Brand resigns over joke row

October 29, 2008

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Russell Brand

RUSSELL Brand is resigning from his Radio 2 show in the wake of the controversy over calls made to Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs, he said tonight.

His abrupt departure comes as Jonathan Ross, who also took part in the prank, issued a public apology over his "juvenile and thoughtless" remarks.

Former heroin addict Brand has presented his Radio 2 show since November 2006 and is thought to be paid more than £200,000 a year by the BBC.

Brand said in a statement that he took "complete responsibility" for the incident and that he got "caught up in the moment".

Brand said: "As I only do the radio show to make people laugh I've decided that given the subsequent coverage I will stop doing the show."

He apologised to listeners, but because they would be "upset" that his Saturday night BBC show cannot continue.

Brand, 33, and Ross, 47, were suspended by the BBC today, 11 days after the offensive phone call was broadcast on Radio 2.

In a statement tonight, Brand said: "I have apologised to Andrew Sachs for the rude messages I left on October 18th and he has graciously accepted.

"I've loved working for the BBC and am very proud of the shows myself, Matt Morgan, Nic Philps, Mr Gee and Noel Gallagher have made and I apologise to all of them for damaging their careers - except Noel, whose band are doing quite well.

"I got a bit caught up in the moment and forgot that at the core of the rude comments and silly songs were the real feelings of a beloved and brilliant comic actor and a very sweet and big hearted young woman.

"Apologies are also owed to the loyal listeners of the show who enjoyed its shambolic spirit and anarchy and will be upset that it cannot continue.

"I take complete responsibility and offer nothing but love and contrition and I hope that now Jonathan and the BBC will endure less forensic wrath."

He signed off "Hare Krishna".

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Mike, Manchester (29/10/2008 at 18:21)

What makes this mess even worse is that it now turns out Brand DID actually sleep with Andrew Sachs' granddaughter! It's not much of a joke when you brag on air about a private individual who's not even in the public eye.

Totally juvenile and deserved to go, as does Ross.

Grahame Gadman (29/10/2008 at 18:51)

Can't really understand those people posting comments in support of the pair, or ringing the various radio call shows to claim it was all a bit of fun. Having seen the footage they looked like two teenagers you don't really trust if left alone in the house.But one is 47 and the other 33. For me, it's a bit too close to happy slapping, filming it on the mobile and sending it to the victim's nearest and dearest. Or, the clearly bright and well-read Russel sleeping with another man's wife and ringing him to boast about it simply so he riff on the word 'cuckold'.
Nah, the comedy of cruelty should stop at slapstick without proceeding to a slap in the face of innocent bystanders.
gjg Denton.

Marc (29/10/2008 at 19:16)

Oh well. Bye Russ.

I am not a number (29/10/2008 at 19:20)

The Beeb should be held responsible for lowering the level of public taste by employing people like Brand who just arent a bit funny to anyone with any appreciation of a true comic. This is nothing short of state sponsored, low level filth. Perhaps now this despicable organisation will examine its policy of imposing degenerate nonsense on an ever increasingly ignorant public, long starved of quality broadcasting!

The Seeker, Eccles (29/10/2008 at 19:38)

Good riddance. The time has now arrived to clean up British television and radio.
The public have voiced their opinon, But why doesn't Ross resign? £18 MILLION - THATS WHY.

AnimoAtqueFide, Shaw (29/10/2008 at 19:44)

Interesting that Brand has done the gentlemanly thing (at last!) & resigned while Ross is keeping quiet after this disgusting situation devloped.
He has been living the good life at our expense for years. No presenter can possibly be worth a salary of £6m a year.
The BBC seems to have appalling taste in presenters - I don't listen to Radio Mcr's breakfast-time programmes now as I find Dianne Oxberry & Alan Beswick stomach-churningly bad.

Pippa, Manchester (29/10/2008 at 20:07)

Makes no difference to me whether either of them stay or go, but what I find fascinating is that Andrew Sachs himself hasn't made a complaint, and has accepted both their apologies. Also, his granddaughter who was previously unknown and trying to break into a modelling career has had her nam and photo splashed everywhere. Who was the executive who allowed the pre-recorded show to go out ? Strange that he/she hasn't been named. As I have said previously, bad taste yes, but something definitely stinks here. Oh, and I would imagine that neither Brand or Ross are terribly worried about finding other employment.

Mad Angela, St George's, Hulme , (29/10/2008 at 20:23)

I'm afraid Jonathan Ross should have had more sense, the shows Jonathan has been getting recently like presenting Awards Etc, I think he has blown it now, he would have been a TV icon.

