Russell Brand resigns from the BBC.
What do you think?
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Possibly the most sensible thing he has done throughout this sorry affair.
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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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About time too. Bye bye. You won't be missed.
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One down one to go. Come on you gutless, coward Wuss, fall on your sword.
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Its absolute nonsense that Russell has had to resign over this. Sachs and his grandaughter has blown this way out of proportion. They have received apologies. They should leave it at that. Also there are far worse things going on in this world at the moment that affect everybody. Russell we thing you are brilliant.
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Maybe there's some hope for him after all.
While I'm on, isn't Andrew Sachs a very nice, generous gentleman?
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I think the whole saga is ridiculous - if only there was some actual news. I regularly pass my hour plus drive home with Russell's podcast and PM. He is daft, he does get carried away but he is sweet natured and genuinely funny - if you weren't listening why complain? There are plenty of things on the BBC which aren't for me, I don't hound them out of existence. Thought for the day irratates me daily but I don't imagine the BBC will see sense and suspend that condescending, platitudinous waste of air time - how can I get the Daily Mail to start a campaign against it?
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Brand clearly saw what was coming and preferred to jump ship than be pushed!
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After those comments he and Jonathan Ross made they should be ashamed of themselves,they acted like a pair of stupid schoolboys who have just learned a few new swear words,lets hope they soon grow up,they should be made to donate their salary to a charity.
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I hope this means that any payments are stopped too for both these offensive presenters. Perhaps now the BBC will realise that a large % of their audience do not appreciate offensive humour and comments yet we have to pay our TV licence!
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Very sensible. His sort of 'humour' has no place on a major channel like BBC2 for two reasons. On a publiclly funded channel he probably feels restricted and his fans will not be able to hear the full extent of his 'humour'. There are lots of licence fee payers who might think that much of the BBC output is not to their taste and are open minded enough to accept this. But Brand's 'humour' over steps the limits of what they are prepared to fund.
However Brand has been let down by the BBC. They employed him knowing that he is liable to overstep the mark with his humour. That is the nature of edgy humour. He would have been expecting robust checks on his work. These were non-existent. An experienced producer would have stopped the phone calls whilst they were being made and then flagged them for the attrention of even more senior people. Why did this not happen? The 'yoof' policy which assumes that a producer over 30 cannot bring in the the 'yoof' audience.
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This is a start, from just 2 complaints about these two fools, the "Great British Public" have shown that we are sick and tired of bad language and disrespectful attitudes by some of the BBC's over-paid celebrities.
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Why does Russell have to take all the flack for this? The single offensive remark was made by Jonathan Ross, it was completely reprehensible, and was immediately condemned by Brand himself. While he did allow the whole farce to continue, it was entirely Jonathan Ross's fault. I'm hoping this, along with his increasingly appalling talk show, will mean his contract will not be renewed whenever it ends. He really is an embarrassment to the BBC, and a very expensive one at that.
I personally will miss Russell's show, which was consistently very entertaining. The BBC is a broad church and it is a real shame when some parts of it are interfered with by those who otherwise have no interest in them. While this may not be the best case on which to base that argument, the BBC has a responsibility to stand up for its output and those who appreciate it, and not buckle under such pressure that it has faced from this fevered anti-BBC media witch hunt.
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Brand knows full well that he can walk straight into another, probably better-paid job elsewhere. Ross knows equally well that he can't, which is why he's despertely scrambling to stay at the BBC. Which does raise the question - why does the BBC pay him so much when noone else wants him?
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Brand has gone up in my estimation! Just waiting for Jonathan Ross to follow suit.The sooner the better.
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Good on yer, Russ.
Hare Krishna.
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Russel Brand is tanished
from bouffant to nails varnished
Walking to the distance, wiggling behind
Walking to his fate, to which he has resigned
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He will not be missed
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The most concerning elements of all this fiasco are that only 2 people who listened to the show complained. Now I have it on the very best authority that 3 people were listening at the time. Does this mean that a third of the British public have lost all sense of decency?
On a more serious note, why has the BBC hired so many people without a sense of humour and put them in charge of new comedy commisioning?
I was fortunate enough to be invited to a radio comedy recording for a speculative pilot for the 6:30 p.m. slot on Radio 4. The comedy was topical, had a plot with an excellent cast and, most importantly, was funny.
Needless to say Radio 4 rejected it in favour of some inane drivel designed to ruin my journey home in the evening. The 6:30 slot still has some good programmes but the bad ones are appalling bad.
The people who approve deeply unfunny comedy and tasteless humour on Radio 2 have to be culled from the BBC. Now's your chance DG!
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This whole episode has really scared me. It is a fantastic and sobering example of the power of the press.
Before the Mail on Sunday got involved there was no outcry. They have had Brand, Ross and the BBC in their sights for some time, so they create an outcry by presenting the story in a way to be sure to outrage their readers.
The baying mob is mobilised and the casualties start.
I am left wondering what I will do if they are mobilised against me.
What will you do ?
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If presenters don't like the increased scrutiny that comes from publically-funded vroadcasting, they do need to take their services elsewhere. I'm sure he will find work in the commercial sector, for better or worse.
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I am sick of hearing about this it has made the national news and the Prime Minister has commented on it for goodness sake. There is more going on in the world that should be reported on than stupid pranks.
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I never listened to the show, but Brand was right to go as it was his show. His video apology shows him in a good light, and he will find a better vehicle than Radio2 for his humour.
Much as though he was as guilty, I would hate to see Ross go from the BBC. He would be on ITV via 18months on Ch4 at a greater salary and with a "cool" young audience: just what the advertisers would lap up.
I am glad also that Andrew Sachs accepted their apologies, and choose not to report the issue to the police. What was left on his answering machine broke telecom law, let alone media or broadcast law.
What does need to be found out was why BBC editorial policy was totally busted on this occasion - looks like insufficient internal control, over more broadcast controls.
One last thought - I would like to see the Bazil the Rat episode of Fawlty Towers broadcast in place of Ross's show on Friday, just to show the under 30's why we over-30's so love Andrew Sachs so much. I would also like to see him on Ross's show the week afterwards, with Ross donating a months salary to Children in Need
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Just need ross and the editorial team of the radio show (and the whole bbc ethos...) to go now.
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fair enough you have done the honerable thing
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I wonder if, like myself, people have been getting bored by both these entertainers? They have both been entertaining and funny but became very predicatable, boring and schoolboy smutty. Pushing at the boundaries of shocking people should not be confused with comedy. All this puerile and rather unpleasant duo are now succeeding in doing is demonstrating that they are self-obsessed and possess massive egos. Perhaps it was inevitable, but now is the time for both of them to go and for the BBC to realise that they need to take their responsibilities more seriously. They should have sacked them both days ago together with whoever allowed the programme to be aired.
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At last I can come home from the pub on a Friday night and enjoy the rest of the evening.
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I think this is so sad; such an over-reaction has led to the BBC losing a talented comedian in Brand. He's made a mistake, put his hand up, Sachs (probably embarressed at the over-reaction now) has accepted his apology, but still public opinion has forced him to leave.
I listened to Russell's show every week (which did have a disclaimer re adult material btw), read his column in the Guardian, read his Booky Wook, and attended his gigs. He's a talented, quick-witted, intelligent, sharp comedian with a huge fanbase (growing with his movies now); unfortunately sense has not prevailed here, and Russells fans have been unable to stem the flow of public opinion from people who've never bothered to tune in.
Two complaints from people who actually listened to the show?! Come on. Surely those complaints actually mattered? I'm not going to complain about PM's show tonight; I missed it (sorry Eddie) and I don't have the right to complain, as if :-)
How much did the Sun pay this granddaughter for her story? Good use of resources.
Russell will be quickly snapped up by another broadcaster, good luck to him! I'll be tuning in.
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Nice try Russell but too insincere. Why the picture of Stalin behind you?? Subliminal reference anyone?
