathan goes from radio and TV then so do I. His Saturday radio replacements I do not listen to and his TV broadcasts cannot be replaced.
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A majority of the population of Rome probably saw nothing whatever wrong with gladiatorial displays, and thought that the boring old Christians who didn't like being fed to lions were old fuddy duddies who didn't appreciate real entertainment.
Who are we to be boring enough to think the Christians may have had a point? After all, 'What one person may think is funny the other may take offence,' and everyone knows that it was to provide that sort of entertainment that the people who put on the shows were employed, so nobody ought to complain.
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i think this has been blown out of proportion, ok it was a bit silly but is wasn't that bad that people should loose their jobs over it. i think its time to move on and get sensible, i mean how many days are they going to make the news for what they did - move on !!!
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pmLeader (28): My point is that we do not know what happened in the Danny Baker case (no details have been provided), but we do know what happened in the Ross/Brand case. Without knowing more about the instance when this poster felt s/he was the object of an offence by Danny Baker, how can we possibly have any opinion about it? - That is why I described it as 'irrelevant'.
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People have questioned the salary of Jonathan Ross during this witch hunt but has anybody questioned the amount of money received by Mr Sachs' granddaughter for selling her stories to the newspapers? Should she not be questioned as to her motives for doing so?!
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How disappointing that the BBC do not have the strength of management to sack Mr Ross.
Just how many thousand licence payers need to complain and ask for someone to be sacked before it actually happens? And what exactly does Mr Ross need to do before it is considered to be "gross misconduct".
A very very disappointing decision.
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Amidst all that has been said about Jonathon Ross and despite the resignations and other turbulences within the BBC about the Ross behavior not only recently but also in the past re his performances on TV and Radio, Despite also the 'edicts' handed down to him from the BBC Trust and D.G. Ross, as I and others around me, will not suffer too much from being stood down for a few weeks. He is in fact still laughing at all of us, he is still earning big money, he has achieved more publicity than anyone could dream of and he will be back, nose in the air, cocking a snook at not only the BBC - but to all of us who dislike what he stands for.
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Jonathon Ross and co. were wrong ,they have apologised and been rightly punished.My question is, why if there were only two complaints after the broadcast, have 40,000 people written in to complain.I think that these people have hidden agendas and have seen this issue as an easy bandwagon from which to air their views against the bbc and the two presenters.I pay a tv licence also ,but I feel that if the bbc is forced to isolate these presenters,other channels will fall over themselves to give them contracts Martin
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A POEM c 2008
Two vain and puerile role models they, of trendy and cool masculinity
Laughing their way to the bank each day
Using broadcasting power so cynically
If men these be who insult and bully
An older and much revered thespian
It affords me the chance to smuggly proclaim
I'm a morally superior lesbian
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Observations on Brand and Ross and their Sachs (pun - sexy, rude) call! :
1. The show can be said to be BRANDed, ROSSque (pun) or simply babyish, infantile, childish, adolescent - or simply talentless' rude adult rubbish.
2. Since when is Ross a comedian? Humorous presenter yes, comedian no! (think of some of the great comedians).
3. Their shows are 'edgy' ('edgie'?), cutting edge? Trail blazers? Really, in the same vain as The Goons, That was the Week that Was (1960s); Monty Pythan (1970s); Yes Minister/Primeminster (1980s) et al, and all the talent within those shows - I don't think so!
4. Pushing the boundaries - how, from where to where; where are the major innovations as with eg That was the Week that Was which ridiculed some ridiculous politicians using humour (never done until on that show on the BBC).
5. No, it's not just the answer phone messages that is problematic with Ross - didn't he talk to the leader of the Conservative party about whether he had any sexual desires for Margaret Thatcher - oh, was that trail blazing or cutting edge - edgy??? Or did I miss the deep political insight and clever humour in that 'interview'?
