JONATHAN Ross's £6million-a-year job was saved by BBC bosses as Radio 2 controller Lesley Douglas took the blame for the Andrew Sachs controversy.

The BBC star was suspended without pay for 12 weeks and told he would not be able to bring the BBC into disrepute again. Ross will lose upto £1.5m by being suspended. The decision came as complaints about the prank calls topped more than 35,000.

BBC Director-General Mark Thompson said that 'ultimate responsibility' for such incidents ultimately lies with 'executive producers, producers and controllers'.

But Dame Liz Forgan, who is former managing director of BBC Network Radio and who is chair of the Scott Trust, owners of the M.E.N, said: “I am absolutely horrified that Lesley has gone. I think we are all losing our wits here.

 “This was an ugly, revolting and infantile incident. It should never have been broadcast, certainly requiring suspensions and financial penalties, all the rest of it, but it was a mistake, not a crime.

“Lesley Douglas is one of the outstanding broadcasters of her generation. She has probably brought more fun, happiness and pleasure to millions of licence payers than many other people in the BBC.

“I do not see how the licence payers can possibly be served by her resignation. I think the BBC has lost its wits.

“I think there are many penalties short of resignation that could have happened here."

And she added: “This was an edgy show. Red lights should have been flashing all over it. How on earth it took everyone a week and a half to wake up and do anything about it I don't know.”

Mr Thompson said that Ross's contribution to the Russell Brand show was 'utterly unacceptable' and there would be 'tight discipline' in future. Earlier, Russell Brand apologised and quit the BBC.

 He said it was a final warning for Ross, who will return to work in mid-January next year.

He said: "The ultimate editorial responsibility for BBC programmes lies with producers and editorial managers.

"The consequences of errors of judgment are therefore more serious for managers.

"Nonetheless, Jonathan Ross's contribution to this edition of the Russell Brand show was utterly unacceptable and cannot be allowed to go uncensured or without sanction.

"A 12-week suspension is an exceptional step, but I believe it is a proportionate response to Jonathan's role in this unhappy affair.

"Jonathan Ross has already made a comprehensive and unreserved personal apology to Andrew Sachs and his granddaughter.

"I believe that he fully understands the seriousness of what has happened. I have made very clear to him the central importance of the clause in his contract about not bringing the BBC into disrepute.

"We agree that nothing like this must ever happen again and that tight discipline will be required for the future."

Ms Douglas, who has revived Radio 2 by attracting a new audience of 30-somethings, said it was right that she took "responsibility" for the phone calls and the decision to resign was hers alone.

She was a popular figure and her resignation will disappoint many people within the BBC.

The Controller said: "It is a matter of the greatest possible sadness to me that a programme on my network has been the cause of such a controversy.

"I would like to take this opportunity to offer my personal apology to Andrew Sachs and his family and to the audience for what has happened."

The last week had been 'painful' for the BBC and for Radio 2, she said.

The BBC Trust has ordered an on-air apology to licence fee payers for 'serious and deliberate breaches' the BBC editorial guidelines.


Setting out a plan of action, it also asked Mark Thompson to write a personal apology over the scandal.

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