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I do not wish my licence fee to be wasted on paying these cretins to embarrass an entire country with their puerile antics.
The BBC should go back to doing what is was created for, to inform and to provide quality entertainment.
At a bare minimum, Jonathan Ross should be fired. The production team that allowed this on to the air should also be looking for another job.
Perhaps if it is no longer necessary to pay obscene amounts of money to decidedly talentless individuals, the relentless rise in licence fees payable by the general public can be avoided.
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the russell and ross incident is an unfortunate reflection of our society. social standards of behaviour are falling and boundaries of acceptable behaviour have become blurred. thank goodness there are still people in this country who recognise that standards of decency cannot continue to decline.
maybe now is the time for the bbc to reflect on the content of their present programmes which are viewed by children before the 9'0'clock watershed.
how can this continue to be allowed, rape, incest, murder with stabbings etc are not appropriate viewing before 9 pm. surely there are other viewers who recognise this and could make further comment.
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Russell Brand has done the right thing.
Jonathan Ross should follow suit. Surely, his position is now untenable. How can he now be taken seriously by any guest on his show after such public condemnation? I have never found him funny and his voice irritates beyond belief. I would be glad to see the back of him.
In these hard economic times, I think the general public has no time for wasters who earn millions for doing nothing worthwhile. Ross represents the excesses of the credit boom years and he should be one of the first entertainers to fall in the credit crunch.
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If the BBC want to broadcast profanity in the name of humour, perhaps they would be kind enough to save the hardpressed licence payer the cost of Brand's and Ross's salaries and bung the price of a crate of beer to a couple of football hooligans.
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Well congratulations rent-a-mob! I hope you feel satisfied with yourself. When the dust has settled and all you middle class, middle-aged, middle-brow types have passed by onto the next moral panic, there will just be a large number of unhappy (ex-)Radio 2 listeners missing their Saturday night entertainment. Well done! I hope you feel fulfilled and happy with your prudish, irrational moral crusade.
This has very little to do with an eldery actor and everything to do with the so-called moral guardians of this country disapproving of someone talented and 'different'. You are utter, utter phillistines and should be ashamed of yourselves. We officially live in a totalitarian state, where people cannot express themselves or act differently without severe censure from the middle-brows.
Just wait for the anti-backlash to hit...
P.S. I have tickets for RB in Glasgow in February and will be there supporting him - he doesn't deserve to be made a pariah like this.
Infuriated of Glasgow
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As far as Johnathan & Russel go the right things have happened. What bugs me still is the absence of a sense of shame from either them or the BBC.
We pretty much all do stuff we are ashamed of occasionally; it would be good to feel that the BBC managers & hierarchy were close enough to the rest of us to be capable of that emotion - not just bland proceduralism and formal responses.
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Onwards, onwards...
"Yesterday's history, tomorrow's a mystery, today's a gift which is why it's called the present"
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Well seeing the granddaughter is making hay with all this. Had anyone heard of her 'dance troupe' prior to this? I wonder how many folk have heard of them now?
I would bet a skinful of cash that she will be featuring on page 3 or in the latest lads magazine within a few days...
She's yet another in a long line of carpetbaggers and star****ing opportunitists, behind the likes of Abbi Tittmuss and Rebecca Loos.
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After hearing the obscene material of Russell Brand and Johnathan Ross, I am so pleased that BBC finally took action and suspended these two lewd mouth characters. Well done and thank you. Please keep up your vigilance. Sincerely your Beloved Sheila
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I am very disappointed that Russell Brand has resigned. He has been employed to deliver humour which gets close to a boundary of 'good taste.'The person who allowed the programme to be broadcast should have resigned. I hope Jonathan Ross does not follow suit.
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It possibly is an ageist thing, but whatever goes on in the mind of these so-called 'comedians' that they think it amusing to bait anyone, of whatever age, in public - the large public following they boast of and which pays their ridiculously large fees? I think it shows a cruel streak in their make-up. Okay, Andrew Sachs is an actor and probably broad-minded; he chose to play a victim in 'Fawlty Towers', and played it very well, but he hurt no-one, and does not deserve to be humiliated through having his granddaughter's antics, whether it be true or not, detailed or hinted at publicly. And what about the rest of the family, the girl's parents for example?
Brand's comments were cruel, personal and, unfortunately, will stick whether the girl deserved them or not. One thing is certain, Andrew Sachs certainly did not deserve them. And as for a man of middle years joining in the 'giggle'. Ross is a retard in my book!
The idiot who passed the programme for broadcasting is another matter. He probably thought he was being 'clever' too. The whole pack of them should be sacked in my opinion.
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"Well done! I hope you feel fulfilled and happy with your prudish, irrational moral crusade."
-Thanks! I do.
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If any bloke down the street did what Ross and Brand did he would be in trouble with the police. Why do two men in their 30's and 40's behave like teenage buffoons? -because male adolescent mentality rules thats why. You only have to look at magazines in the newsagents to see that. I dont mind that, though. What worries me is why has British humour gone so sour and spiteful. Our comedians always talk of "pushing the bounderies" which is fine if its funny but we often have to be lectured to by alternative comics (who assume we all vote the way they do), or be treated to a spitefest.They seem to have no wit anymore, unlike American humour which seems to have left ours standing. It has humanity, self depracation and a good deal of observation.
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So, it seems Andrew Sachs has been a complete gentleman, and accepted the apologies of two men who are obviously now aware of how they have affected the lives of a whole family. This was an outburst which was undoubtedly offensive, and I doubt anybody would deny this.
This forgiveness though, is a wonderful thing, and it seems that Mr Sachs understands they were caught up in a moment which they both regret, and he now wishes to move on from this and put it behind him.
This leads me to thinking, if you were Andrew Sachs, would you want a media circus outside your house, waiting to interview you about a matter which you feel to be closed? I know i would find this more offensive, as i would prefer to get on with my life.
I have no thoughts about what should happen to Mr Ross and Mr Brand, but if they have the intelligence to learn from this experience, isn't that good enough? and the news should return to reporting stories which are in the public interest.
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I have been listening to PM for a couple of years before the blog started but this is the first topic I have felt the need to get behind and I was tempted to give up a number of times with the frustrating archaic registration process...
Russell resigning has been the first good move since this sorry mess started. Credit to him for standing up and taking responsibility for his actions. I'm sure he will go on to better things on a more suitable platform. Doing so has made Ross look worse and past it which he is. Ross' ego was at bursting point and there was clearly a bit of hero worship between Ross and Brand with Ross desperately trying to be hip with the young crowd.
Ross has been a coward taking days to make a public apology only reinforcing his poor judgment. Similarly the BBC made a pigs ear of it compounding the problem by keeping quite hoping it would go away. I hope they will step into action and act swiftly, cut the rot out and draw a line.
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Glad he's gone, wish Ross would. Now perhaps we can have some real i.e important stories
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It is clear that what was done by both presenters was 'over the line'. However the media and political circus that has developed is beyond all reasonable proportion. There are many more important issues worthy of coverage than this story. We have had the PM and Culture minister speak out on this issue, seems that this is now of national importance. Utter nonsense. Brand and Ross are funny, they are guilty of going too far, being an a listener when I hear something I don't like I turn the radio off. On the news tonight this story was the lead, a humanitarian crisis in the Congo was 4th slot. I await to hear the PM make a statement about this unfolding crisis in Africa - we could always just turn it off if we don't like it. Please try to keep things in perspective.
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they have behaved like teenage school boys - but this is being blown out of proportion (as the politicians are getting involved) an public apology plus a donation of one years salary from each of them to a worthy cause(s) selected by Mr Sachs would concentrate all minds in the entertainment world - after all they are both not short of licence fee payers money are they (bearing in mind the size of their salaries)?
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A picture of Stalin behind Bland as he apologises...all this talk of a totalitarian state. What does abuse, bullying and then hubris have to do with freedom.