Malcolm in Worcester
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They have both done what they were paid to do. Push bounderies and step over the line was always part of their job discription. Why all that fuss now. Everybody knows what they are about. Don't listen to their shows if that's not your cup of tea. I am certainly not happy about this as my favourite shows will not be available to me. Where is the choice there? Just listen to something else if you cannot take it, there is plenty around.
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Haven't we got more important things in life to worry about? Such as the state of this country and people fighting wars?! Ross and Brand have apologised. They are both great entertainers and we need to forget all of this rubbish and get on with things!
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I am totally fed up with the constant bickering & backstabbing about Ross & Brand and the BBC.
All but 2 of the complaints, we are told, came after the press, as usual, and blew the whole thing completely out of proportion.
At 56 years old I admit to being confused by Brand’s take on comedy but it seems that the younger generation find him funny
As to Ross, I feel he is one of the best performers on the BBC at present.
I remember when Kenny Everett was hounded from our screens and what a great loss that was to comedy and the BBC.
Its about time that the BBC remembered that we are all licence payers and that we all have a choice of which channel to listen to or watch.
I don’t like listening to Chris Evans so I simply tune my radio to another station.
If this pre-recorded program was so offensive the producer should not have aired it.
Its quite simple, the program producer, Brand and Ross apologise to Sachs end of story.
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There is little of artistic or comic merit in the out pourings from these two 'potty-mouthed' individuals. Whilst certain parts of the BBC produce excellent and vibrant programmes namely: Radios 3 & 4, BBC's 2 & 4 and the Natural History Unit and drama sections, I regret that other sections, especially comedy are moribund. Executives appear to allow such crude out pourings as an attempt to keep alive these ailing programmes by appearing to our base instincts.
The BBC does not allow the public to use its BBC blog sites for similar crude out pourings that may offend, so why is Jonathan Ross allowed to? The BBC appears elitist in who it allows to freely express themselves on their media and unthinkingly apply different standards of censorship to the public compared to its elite stars. Obviously the BBC is happy to censor its public like it is happy to defraud them in programme phone-ins. I think this shows a rotten core in the management of these areas of the BBC, who act out of convenience rather than conviction; self-interest rather than public interest and descency. When talent is missing titillation and crudity are often used to mask it. Jonathan Ross must be subject to the same BBC standards as we are and he must go. These comments will be moderated by the BBC but his are not. This was not a prank but a sick, cruel and sadistic actions against a muched loved actor.
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I personally feel both upset and let down that because an entertainer of ross' calibre is punished for being an entertainer.
It seems that there are just as many supportors for Ross, but these have not been brought into the public eye, no wonder the press are having a field day doing what they do best, (blowing stuff out of all proportion.)
Ross is one of our best, and the bbc should be doing more to be looking after and seen to be sticking by him, as opposed to deficating on him after his long term loyalty and exceptional talents.
Now as a result we (the public), are set to see less of Ross for 3 months (if at all he decides to come back.)
Even Sachs has made a statement saying he doesnt want to take any action and realised that Ross is an entertainer and it was not personal.
Thanks to the bbc for absolutley 'bricking it' lets hope another channel will come along with a great poaching offer and then maybe Ross will get the support and treatment he deserves.
I look forward to seeing Ross on our screens in the very near future.
Leon
Blackpool
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In any other job both Brand and Ross would have been dismissed for "gross misconduct", a black mark which would have made future employment much more fdifficult. However in the world of so called entertainment some agent will no doubt use this to their adavantage. The BBC really has lost its way in trying to compete at a lower levels with other channels. Not a use of Tax payers money.
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I don't care much for Brand, and Jonathan Ross should have known better, but I think a three month ban for Jonathan Ross is too long. What he did was wrong and he knows it, but some people get less for murder these days. Don't listen to the politicians on this matter and for God's sake don't bow down to Max Clifford, who lets face it makes money out of other peoples misery or The Daily Mail. The sooner Ross is back the better, before you lose him for ever.
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Vacancy
CHAT SHOW HOST
Salary £18million OTE
A vacancy has arisen in our highly regarded and respected broadcasting organisation.
Our company is looking for a smart, intellectual and witty person to head up our dwindling Friday night television show.