David,North M/C (29/10/2008 at 22:11)

I think that the media has gone too far with this incident especially with the Prime Minister and the leader of th opposition voicing their concerns when there are far more important matters to deal with.

The Horse, Cheadle (29/10/2008 at 22:13)

Ano victory for the nanny state. Funniest thing Sachs has been involved in for 34 years!

gillykins, urmston (29/10/2008 at 22:32)

My daughter loves this guy (not sure why - I dont find him funny at all). At least he has resigned and will be counting the cost of the tasteless act. Pity we still have to put up with Jonathon Ross tho. Can't people be funny without pulling silly games like this?

Grief Tourist, Trumpton (29/10/2008 at 23:39)

The coverage this has received is ridiculous and has largely been tabloid led, ironically it smells of the same lynch mob mentality these same rags condemn political correctness for.

dessie, manchester (30/10/2008 at 08:34)

this gut is a poor excuse for a comedian, i watched a dvd of his last week it was rubbish!!

Elb Owdeep (30/10/2008 at 08:43)

a few jokes which the minority but most notably the pc brigade have taken issue with. nothing better to whinge about at the moment jokers??? no policemen being too rough when arresting criminals? enough multi-ethinicity in the armed forces?

Guten Tag, Manchester (30/10/2008 at 09:34)

I'm a fan of Ross's Saturday morning radio show and have been since it started. But I listened to the calls to Mr Sachs answer phone, and I've got to say, this is just another way of humiliating a person to get a cheap laugh. Doesn't matter whether it's a 'happy slapping' incident or an anonymous indecent phonecall, the results are the same to the receiver. Put yourself in Mr Sachs shoes for one minute. Would you like to hear details from the person who has spelt with your grandchild or even child via answer phone, then hear that it's been broadcasted to millions? Humiliation seems to be the new British alternative comedy. And I know if it was me, Brand would be chewing knuckle sandwich by now.

Jay B, oldham (30/10/2008 at 09:59)

wasnt ross boasting the other month about how much he's paid?

sack him. dont pay him another penny.

that may please the licence payers and free up some money to make some decent tv!

The Seeker, Eccles (30/10/2008 at 10:13)

I'm not a fan of Ross, or The BBC. I object to the licence fee - because of what they spend it on. The likes of Ross who is being paid £16,000 per day!

Mr Angry, Bury (30/10/2008 at 11:07)

I'm not a big fan of either of them. Russell Brand I dont find funny at all, Jonathan Ross can be but oversteps the mark, and when he is interviewing an attractive female guest on his show he gets rude and inappropriate.

Having said that, I think too much is being made of this by the usual tabloid ranters. The call was OK'd by the producers before it went out and, as far as I know, Andrew Sachs has accepted the apoogy so that should be the end if it but the right wing BBC bashers have latched on to it with their anti public service broadcasting agenda, shades of Norman Tebbit who used to regularly whine on about the BBC as it didnt replicate Sun editorial stances in its new bulletins.

Time to shut up about it

Bean B4, manchester (30/10/2008 at 11:57)

Russel Brand is not amusing. He went down like a lead balloon in the US and has shown his true colours here. Time to disappear and get a proper jon Russel.

Ross - good at reading a script, but somewhat over-paid.

Betty's Hotpot, Cheadle (30/10/2008 at 12:19)

I think Ross is a dead man walking no matter what happends. How can the BBC sack Angus Deayton and not Ross? The bottom line is if these two were actually funny and liked by the vast majority of the UK it would have blown over, but many many viewers woud never miss not seeing and hearing these two again on our screens and Radio.

lizard (30/10/2008 at 12:30)

M.E.N, who was going to be offended by my post?.. one of you related to Ross?, that why you deemed it unworthy of showing?. Perhaps you could furnish me with the appropriate person/s to complain to about moderators censoring posts because of personal reasons, as that could only be the reason for not publishing my comment on this article. My email box awaits your reply.

Union City Blues, Manchester (30/10/2008 at 12:34)

Try and comment about some important news instead of wasting your time on these numpties

Bean B4, manchester (30/10/2008 at 13:11)

Lizard: you are clearly a novice on here. You will find that the MEN's censors are arbitary, unpredictable, illogical and spoilsports. I often suspect an agenda.

Marc (30/10/2008 at 13:26)

Bean, too right!

JTC Formerley JimC (30/10/2008 at 13:47)

Spot on bean.

They should eat a pepperami the wimps.

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