Surely the number of people who have complained adds up to the epitomy of free speech. Just because it didn't go the way of Dross and Bland they complain like selfish pigs. God bless radio 4 and free speech!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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The thought just occured, will there be a "Brand resigns, Ross Sach-ed" headline in one of the tabloids in the next few days? If so, it will be the best headline since Arsene Wenger persuaded Dennis Bergkamp to stay at Arsenal... "Wenger Wonga makes Bergy Linger Longer"
It's just a dream i have, but it'll make the whole thing have a slightly witty ending...
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What Brand and Ross did amounted to a regrettable lack of judgement for which they have both now apologised, but so far only Russell has done the honourable thing (which is a shame - I used to enjoy his Saturday night ramblings). The BBC has ultimately failed to exercise proper control in this case, and I sincerely hope those responsible also do the decent thing.
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I am saddened to note the degeneration of editorial standards at the BBC, something which I never thought I would see in view of the noble Reithian principles on which the BBC is founded. I have always been a staunch defender of the BBC and the licence fee, because I think that it is still the best broadcasting corporation in the world; however, the Brand-Ross affair and the decisions to allow people like them to have extended programmes on the BBC have shaken my confidence in the BBC’s standards and my desire to continue my defence of the licence fee. I would like to know who made the decision, and why the BBC decided, to give significant air-time to somebody as revolting as Russell Brand; I have heard various BBC spokesmen contending that Ross and Brand are “hugely popular”, “very funny” and “entertainers at the top of their game”, but I do not find them funny or entertaining in any sense. I love genuine satire and wit, but I consider Brand in particular entirely deficient in these aspects of humour; in fact, Russell Brand’s show is a massive insult to anyone’s intelligence, and is so vulgar, vacuous, vile and vicious as to be utterly nauseating. I am not a conservative in any sense of that word, but I sometimes despair at the kind of society which lauds the so-called “entertainment” produced by “performers” like Russell Brand and by some editors and producers who should be better educated and know better. It could be argued that by giving air-time to Brand and his ilk, the BBC is pandering to, and possibly even promoting, the increasing boorishness, nastiness and incivility which are evident in so much of the public arena.
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Honorable action by Brand. But one casualty in this whole debacle is enough. We, the audience, lose out. TV and radio can be bland enough. So hopefully we don't lose those that keep it fresh and alive!
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Brand has done the honourable thing and fallen on his sword. I cant see Ross doing the same or him being sacked. I used to work for the Beeb and common sense was never the strong point of my managment, I feel it is ingrained. However the show was recorded so whoever allowed it to be transmitted should also be named. They wont be though, neither will they be sacked. Ross will remain suspended for a while before returning to do his cringeworthy Friday night broadcast. Ugh!
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I don't really care if Ross or Brand resign; they're ok on tv and radio but I'm not a big fan, but I think this whole affair is utterly ridiculous and does not deserve the publicity. It annoys me particularly that the "thousands of complaints" were made after the additional coverage not after the show itself. I find Wife Swap offensive; I just don't watch it.
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whats obscene is not wossy and brands comments its the daily mail and others pre-occupation of this matter when thousands are dying in congo and our ecconomy goes down the plug hole - a sense of perspective is needed
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Just heard the news about Brand. Couldn't happen to a more deserving, untalented person. I only hope that he never works again but with what the BBC has been paying him and other self inflated presenters he and they probably would never need to, unlike the hundreds of thousands of people being made unemployed due to greed of others. I can only hope that Ross and everyone else associated with the program in question also are willing to fall on their swords but they probably think they are too good for that. Those that don't resign should be sacked, no pension, no gratuity no severance pay after all they have brought the BBC into disrepute.
I for one am now in favour of scrapping the license fee if all that the BBC can do with it is to create overpaid, talentless presenters.
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If nothing else good comes out of this, I hope that all entertainers, whatever their salary or popularity, will remember that there is never, ever any excuse for publicly humiliating another, innocent individual, nor for subjecting them to lewd language in the privacy of their home (or elsewhere, for that matter).
Both Ross and Brand clearly have a strong following, but this does not give them the right to step over the line when it comes to how they treat other people. It is one thing to make a joke about an anonymous (and probably fictional) stereotype, but quite another to attack a real person in this way. Any credibility they may have had as talents has been seriously undermined by this malicious and puerile lack of judgement.
Personally, I am particularly glad Mr. Brand has resigned since, to my mind, he compounded his original error by the manner of his 'apology'. And, no, I'm not a fuddy-duddy - I simply don't like this kind of unkindness and nastiness towards another person.
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Whats the big fuss. Everyone knows what he is like, his fans are on at that time, to listen to him. That is the personality of his show, don't like turn off. I have been listening to him every time I go work, and he's for a certain people.
Everyone got to be conservative and boring!!!
Big Deal !!!! No one to listen to and cheer me up before going to work. If you all thought that was offensive, try my job. Why taken so seriously, get a life, go and complain about something worthwhile, Banks humiliated us all....... Sure complainers can buy a sense of humor somewhere in Britain, the people complaining probably got their nose stuck up too high somewhere!!!!
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Ha good luck to the BBC now! Losing Russell is going to cost them, they've now lost the respect of young audiences over a prank phone call that spirralled out of control because of the media. Only 4 people complained at first! The people that did complain didn't even here the phone call, urrghh there are worst things going on in the world!The producers should be sacked, you can hardly prevent Russell from crossing the line that's who he is and how he works. I used to love listening to his podcasts they were bloody brilliant, i would put them on my ipod and my art class would listen to them every lesson. Everyone adores him, now he's gone and everythings going to succckkk!
Well done again to the media and the bbc for losing one of the most talented, excentric characters in the history of comedy. Loserss.
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this is,to quote Russ,ridicu-larse.
Neither of them are malicious people.Not that i don't like Wossy but the fact that Russ resigned is beyond unfair as it was Ross who started the whole thing off,and it doesn't look as if he's resigning.
Sad day for comedy-2 million people listened to that show,it was a #1 podcast and will be greatly missed.Made me,and i'm betting many others,laugh through some bleak times.
This whole thing has blown out of proportion.Only 2 people who actually regularly listened to the show complained,the rest were just people who happened to hear of it,so in the end,it's just us 2 million listeners who suffer.
It was a mistake,but everyone says things they regret after,so it'd be greatly appreciated if everyone could stop acting like they're on the moral high ground.Russ+Ross apologised,give them back their jobs and let's move on.It'll be forgotten about in a couple of months then Russell would've resigned for nothing.Can't believe how out of hand this has got,perhaps people should be worrying more about the growing rate of knife crime than a minor insult from a comedian.Also,everyone can stop going on about them being overpayed-so are footballers,but that's never mentioned on the news,is it?
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The BBC should be ashamed of themselves - bowing to pressure from the Daily Mail and a few thousand uptight, straight-laced, boring individuals. What about the millions of satisfied listeners who were perfectly happy for RB and JR to grovel, serve their penance and then get on with earning their salary and giving us the hilarious, high quality performances we have come to expect from them? Russell and Jonathan have been encouraged and expected to be edgy, ground-breaking and entertaining - they have delivered until now. What happened to second chances? Everyone should be allowed to make a mistake - it's how we improve. The BBC have shown themselves to be the worse sort of employer - riding on the coattails of talent and success and not willing to stick out their necks to protect their employees when they are needed. Glad I don't work for them - won't be listening to them for long either. Look forward to tuning in to wherever Russell goes next.
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I have never understood why Russell Brand gives Jonathon Ross the cred of being his friend.
Brand seems a natural enfant terrible (just as the exquisite Pete Docherty is a natural romantic)
Ross seems to have to work at being outrageous like Gordon Brown seems to have to work at being natural.
(Be careful of enfant terribles' older brothers. George Bush always comes across to me as an older version of McEnroe the Superbrat).