Duties included sitting behind desk and chatting to a variety of celebrities with humour, wit and decorum but with the ability to listen and avoid bringing the subject matter down to base level. (i.e. Swearing, sexual inuendo and any other forms of vulgarity)
Candidates must be flexible and the ability to host a radio show once a week would be a distinct advantage.
A uniform will be provided. Smart black jacket with pens in the top left hand pocket, crisp white shirt with high collar and national health style spectacles. A bald head would also be required.
Candidates must apply in the first instance to:
Mark Thompson
Director General
The BBC
London
STEP FORWARD HARRY HILL!
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isuitblue: I'm with you there. Unfortunately, I doubt ITV will let the zany doctor switch channels .....
"Bad boy, dirty boy, in your bed!" ;o)
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"I don't think Ross and Brand should take the wrap" 42
I think that should be rap
I just hope the injured parties do not now try to milk the scandal ...
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I do wish people would stop using the same tired old excuse about there having been only 2 complaints immediately after the programme. What a nonsensical argument - most of the population wasn't listening!
In those circumstances, I agree that it's usually not appropriate to complain if it's just a matter of taste. However, this merry "jape" went well beyond the bounds of acceptability, something that the DG has since left no doubt about, and anybody - yes, anybody, whether or not they heard it live - has a right to complain retrospectively.
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I'd just like to send a sincere apology to Wossy for not calling him to say that I hadn't slept with his wife. Not that she isn't appealing, God knows what his millions can attract, but she is a bit too mumsy for my tastes. Not that I've not slept with other mums. There, I've said it, and I'm proud of it. Can I keep my job?
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tp 45, I'll bet you listen to anything that replaces R&B. With taste like that it shouldn't matter.
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"some people get less for murder these days"
(a) no they don't, and
(b) Ross won't actually be in prison.
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Sid68, (a) They do if they don't get caught.
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I do not condone this prank whatsoever, HOWEVER, Both Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross are such huge talents that we will miss them if they are not reinstated. It's time to "get over it" and move on.
They court controversy, but that's why we love them so much. The apologies have been accepted, and the prudes can switch off. GET THEM BACK I SAY.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
Nice work Wossie Boy. A million+ quid for sitting on your rear. I suspect that the 'phone will be ringing soon and you will be off to pastures new. And shouldn't the 25 year old producer of the show be fired.The BBC is out of control. Time for some major changes.
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One Last comment;
We are repeatedly told how many listeners/viewers J Ross brings to the BBC.
One last question;
How many listeners/viewers turn off when he comes on?
Food for thought!
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No way should the BBC sack Jonathan Ross. The whole thing has got completely out of control. I don't think people even know what they're complaining about. Jonathan has loads of fans that think his suspension is way over the top.
I'm not saying that what Jonathan and Russell said is ok, but everyone has had times when they've gone too far with a joke that they've later regretted, but after an apology (which he has given) he should be forgiven.
Besides, the way John Cleese treated Manuel in Fawlty Towers was just as bad as the joke made by Russell and Jonathan, and I'm sure many people are offended by that, and nobody ever complains about that. If people are so sensitive everytime a comedian makes a slightly inappropriate joke, comedians would be getting the sack everyday.
If you don't like Jonathan Ross then don't watch his show, but don't expect him to get the sack, as there are thousands of people out there who do like him. There's a lot of famous people who I don't like and who I find offensive, but i don't complain that they should get the sack, I just do the simple thing and don't watch them!
And how can a woman who wants to be a page 3 girl (who I saw in the paper topless), and is in a dance group called the satanic *****, take offense to the fact that her granddad found out that she slept with Brand! She just wants to be famous because nobody knew who she was before, and now everybody knows her name! good tactic. i guess we'll be seeing her on celebrity (and i use the term lightly) big brother later in the year!
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I'd like to add my concern to the thousands of objections you must have received. For the past three years or so I've exercised my discretion to switch channels whenever Jonathan Ross has appeared on our TV screen.