Now that trying to keep up with Russell Brand gets presenters suspended, can I suggest Eddie Mair sends me Mervyn King's telephone number and I'LL leave the rude messages on his answer machine.
(Now that PM's telephone notice board is defunct, where else is there for rude messages?)
I hear we need risky radio managed by....mangers. Shouldn't they be risky too?
I like the way Sachs is standing by his grand daughter.
Should Tracy Emin's tent be taken down? Some of the blokes embroidered there were v. cross. Emin said 'they shouldn't 'ave dun it then, shud they 'ave?'
Telling your grand dad you're gay is bad enough (when you're outed by Peter Tachell, say), but THIS!!!!
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All ba*ds have a star within, now we have a ba*d who is a star?
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I find it interesting that almost every alopogist for or defender of Brand (and Ross) uses similar phrases: 'sense of perspective', 'blown up out of proportion', 'over-reaction' and 'witch-hunt' are obvious examples. ('get a life' and 'get over it' are simply gawmless fillers, a bit like 'um' and 'er'.)
It all seems to come from the same script.
Similarly, scads of the posts objecting to them used the same phrases as other posts had done -- in other threads so I can't easily paste them in here, nor even go and search them out, but there were a few that turned up over and over again.
One would almost think they were repeating what they'd heard, in each case.
I have the advantage of being neither a fan of the offending pair nor a reader of the red-tops. I found the initial nastiness very unpleasant and thought very little of the pair who had done it; I find the peevish prudes and the media whipping them into a frenzy of vengeful vituperation very unpleasant and think very little of them either. (Particularly since they seem not to know what they are talking about, in many cases...)
What I *really* dislike, though, is the assumption that one has to be absolutely pro- or absolutely anti- Brand and Ross, and pick one side to love and the other to hate -- as for example someone who supports Brand being rude about Sachs, who as far as I can make out has been remarkably calm and sensible throughout, and not tried at any point to make trouble for the people who had insulted (or assaulted) him.
They got it wrong, they need to be kicked. They don't need to be boiled in oil or lynched.
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Disappointing that the Daily Mail brigade has won out again. The vitriol shown by certain members of the public is embarrassing, you would think there are more pressing issues for them to concentrate their feelings upon.
Perhaps both Brand and Ross did go over the top but I get the feeling that a slow news week more than ten days after the incident has resulted in anger for sales sake by certain tabloids without thought to Andrew Sachs and how the publicity is highlighting and dragging out this episode. Brand's and Ross's are the only two shows I listen to on Radio 2 and so for now they have lost me as a listener. I imagine Brand will be glad to take this opportunity to leave a station he has outgrown and I will continue to be a big fan of them both. I am ashamed at the way so many of my fellow Radio 4 listeners have reacted, Sachs has graciously accepted an apology, I think the BBC do need to investigate how something was broadcast that clearly has caused so much alarm but now let's move on people, isn't there a war in Africa or somewhere we can talk about?
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What a complete overeaction by the "great british public". Please pass on my love and support to russell brand. I find thhe pictures of sach's grandaughter in various states of poses and tongue down another womens throat in the press yesterday more offensive than the podcast!!
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To the Brand supporters complaining about victimisation:
Don't worry, he'll soon be on commercial TV and radio where as far as I'm concerned he can be as puerile and offensive as he likes, paid for by the brain-dead advertising, rather than my licence fee.
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I drove home on Tuesday night listening to the Radio 4 PM program and it seemed to me that the majority of the program was taken up with complaints from irate TV Licence Payers raging against Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross. There was even a comment from Gordon Brown. The next news item on the PM program was about the increase in the number of homes being repossessed - no comment from the Prime Minister. What Russell and Jonathan did was wrong but I think the reaction is out of all proportion. I particular object to those who don't think "their" licence fee should be used to pay the salaries of Mr. Brand and Mr. Ross. I am happy for my licence fee being used to pay Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross and fund Radio 3/Radio 5 Live even though I never listen to them! I heard on the news that Jonathan Ross has been suspended - that means no Friday Night show this week - that's a shame. Perhaps the BBC will be broadcasting something that no one could complain about - the test card maybe.
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Previously I commented....'Never mind sacking, they should both have the decency to resign -FAT CHANCE !!'....
Now I have to congratulate Russell Brand for doing the right thing. Just for the record I have found him quite likeable the few times I have seen him and I wish him luck after learning this expensive lesson. As for the odious reptile Jonathon Ross I still say fat chance of the right thing ever being done.
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#67 SSC
What about MY licence fee? Are you implying that yours is somehow more worthy than mine?
What about those listeners who regularly listened to his show? Are their licence fees worth less than yours? It would interesting to look at listening figures for his show; I'm sure they were pretty high (given that it went out late night on Saturday night - hardly primetime).
I perhaps went a bit over the top with the whole "totalitarian state" comment last night, but its a sad day when the forces of tedium and blandness, represented by Paul Darce and their ilk, can crush artistic freedom with just the click of an affronted button or the stroke of a morally indignant pen. As I said before, I think this reaction has very little to do with the telephone abuse of a pensioner and everything to do with the self-appointed moral guardians of the country, taking their chance to attack a popular personality, merely because they don't like them, because they "dress queerly" or have "degenerate" hair.
On another point, it also irks slightly that Brand's contemporaries in comedy didn't come out to support him - the only positive comment I heard came from Davina McCall (to be fair, hardly a paragon of intelligent thought). I wonder if professional jealously played a role in that (lack of) support. I now also wonder if the BBC will struggle to attract innovative artists and comedians to their stations after this, given that in times of strife and controversy, they know they will be cast adrift by their employer. Hence only the least offensive, least challenging entertainers will thrive...
"If you want a picture of the future, imagine Delboy falling through a bar … for ever." (with apologies to George Orwell)
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From what I have read and heard, I think we need to see more of Sach's granddaughter on BBC TV.
I hope some people here who were worried about Sachs commiting suicide will feel a pang of remorse if Bland now does so.
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Once I get a peek behind the mask I'm not going to laugh again if the character revealed is pretty loathsome.
In my view, Brand has redeemed himself over his treatment of Andrew Sachs and his granddaughter by resigning.
Ross, on the other hand, seems to think he'll miraculously escape if only he hides long enough.
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#68 I concur with some of what you say. What right is it for anyone (including me) to deny other licence fee payers the right to enjoy their programs? I don't watch a great deal of the sport on the BBC - in fact, it irks me when they replace reams of programming to make way for Snooker or Darts - but I would never suggest for a moment that it should be taken off air just because I personally don't make use of it. Similarly for TV "personalities" like Jeremy Clarkson or Alan Titmarsh. I personally find them both odious but clearly I'm in a minority - they have a (large) audience and should therefore be accomodated accordingly.
Do I need to quote Voltaire here..?
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JOEL_C 70, Yes, my little licensee feesie weesie is worth much more than yours if you watch trash like R&B.
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JOEL-C (70)
At the risk of stating the obvious, perhaps we* should point out that the fact that worse things happen (civil war in the DR Congo, house repossessions etc) does not make lesser evils (being offensive to retired actors) okay.
And I'm afraid dressing such boorishness up as 'artistic freedom' really won't wash.
The fact that those who now complain didn't listen to the show is also irrelevant. If something is wrong, we have a right to ask for it not to be paid for out of our earnings.
Have many people attacked Brand because he "dresses queerly" or has "degenerate" hair? This is news to me.
*boring old farts from Tunbridge Wells
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I hope the Brand/Ross business has the effect of forcing the BBC to get a tighter grip on what it considers to be appropriate broadcasting. I like a lot of programmes made for the younger generation (my own teenagers have dragged me in!), and love anything edgy or off-beat, but sometimes ''Yoof'' culture is confused with ''Yob'' culture, and hopefully this incident will force the BBC to draw the line between the two.
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Gill 76, Yes, Brand should get a better grip on himself.....so to speak.
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There's always something positive to come out of such sad affairs. For me, it's the fact that I had to check the meaning of 'prank' in the OED; I was surprised to find that the first definition given is 'A malicious trick; a wicked deed; a deception or scheme intended to harm, a hoax.' I'd always thought of a prank as harmless, but it seems I was wrong - and I believe it's the malice, wickedness and intention to harm which have upset so many people.
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#71
I suspect you will... others of her ilk (the Abi Titmusses and Rebecca Looses of the world) have done much the same in similar situations i.e. exploited the publicity to further their own careers. Perhaps she should donate any additional fees she receives in the next few months to a charity of her grandfather's choice? (on second thoughts, she is rather 'fit' - every cloud...?)
#74 Touché!
#75 "And I'm afraid dressing such boorishness up as 'artistic freedom' really won't wash...Have many people attacked Brand because he "dresses queerly" or has "degenerate" hair? This is news to me."
I wasn't suggesting the former point - no-one involved disputes that it was in poor taste. However, I think the subtext of this overreaction is a backlash by the "boring old farts(!)" against a performer perceived to be "other" and "abnormal", and by extension "yoof" culture in general.
The whole sorry episode is a textbook example of a moral panic and a further example of a deep generational divide that afflicts the UK (I should register an interest here, I am 28 - young but certainly not in the 'yoof' demographic).
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So, Andrew Sach's grand-daughter is that distraught about the whole event that she has given her side of the affair with Brand to the Sun.
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I tried hard to work out why the BBC have spent so much time on this storm in a teacup whipped up by the Mail group; it occurred to me this morning after having to endure another tedious 10 minutes of pure smokescreen from reality, that the journos at the BBC finally have some mud to sling back a Ross, for his statements earlier this year about him being worth hundreds of journalists.
Maybe the BBC trust will investigate why so much airtime has been given to this irrelevance!
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Hurrah- as long as we don't have to suffer Ross on Friday night anymore(or any other night of the week come to that) Whatever happerns, they've both got more money than I ever will have, they'll always be better off, at the end of the day there's more important things happening in the world- the Congo- the rainforests and destruction of habitats, global warming, the price of bread....... Oh, pass me a drink someone!
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I guess there are 2 main reasons why Russel may have taken this step. Firstly because his arrogance does not permit him to be open to an enquiry and the possible judgement / rejection which that may bring. Or because it was the right thing to do. How will we ever know - quite simple his behaviour in the future, if we get more of the same we know it was the former and if not then he may have learned a lesson. If so good on you Russel.
Now's the time for the BBC to do us all a favour and start saving some of our license money by getting rid of Ross, he is over paid and over rated.
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It will be interesting to see which organisation will be brave enough to metaphorically stick two fingers up to public opinion and employee either of these 2 guys in the future.
If the BBC keep Ross it wil be a public admission that they are out of control and out of touch
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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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I didn't listen to the show, I've heard them before and know what to expect.
If the BBC employs purile pranksters for a particular audience, that's fine, Ross and Brand did what they're expected to do. If they went too far then responsibility for the show rests solely with those who made the editorial decision to broadcast it.
As there were only 2 complaints in response to the broadcast I guess that people complaining since didn't hear it at the time. It's disingenuous to go looking for something to be affronted by and their complaints should therefore not carry much weight.
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One thing this situation brings to light is the degree of self-loathing and self-flagellation the BBC and its employees is subjecting itself to. Isn't it strange to hear people like Eddie M and John Humphrys referring to and critising the BBC as if it is a completely separate entity. "We requested an interview with the BBC to discuss the matter but no spokesperson was available" - aren't you the BBC? Can't you comment yourself on their behalf?
Perhaps its symptomatic of the level of anger boiling under the surface amongst BBC employees against MT and his reforms (his sketch on this morning's "Today" was especially critical). Indeed, I'm sure part of the undue prominence this story has had on the likes of this program is not entirely unrelated to Ross's previous claim to be "worth a thousand BBC journalists".
I may be alone in feeling sorry for the poor sods who will actually have to carry the can for all this - behind the scenes and away from the cameras naturally; people with careers and probably families. All so that "justice" can be seen to be being done.
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Whilst I agree both Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross are a crass, would it not perhaps also be wise of Andrew Sachs to give his grand-daughter a lesson in quiet dignity. Perpetuating this rubbish by selling her non-existent story to a newspaper smacks of blatant publicity seeking and rather brings her down to the same level as Ross and Brand. Does this really warrant continued front page coverage? Are our journalists really incapable of finding anything else newsworthy at the moment? Get over it and move on!!
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Whilst I agree both Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross are a crass, would it not perhaps also be wise of Andrew Sachs to give his grand-daughter a lesson in quiet dignity. Perpetuating this rubbish by selling her non-existent story to a newspaper smacks of blatant publicity seeking and rather brings her down to the same level as Messrs Ross and Brand. Does this really warrant continued front page coverage? Are our journalists really incapable of finding anything else newsworthy? Get over it and move on
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Whilst I agree both Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross are crass, would it not perhaps also be wise of Andrew Sachs to give his grand-daughter a lesson in quiet dignity? Perpetuating this rubbish by selling her so called story to a newspaper smacks of blatant publicity seeking and rather brings her down to the same level as Messrs Ross and Brand. Does this really warrant continued front page coverage? Are our journalists really incapable of finding anything else newsworthy? Get over it and move on.
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Am becoming less inclined to 'belong' to this blogging community or even be a Radio 4 listener...the more I read.. It seems diversity is paper thin, that unless a status quo is assumed and adhered to then those with and in power will pull plugs.. I like Mr Ross I like his humour, I think he's got a good heart and is also someone who says outrageous things in the moment and messed up and knows that. J_O_E_L_-_C is not alone in feeling for the employees affected by this and I think the BBC has a long way to go now to win back the trust of listeners..and any entertainer who works as hard as it seems Mr Ross does not only for 'the public' but also to raise money for charities. ..dont care about his wage to be honest, we live in an imbalanced world, why should I pick on him?
What a wotten mess.
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May I point out to anyone who says 'Get over it and move on' that if they're here commenting they have neither got over it nor moved on.
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I am amazed that some listeners have been prepared to defend this stunt on the grounds that it "was funny".
Please would one of you come back onto the board to explain to me and the majority exactly what was funny about it - ie explain the joke (apart from the fact that it uneccessarily humilated two innocent people and revealed the private life of one of them, because that's not a good enough reason)
Alf Garnett was funny not because he insulted minority groups, but because he was a bigot - the joke was on him. It's the same for many characters in Little Britain.
So go on please - explain the joke. It's obviously so subtle that I have missed it completely.
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Sid @ 78, 'prank' may have meant something pretty nasty back when it was coined, like 'mischief', but it has been debased over the years from 'serious' to 'trivial' in its received meaning. Collins dictionary of 1998 calls it 'a trick or joke', and Webster's 1998 'a mischiefous or frolicsome act'.
So I am fairly sure that calling it a 'prank' (as the Indy headline this morning does) is an attempt to make it appear trivial, not worth bothering about -- not a criminal assault at all, no, really, just a bit of boyish fun. And I agree with you that it is the fact that it was not really 'just a bit of boyish fun', but an assault on an elderly man, perpetrated by men well over thirty who ought to have grown out of a mentality that finds it hilarious to ring doorbells and run away, and an abuse of power by people who ought to have known better, that is the reason so many people are incensed about it.
The world might divide, in fact, into practical jokers, who find it funny to humiliate other people, and practical jokees, who for some obscure reason don't find it funny to be humiliated. What we have here might just be the victims, and those who sympathise more with the victims than with their tormentors, seeing that they have an opportuinty to express their feelings safely and doing so.
Of course they will be called 'spoilsports' and 'fuddy-duddy' and 'lacking in a sense of humour' and asked 'can't you take a joke?' by the people who say the same things to the isolated victims of cruelty-masquerading-as-humour in ordinary life; but for once, not being isolated, they dare to say what they think instead of smiling weakly and going along with a 'joke' they don't find funny at all.