It's difficult to understand the mentality of those who authorise the pay and contracts of people whose ability to entertain seems to be based on the sort of behaviour he regularly exhibits. There is a large, usually silent, body of folk who've put up with the behaviour of Jonathan Ross and folk like him for too long. Ok, we're all familiar with the need to push boundaries - experiencing That Was The Week That Was and other shows, but give us credit for smelling lack of real talent. It's good that some so-called celebrities are starting to bite the dust - take away the 'grime' and you take away their 'talent'. Hopefully the BBC will learn lessons before its mainstay of long-standing supporters 'jump-ship' for good!
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I agree that Jonathon Ross's (& Russell Brand's) comments were unexceptable but I wish that someone had warned him about being offensive earlier. I watched him on the Paul O'Grady show and he made me cringe...But he is can be very funny and is engaging. The only thing worth watching on Friday night was his show. As for Russell Brand I think he is refreshing, I like his sense of humour and I've never found him offensive. Ps I'm 50.
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So JR and RB have over stepped the mark. However, to deny us their clear talent is a great disappointment.
I have spent many hours enjoying their respective shows.
I want them on the BBC. Failing that hopefully ITV.
A fine would have been sufficient.
Readers of certain papers should concentrate on their paper, feel depressed and let the rest of us enjoy life.
Break free you fools. You are addicted to bad news, nasty reviews and comic style reporting. Half the time it is a distorted perspective based on sensationalistic codswallop.
Go to BBCfrontpage for proper news.
Now stop pestering the BBC and enjoy your lives.
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Reinstate Jonathan Ross. I like his shows. Fine him for the indiscretion and don't listen to all the old farts
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Is it not time that those wishing to have Ross retained by the BBC realise that he has damaged the BBC.Is it not time that they realise no employee who was so offensive to the viewing fee payers would be removed immediaely in any other employment in this country.Why is it that some think there is any ground to retain him?.It cannot be that he is beyond control and can do what he likes.As for reinventing himself to protect his job,no other employee would be allowed to do so after such childish stupidity and offence.He has demonstrated he cannot be trusted and is a liability.He requires to be fired if the BBC is to retain licence fee money.As a fee payer I believe if he is not fired fee payers will ensure the licence is removed and the DG, for incompetence in the mismanagement of the licence fees by paying another penny to such overpaid and worthless telentless wasters.If he is retained it will provide grounds for any employee to carry out such offences and sets a dangerious precident in employment and the laws on decency.
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I have hesitate to make comment earlier waiting to hear what the BBC considered a suitable penalty. I now feel that I must express my deep concern at the antics of these two overpaid louts and the lenient way in which they have been dealt with by the BBC.
I do not watch the Friday night Jonathon Ross show since I found Mr Ross's disrespect and rudeness to his guests too unbearable to tolerate especially as he always took offence if they tried to respond. He is overpaid to the extreme with tax payers money especially for a talentless entertainer? He is quite obscene and devalues everything I was brought up to respect. Sincerely Dlj
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am 77,
"I have spent many hours enjoying their respective shows."
You obviously have too much time on your hands.
78, Remember, some day you will be an old fart.
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sparrow 103 74, I hope you don't really think that Cleese actually hit Sachs in Fawlty Towers.
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bm 57, I'm not confused by Brand's humor and I'm 68. In fact, I think some of it is quite funny. But then, I like Little Britain, League of Gentlemen, Catherine Tate, and Harry Hill's TV Burp. One of my favorite all-time TV chat show hosts was Steve Allen, who was downright silly at times. I like silly, but there is a difference between being silly and offending a real person. I would hope that R&B know that now.
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David (83 and earlier): Fully endorsing your comments.
Antimail (77): Whatever makes you think commentators on this thread don't enjoy their lives? This isn't, btw, a Daily Mail blog, and I doubt many of its regulars are DM readers (though I could be wrong ;o))
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toro65, I don't mean to be a pedant, but I think the term is 'jolly jape'. Sounds better, don'tja think?