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I think these two characters should be on pay-per-view TV, then their "Value" to the public would be appropriately rewarded. As for radio, I don't know if pay-per-listen radio exists, but it would be a suitable medium.
Yesterday someone on the Today programme said comedy is about pushing the boundaries. Not true. Comedy is about causing people to laugh. Plenty of laughs can be achieved without resorting to abuse, foul language etc.
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I do not believe even a small percentage of those who have complained were listening to the original broadcast. The comments may have been misguided but certainly not serious enough to provoke such a response. If you don't like Brand and Ross then don't listen to them - and Eddie its beneath you and PM to provoke further complaint by broadcasting the comments again. Really, what was your intention ?
Petrol and flames are words that come to mind.
Even at 49 I recognise Brand and Ross are the best talents the BBC has on its books. My children, 18, 20 and 23 rate them too. I hope they don't dilute their brand of humour because there are lots of programmes I can listen to if I want something less challenging. Those that have complained about the follow-up broadcasts on PM etc should seek out these bland offerings rather than offend themselves by listening to Ross and Brands provocative charms.
What a sad loss.
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While I am delighted that Mr Brand has left,( although history does NOT reveal whether or not he will get the golden handshake, bonuses, compensation, pension, salary etc paid, so I have to assume he will leave with his funds well intact), and the fate of Mr Ross awaits--- ( same comments re salary etc.-) the other very disappointing feature of this whole affair is the way the BBC has reacted only after extensive public outcry- they should have had the common sense and courage to act, immediately, and without having to have been led to it in the way they have. Leadership is best from the front.The department head should be sacked, without compensation.
My 2nd point- surely what has happened breaks some laws regarding decency, defamation, encitement or something, and a prosecution should follow?
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Why is such a big deal being made about all this? Comedians sometimes offend people - an apology should be made, and Brand and Ross should take Sachs and his granddaughter out for dinner, have a chat and make up.
God you'd think he'd killed the pair of them the way the media jump on it like this. Listeners who were disgusted should be listening to another show because Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross don't exactly sugar-coat their words.
Guys, know that some of us out here are behind you and don't think your jobs should be at stake.
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I cannot believe the busy jobs worth people that write on pages like this all day complaining, wont just let these two men have a slapped wrist and move on!
People make mistakes! Yes it was crude and yes it was completely out of order. HOWEVER they have apologised!
Millions of people dont watch Jonathon Ross each friday night and millions of people arent fans of Russell Brand for the sake of it!
They are great at what they do, have contributed massively to the BBC and are genuinly sorry!
Russell Brand is probably more aticulate and clever than most people that write on this page. ( well def me anyway ) ha
Its just boring move on!!! Its people like you that bring this country down
Ps do yourselves a favour and watch Russell on YouTube in his interviews on top US chat shows! Genius! Especially on Jimmy Kimmel!!
X
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(91) hazifantasi - Do you feel so out of it that you are not inclined to "belong"? Do you think we all belong to the same ideal world that has you sectioned on the outside.
NO. Just look back on the comment history. This community has their own serious divisions.
Do you think that making a comment on a site that mainly agrees with your views is as meaningful as putting a comment on a site that clearly you think is far removed from your views?
My view is Mr Ross is being defended heavily by the BBC. They are somehow loyal. I personally do not see the attraction of a person that has no self control. I also see him hogging too much of the opportunities for up coming talent. He might be good at heart, but I suspect as with lots of comedians he has a serious problem. I fear what this will do to him as a person. Yes, be nice to him. Over hyping a person that is clearly outside their ability to cope professionally is not being nice either.
One of the best tests for humour is to imagine the same stunt in a small club atmosphere with the injured parties family in the audience. If you need to consider having heavier security staff then it is not "humour" it is "shock". To do the same behind a safe microphone hidden in a studio is cowardly and bullying. It is akin to children sending text messages in the modern school bullying scenario. Most bullies think their actions are funny and gather in groups whooping with glee sharing the texts. That's my view.
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Am I the only one who would have bet money on Ross being the one to "do the right thing" and resign. That it was Brand; shows, perhaps, that he is not the scoundrel he, at first, appears.
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The BBC is obsessed with and panders to it's 'yoof' audience, because the BBC is stuffed with older pinko-lefty bureaucrats of zero creativity, whose idea of "edgy" comedy is being rude to easy/unfashionable targets (Noel Edmonds, James Blunt etc.) like school-yard bullies.
This p***-poor broadcasting confirms and reinforces the behavior patterns of a segment of modern 'yoof' and pollutes the country generally, and, I am afraid to say, will never make you at the BBC cool, ever.
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LISTEN!!! all you lot with or without a life, rus was only makin a joke he is a comedian for gods sake, take it as it was meant and nothing more get a life,all you ppl that take it as anything different!!! everyone makes jokes there is no decent reason why rus shoulda quited the beeb at all just other people tryin to make their mark by making sum one leave (yeah i know im writing like in msning it before you comment on my poor grammar and spellin i did go to privvy skool and this is who i am i couldnt give a t£$s what you think to be honest!!) dont you think that there are far more important things to be worrying about such as the so called 'credit cruch' translated its the recession!!! get a life y'all and stop moaning about stuff that aint even that important. God you ppl make me so angry, aint you lot watched the news yet? aint ya seen what situ we're in ??? the country's goin down the pan and this is what you moan about ??? WAKE UP!!!!! SMELL THE COFFEE!!! WE ARE IN TROUBLE AS A COUNTRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! dont bother with this media there is far more important issues you need to be thinking about than what you watch on the box GOD DONT YOU GET IT !!!!!!!
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Am I correct in believing that if one only has radio and no television, one does not pay a licence fee to the BBC?
If I am, then people not paying their licence fee would not prevent the likes of 'Manuelgate' happening again.
Hilary de Birch
South Shields
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
Shakespeare would have made a fantastic play out of this story - it has everything - hubris and bad judgement, sex and money, politics and opportunism, public morality, youth and age, hypocrisy and comedy, but not perhaps tragedy.
If someone did write the play today, of course, all the main characters could play themselves!
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Bring them both back for a Christmas special.
I am not a big fan of either. But fairs fair. So they went a bit far, they are comedians / entertainers, they make a living pushing the boundaries and the TV companies get the benefit. The BBC are responsible they created the Brand / Ross mix they had the chance to pull the show and didnt. When it all went wrong they left them high and dry.
Ross - You dont deserve the push
Brand - You'll go far
Good luck to the pair of you, this is the BBC's loss
Where is this going to end, there will be no comedy / entertainment soon with this hanging over all of our heads. Sachs granddaughter we had never heard of, bet she can't believe her luck, she's a household name now.
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I have no time for either Brand or Ross but A Sachs (who surely is a man of the world) and his grandaughter are both adults and she actually DID have an affair with Brand. What I and so many other people really resent is the salaries they receive. I think the Brand/Ross saga should end, perhaps with Ross being fined £1m and the money going to fund a prize in a search for fresh comedy talent for the BBC with a contract for the winner with perhaps a sane £50K salary.
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All day today, the BBC has been describing the BBC Trust as 'representing' the license fee payer. I wonder, what sense of the word 'representing' is here being employed? I do not know that they represent me, and if they do, how can I arrange for other representatives to be appointed?
Coming on the back of previous scandals this has further eroded my own confidence in the BBC. The corporation seems unconcerned that the public has no choice but to go on subscribing to this monolith, whether we watch or listen to its broadcast output.
For the record, I'd be happy to cancel my subscription right now, but I doubt if the BBC's friends in high places are likely to make that option available to me.
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The Sun newspaper runs a story today revealing that Russell Brand shouted "que" in bed [as reported by the grand daughter of Andrew Sachs]. It seems that this lady has received a lot of publicity from this episode, and while criticising Brand and Ross, is happy to take on a paid role as arbiter of acceptable behaviour from celebrities.
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Though not having listened to the show myself, I have always known Russel Bran as a genuine, intelligent and undeniably funny comedian with the unfortunate curse of often going too far. However, the BBC has let him down, as this show was pre-recorded and must surely have been monitored in the recording process. If the BBC really objected to it all so much, they really ought not to have aired the show. I have also lost a lot of faith in the British public. After the media got hold of the news they were quick to judge and their prejudices have greatly contributed to people who are simply jumping on the bandwagon to make such a big deal over a petty prank.
I know myself and the rest of the youth community are backing Russel all the way, and know we will definitely be seeing him on another channel soon, hopefully one which supplies better treatment of their employees. I look forwards to seeing his new show, whatever it might be, and the ratings will speak for themselves.
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hello just floating (100)..guess what..I didnt read all the comments!
In the same way that the complainers didnt listen to the show!
I remember the days when Keith Allen used to fly around the Albany Empire suspended from the ceiling wearing S&M gear swearing and spitting at the audience. It was quite funny.
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hilaryjervis (104) - There's a bit of a flaw in your logic.
You are correct in believing that no licence fee is payable if you only have a radio.
You are however wrong in thinking that "people not paying their licence fee would not prevent the likes of 'Manuelgate' happening again"
If there is no-one paying a licence fee, the BBC has no money to make radio programmes.
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SoU 84, I think Brand is supposed to be on Ch 4 tonight, but I doubt if Buzzcocks on BBC will go ahead with him on it.
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I notice the granddaughter's photo hasn't appeared on the PM blog yet.
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Now that a single comedian has showed us all how to act with honour and responsibility when bad mistakes are made, are we now going to start seeing the heads of politicians and bankers? Don't worry, I think I know the answer.
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I think its disgusting the way the Media and the BBC have reacted to this, it is a witch-hunt, absolutely. If you don't like Russell Brand then don’t listen to him, you can just change the station or switch it off.
I really feel ashamed that our national broadcast company has felt that the opinions of people who don’t even listen to this show, have enough power to sack someone over something this insignificant. Well you have lost out on one of the funniest radio shows on the BBC….well done
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"103. At 1:53pm on 30 Oct 2008, rezello wrote:
LISTEN!!! all you lot with or without a life, rus was only makin a joke he is a comedian for gods sake, take it as it was meant and nothing more get a life,all you ppl that take it as anything different!!! everyone makes jokes there is no decent reason why rus shoulda quited the beeb at all just other people tryin to make their mark by making sum one leave (yeah i know im writing like in msning it before you comment on my poor grammar and spellin i did go to privvy skool and this is who i am i couldnt give a t?$s what you think to be honest!!) dont you think that there are far more important things to be worrying about such as the so called 'credit cruch' translated its the recession!!! get a life y'all and stop moaning about stuff that aint even that important. God you ppl make me so angry, aint you lot watched the news yet? aint ya seen what situ we're in ??? the country's goin down the pan and this is what you moan about ??? WAKE UP!!!!! SMELL THE COFFEE!!! WE ARE IN TROUBLE AS A COUNTRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! dont bother with this media there is far more important issues you need to be thinking about than what you watch on the box GOD DONT YOU GET IT !!!!!!!"
Wossy says - " Thanks "
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I PAY MY LICENCE-FEE PURELY TO WATCH 'SONGS OF PRAISE'.
SOMETIMES, I PUSH THE BOAT OUT AND WATCH 'THE ANTIQUES ROADSHOW'.
IF PEOPLE WANT 'EDGY HUMOUR', THERE'S ALWAYS 'LAST OF THE SUMMER WINE'.
Ask yourself: do you really want to know a creep like that???
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eml 119, I sometimes watch all three of those in a row. Then it's off to bed with a cup of Horlicks. I did, however, complain about last week's Big Sing on SOP being dumbed down (honest, I really did) and got no reply. I mean, Albert Hall has a really big organ (the building) and I couldn't even hear it. A so-called religious music program with no organ and a female singer exposing her mammaries. What is this world coming to?! I want my license fee back.
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#79 JOEL C
"The whole sorry episode is a textbook example of a moral panic and a further example of a deep generational divide that afflicts the UK (I should register an interest here, I am 28 - young but certainly not in the 'yoof' demographic)."
-I'm 29 and hope Ross is sacked. I'm pretty certain I would have had the same view at age 25.
I feel if you asked young people who have themselves been bullied via mobile phone or over the net (which is pretty common now sadly), you would find less of a 'generational divide' than you might think.
We have no scientific figures on this but apparently initially 1 in 2 responses to Radio 1 were negative as well. Support for Ross and Brand only rose amongst youngsters once politicians got involved, apparently.
There is a significant minority of young people (1 in 5 according to responses from Newsbeat) who do feel offended, so it's not so clear cut.
Hope that helps.
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FLASH: Lesley Douglas has resigned.
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JessBinx (111) - 'Russell Bran' eh? A regular comedian.
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#87 JOEL C
"I may be alone in feeling sorry for the poor sods who will actually have to carry the can for all this - behind the scenes and away from the cameras naturally; people with careers and probably families. All so that "justice" can be seen to be being done."
-Actually Joel I agree with you on this one. A lot of people are saying 'it's the fault of those who allowed it to be broadcast' (comedians in particular are using this tack to defend Ross and Brand).
I believe 95% of the blame should be laid at the door of Ross and Brand and no-one else. Ross in particular has 20 odd years of broadcasting experience behind him, surely he knows when to pull back from the edge. This time, he didn't.
Also, let's just say a scenario occurred where the producer had intervened and said 'that's not going out over the air' - it would still have left at least 1 offensive message on Sachs' voicemail in the real world and only Ross and Brand are to blame for that.
These stars are so powerful no-one wants to say no to them.
I have more sympathy with the production team and even the senior editors who allowed transmission.
Ross can take the fall, he has plenty of money and ITV will have him back. In fact (and to be fair Brand has done this) - Ross should honorably try to protect these underlings by falling on his sword himself.
The behind the scenes staff aren't so secure, and they should be allowed to keep their jobs, after some harsh 'penance'.
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Still waiting to see how quickly Eddie's team can get it on the blog, while on air. Bit of a challenge.
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Tell 121, HELLO!!!! this is not a bullied mobile phone call, it only done to one famous person every saturday, if you are in the fame game, DOH!!!!
With my career, I get harrassing phone calls, I would grateful and glad if Russell Brand phoned me instead. Tell 121 to get a life, over exaggering a bit!!!!!!!!!!!
WHAT DO YOU THINK A STUDENT IS THE SAME AS A CELEBRITY!!!! BUILDING YOURSELF AN EMPIRE BUILDING HERE!!!!
DREAM ON!!!!!!!!!!!!
IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE OUR FUTURE GO AND BURY YOUR HEAD!!!!!!!!!!!
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118!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THANK YOU, WELL DONE, BLESS YOU, YOU SAID IT ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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#127
Eh? I can't understand what on earth you are going on about.
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Getting confused with this topic of licence fees, because all who pay, are not into conservative entertainment, what are you quoting, we are all different individuals, do you want the bbc only to give service to prudes and conservative. Does not all station try and service for all tastes. If it's not what you want at that time, change channel. Nobody is forcing anyone.
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OK, a questionto ponder.
There is a group of people (call it 'Group A') who find it funny to ring someone's doorbell and then run away.
There is a group of people (call it 'Group B') who do not find it funny to be called to the door to answer the bell, and find nobody there.
If any member of Group A is also a member of Group B, why is it funny when it is done to someone else if it is not funny when it is done to you?
If any member of group B is also a member of group A, why is it funny to do to someone else what you dislike when it is done to you?
Isn't anyone who belongs to both groups a howling hypocrite, really? Not 'cutting edge comedian' (crude jokes about sex aren't cutting edge, for goodness' sake: they are around in *Chaucer*!), just hypocrite.