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There, I've filled the RECENT COMMENTS, I can leave now.
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BS 84, DM should not to be confused with me.
We eat King Edwards. None of those commentators for us.
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Great, so a minority of people complain - the usual 'busy body' sorts, who have nothing better to do. The next thing we know, one of the greatest entertainers of our time, namely Mr. Russell Brand has resigned. So at least 99% of the people who complained have never even listened to his show and further more hadn’t even heard the original broadcast in question.
Two complaints to the BBC originally started the ball rolling. I myself and many others have complained to the BBC about the suspension of Mr Ross – why are ‘we’ being punished for this, the silent (or not so silent now) majority. No doubt we’ll hear nothing of our support from Mr. Brand and Mr. Ross . At the end of the day; if people don’t want to listen/watch, they don’t have to.
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Mr Brand needs a haircut and a spot of square bashing.
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Oh my God.
This is just ridiculous now- what Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand did was not very nice but they shouldnt be treated like murders, when many presenters insult other people in the public eye and get away with it every day.
This has been blown way out of proportion when all they did was take a joke too far, and the people that complained after hearing the news reports (and who are still complaining now) are people who like to hop on the band waggon whenever scandals enter the public eye.
I really like Jonathan Ross as a comedian and presenter and am appalled that so many people who are not regular or even occassional listeners, and who probably complained without even having heard the whole show, have done so because other people have complained and, having nothing better to do, decided to contact ofcom and say how offended they feel. What these busy-bodies either unknowingly or looking forwards to seeing the efects of, have unforgivably done, is damage two popular comedians' careers, possibly indefinately.
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By the way I am 18 years old and I am disgusted that 10 thinks that young people have been "brainwashed".
It is bad enough that all teenagers are stereotyped in the media as moody, uneducated morons who carry a knife as an accessory and seeing violence as the answer to every problem, but the fact that we cannot have our own opinions is not just insulting but is ironic; everyone who has complained to ofcom about Ross and Brand has just gone along with the scandal and have nothing better to do. If it is your right to have the unquestioned and unchallanged opinion that what they did deserves indefinate suspension, then how dare you dissmiss other people's opinions just because it is different to your own? It is beyond patronising to insult an entire generation just because you dont like what you hear.
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Never mind this incident... why does the BBC think that Jonathan Ross is ever any good? His Sat a.m radio show is one I always avoid. He childishly "dares" to say "naughty" words and talk about breasts. Wow.. what a quality broadcaster! Any drunken teenager could come up with that. Why do you pay this man money?
He behaves like a schoolboy, with his sidekick who is there for what purpose? Do those who continue to employ him really think that the public at large are as infantile and stupid? To me it seems that it can't just be Ross; the whole corporation must be just as depraved, to give him approval.
Sack him and sack those who employ him.
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Oh my Mohammed,
I can't believe that the BBC pays J.R to be so childish. What a waste of money.
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I think the BBC has made a huge mistake in it's reaction to this programme = at the time it was on aren't we all adults. Only 2 people complained who listened - it has just been hyped up by the media. BRING HIM BACK NOW
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I have watched and listened to the appalling fiasco of the Brand/Ross saga.
It is time the BBC took a good look in the mirror and put it's house in order.
Both these men are overated and certainly in the case of Mr Ross, grossly overpaid.
They do not appeal to the majority and they are not entertaining or funny.
It is indefensible that Mr Ross has not tendered his resignation.
Instead, he has left it to Mr Brand and, far more importantly, a respected BBC manager to be the fall guys.
Jonathan Ross is nothing but a coward hiding behind everyone else and smugly waiting to carry on as if nothing happened.
He - and the BBC - should hang their heads in shame.
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Jonathon Ross is returning to air on Jan 24th, so how about we remind him that most people can infact differentiate between comedy and cheap lazy smut..... just turn off your radios! And oh yes ,please don't bother using pseudo libertarian relativism to defend freedom of speech....enough already!!! If Ross and others have not got the wit to join the dots between their 'cross the line' comments and Britains broken society then I suggest they try broadcasting live from areas where they would be appreciated. The British medias Limbo dance(How low can we go?) is getting perilously close to the floor!!