What, I wonder, do Ross's wife and children think about his behaviour on that show: do they think it was hilarious, or are they cringing and hoping that nobody notices that he's any relation of theirs? And are they now 'fair game' to anyone who wants to make similar 'jokes' at *his* expense?
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Once an entertainer starts using lewed and obscene material, then you know they've run out of ideas. Get rid of Ross the toss and get someone younger with a fresh script.
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What a washed out bunch of people we have running the BBC. Ross was wrong to do what he did and that is agreed by all, but then to suspend for three months is tantamount to giving him a holiday to get over it. Does public opinion count for nothing in a public company. If I refuse to pay my licence will I not have to watch BBC for three months. If that is the case then I will stop paying with pleasure.
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dualclothears @ 133, a rather expensive holiday: it's costing him about 1.5 million pounds sterling.
If you refuse to pay for your TV licence you may well get 3 months' holiday, at Her Majesty's Pleasure, as a penalty for non-payment, but they may insist on providing BBC programmes in the slammer. Sorry to pour cold water over the idea.
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this is stupid people that didnt even listen to theshow are complaining and if people didnt complain at frist than no one would have heard about the whole thing
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I think his resignation is the worst thing that could ever happen to BBC Radio, especially radio 2.
He finally made BBC Radio hip and interesting. You knew what you were getting when you hired him and that was possibly the best decision ever made.
Everyone needs to get over themselves, controllers and listeners alike. He's a comedian and harmless.
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dear bbc,
i have been watching the news with regaurds to the russel brand and jonhathan ross sittutation and i must say the way in which they have both been treated is disgusting! it was a silly prank in which an apoligy was made. the matter has been taken to all heights resulting in 3 people without jobs and one hanging in the balance!
personally i think it has been bought to the countries attention to such extremes for sheer publisity purposes please now leave the matter as they have apologised.
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120 McNickle: Is that some sort of perverted play on the word knickers?
As for your gratuitous use of the word 'mammaries', we (the moral majority) have ways of finding where you live - we're moral, but we're not nice!
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eml 138, Horlicks or mammaries? Horlicks is a hot malted milk drink. Mammaries are the word I use because they don't allow me to use the 't' word here.
Everybody here already knows where I live. See my front fence and cat on the Autumn thread.
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139 DM: Isn't it odd that you can't use the old, tried-and-tested Anglo-Saxon word? But the Beeb's more than happy to devote hours to horse-racing, the National Lottery, and anything else designed to turn us into a nation of gambling addicts.
How moral, how hypocitical. How sad.
Keep the faith, D.
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Interesting fight back by some in the Beeb: Many say its censorship: 'destroying creative genius of pushing the boundaries' and this is the end to 'edgy comedy' but if I was to post a rude and offensive blogpost on a BBC site it would be removed by the BBC and then I would be barred from posting ones in future. Where is the right of free expression gone now? I might be pushing the boundaries of human expression, if only a little crudely!
It appears the BBC is happy to censor its public but not its elite overpaid stars! If it would be happy to ban me from blogging on its sites for rude or offensive behaviour, why not J Ross from broadcasting to millions.
Double standards?
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Personally I'm really sorry to see Russell go. I really enjoyed his radio show on a Saturday night - it's got me through some miserable times this year.
I respect his decision to go though. It was perhaps the right thing to do although my problem with this whole issue is that I wonder how many of those who complained had actually heard the broadcast, rather than just reading about it in the Daily Mail and going becoming Mr/Mrs Angry. Folk have a right to complain of course if something offends but I have no patience with this 'second hand outrage' that seems to go on.
All the best Russell!
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eml 140, We have blue tits and coal tits in our garden.
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Tr 141, Crudities with dips are a nice snack.
NIK2008 142, No times are that miserable.
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russell brand was a man of this era, i mean who can say that he didnt go with modern social groups????
i used to listen to his radio show every week and furrully enjoyed...... i think the situation was blown out of proportion
and yes i did hear what he said on the show and im not sure whats so wrong about it!!!!!! surley bullying is recognised as a way of life and not only that but it was the lowest form of bullying.
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DM144 - No tits in my garden, sadly. Am I the only one who misses Don from Gardener's World?
Probably.
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jixyking 145 - there's bullying and bullying, pranks and pranks. Back in the day, when Andrew Sachs' son, John, was a DJ for Swansea Sound, Sachs Sr. thought it was awfully clever to ring Junior, live on air, pretending to be an old lag who'd buried 100 grand in a corner of Singleton Park. You can imagine the chaos that caused!
It's not on the same scale as the Brand/Ross thing, but Andrew has been on the other side of this - he's no virgin. And perfectly willing to use his family for career advantage.
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evenmorelovely@147
"...It's not on the same scale..."
So, your point would be..?
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Evenmorelovely........Re 147.
The only link in your point is the use of a telephone. Do you really fail to see the crucial thing is the obscene , hateful content in the Ross/Brand call?
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I don`t think that there was any need for Russell to resign. He was egged on by Jonathan. And why, when the BBC was asked not to broadcast, did they carry on and broadcast it anyway? There was about 2 weeks for them to edit the recording, surely the BBC is part to blame for disregarding a resonable request. Russell was not entirely to blame, the whole situation could have been avoided if the BBC had respected the request.
BRING BACK RUSSELL BRAND...WE NEED YOU AND LOVE YOU, you brighten the miserable evenings.
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As the story begins to fade from the media, we must not let ourselves forget poor old Georgina Baillie - the girl so deeply hurt and offended by the phone calls Brand & Ross made to her Granddad. The girl who wishes her Granddad hadn't been put through all this and just wants it all forgotten so that he can get over the whole ordeal.
Well, you'd imagine that she and her whole family would be glad that the story is finally starting to drift out of the media and all the unwanted attention is at last beginning to fade away.
So how odd, then, that she's sold her exclusive story to OK Magazine, as this will surely keep the story in the limelight for longer than she'd want to? Especially given that she's already sold another story to today's Sun, where she labels Russell Brand a "whore" whilst posing topless to accompany the story.
All the more baffling when you consider that she's also sold an "exclusive TV interview" to Channel 5 to discuss the issue, and to declare that actually she thinks Brand & Ross should be reinstated.
The poor girl mustn't realise that the story just isn't going to go away if she keeps talking about it in the press. All she wants is for her Granddad to be left alone.
Thankfully, on a personal note, things seem to be looking up for her, as she's apparently been offered some modelling work. Good for her! Even though it'll be the last thing she's thinking of in these tough times, she might even end up making a couple of quid out of all this to ease the terrible pain she and her family are going through.
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So Brand has resigned...so what?
Apart from making a dramatic exit from the BBC I'm not sure that it will make any difference to changing the BBCs perspective on things.
Brand has plenty of opportunities to continue his style of comedy...my only worry is that he has conquered America now and might disappear over there never to be seen again.
I personally hold the view that his radio show was entertaining, creative and unique and something that is very rare on radio. it was insensitive but he apologised. If Brand's comedy style was not as contraversial as it is...he would not be the talented comedian he is....am I fan...what do you think?
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like a previous post stated, if you don`t like something, you just don`t watch it. Everyone complaining does so with second hand information. while i do not agree with what happened, i do not believe that there was any need for Brand to resign. they apologised, gold stars and respect for that, many wouldn`t have! they would have said "it was just a bit of fun", brand knew he had overstepped the mark, he quite often does but i have noticed he always apologises straight away. there are many things on tv i cant stand and find revolting, i steer clear, simple.
i just hope that brand has the strength to stay strong and not end up doing something drastic because of all the negativity he is receiving, it would be such a shame. i also hope he knows that there are still many people out here who support him and want him to come back soon. he is not a bad person, gets carried away and is easily led by those with a stronger influence.
GOOD LUCK RUSSELL, WE WANT YOU BACK STAY STRONG.
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