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I notice my posted comment is "awaiting moderation" which is ironic ! It really is unfair of the BBC not to have extended this valuable service to Dross and Bland!
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johnathan ross is a legend... Friday night with jonhathan ross is one of the best programms ive ever seen, im gutted its been taken off air and can not wait to see him back on telly.
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I think far too much time & energy has
been wasted on this. What they did
was tacky & tasteless but too much
has been made of it especially in light
of all the other far more important things
which are going on in the world. I suspect there were not many complaints
until the media frenzy started & most
people who complained probably don't
even listen to the show & though Russell
Brand & Jonathan Ross showed poor
judgement, it is the kind of juvenile thing
they often do & now it's time to move on!!!
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I cannot accept that such a nasty minded chap like Ross should be paid - is it £6 million? - at this time when thousands of honest, decent and hard working men and women are desperate to keep their jobs or to find work in order to feed their families.
Very clearly the BBC bosses are no longer in control of their programmes if they seriously think as stated that the Ross/Brand sketch was VERY funny.
Any programmes containing foul language, or personal attacks on well known figures should be banned without question, and perhaps we will begin to see some quality programmes written and produced by people who at the moment have to sit back and make way for the likes of foul mouthed characters such as Ross and Brand.
The powers that be should get rid of them permanently or do they lack the guts to do it?
Heblin
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I have just seen a picture of Jonathan Ross on page 35 of the Observer (23/11). He is walking his dog in the London suburbs (where he lives) and to my delight and amusement, both Ross and dog share similar expressions.
I have not heard and have no wish to hear the contentious broadcast he made with Russell Brand. But it strikes me that Ross has made a misjudgement and this does not surprise me.
I once found him intelligent, original and witty, but more recently, so much less so. I have, for that reason, not watched him for some time.
When an employee falls below expectations, it is encumbant on the employer to send him or her off for retraining.
In fairness to Ross, I would like to see him use his suspension to enjoy a break from his high profile job. Then perhaps the BBC could book him on a course which would put him back on track to regaining the originality and wit which, with his intelligence, in my opinion, put him on the road to success in the first place.
I suggest the course includes, for instance, listening to Bob Dylan's Theme Time Radio Hour. This illustrates how to present an hour's programme with intelligence, wit and originality, whilst avoiding anything contentious and any bad language. After listening to these, I recommend further reading of the poets, philosopher's and authors quoted by Dylan in the programmes. Amazingly, Dylan even gets away with corny jokes and puns in these programmes.
I would love to see Ross return to the BBC... not chastised and subdued, but with a return to his original sparkle which created his popularity in the first place. It is really unfair to punish a presenter for being expected to give and, as far as he is concerned, giving, what (he thinks) the public wants.
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I love Jonathon Ross - we all make mistakes and as the BBC have said this was not only an error on JR's part but the prodcuers who should have put a stop to it... Jonathon Ross and Russell Brand have always pushed against the boundaries of what is acceptable, that's what they do, it's the BBC producers who need to set the boundaries that they push against. Yes it was in bad taste for the BBC I agree and I beleive steps have been taken - we all learn from mistakes and the corporates are no different - they are indeed made up of people, just like the rest of us.
I guess what I had also noticed recently on his chat show was the increased use of the F word, which once upon a time was used sparingly and was quite funny - I felt that somebody somewhere had told him to to upset everyone as I imagine it had incresed viewing figures, at which point it became a little false and ill timed. Jonathon Ross has a natural talent for relating to people, when he's being himself I think it's clear to see, he's funny, guests are relaxed even when he's poking a little fun and it's good viewing... I'm quite sure the powers that be have certainly egged him on in certain areas, or allowed him to go further which has resulted in the current broadcasting crisis... Bring him back soon I say, my TV Dad (who is just as embarrasing as the real one and makes just as many mistakes!)
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