Late Show UK

The final episode of Friday Night With Jonathan Ross aired on Friday night.

David Beckham, Jackie Chan, Mickey Rourke and Roxy Music were guests on the final show. Ross said “I should start by saying thank you to all the guests we’ve had on over the 10 years we’ve been doing the show – at least 95 per cent of them were great”.

The BBC1 show bowed out with Jonathan saying “everyone here at the BBC has always been terrific… I’ve been lucky to work over the 10 years with the most fabulous teams… the experience I’ve had here at the BBC has been a blessed one… I’ve never come in here feeling anything other than grateful, lucky and honoured, so thank you”.

Jonathan moves to ITV to host a new primetime chat show in late 2011. The final episode of Friday Night With Jonathan Ross is available to watch on BBC iPlayer for the next few days.

BBC News – “Jonathan Ross ‘honoured’ to have worked at BBC”
BBC News – “Fans mourn Jonathan Ross’s final show”
BBC Programmes – Friday Night With Jonathan Ross

Jonathan Ross has signed a deal with ITV to host a chat show next year.

BBC News reports Jonathan’s new chat show will start “late next year” and Ross said he was “thrilled and excited” with the new ITV show. It will air in peak time, so this will likely mean it will be on earlier than his current 10.35pm BBC1 timeslot – perhaps 9pm. It’s not yet been confirmed which day of the week the chat show will air.

He said “I am thrilled and excited that after a short break I will be rolling up my sleeves and creating a brand new show for ITV1… I have worked successfully with most of the key figures at the network in the past and cannot wait to get back on screen with a fast, funny and unpredictable new talk show… I do have a little spare time at the beginning of 2011 though, so if England needs a temporary new manager I will consider the post seriously. Thank you”.

Jonathan’s final BBC1 episode will air on Friday 16th July, with guests including David Beckham and Mickey Rourke.

BBC News – “Jonathan Ross signs new ITV chat show deal”

The BBC are in no hurry to launch the replacement show for Friday Night With Jonathan Ross when Wossy quits this summer. The Sun say they’re likely to wait until January next year before launching a new chat show to replace Jonathan’s show.

The Sun report “insiders say bosses want to put some distance between the star and his successor after Wossy quits the Beeb in July”. They quote an insider – “executives aren’t planning to rush to fill Jonathan Ross’s chat show as soon as he leaves… they want some time to pass between the end of his show and the launch of a new series… if you move too quickly, Ross’s successor would continually be compared to Jonathan”.

The Sun – “BBC’s no wush to weplace Wossy”

Chris Evans has said he’d take over from Jonathan Ross as host of a Friday night talk show if he was offered the job. This follows the news that Jonathan will quit the BBC in July, announced last week. He said “I would be lying if I said that if I was offered it I would say no, but I don’t think I will be offered it”. Evans started his new BBC Radio 2 breakfast show this morning.

Graham Norton (host of The Graham Norton Show which has recently been airing on Monday nights) is one of the favourites to get the Friday Night job. Jonathan Ross will bow out in July.

Digital Spy – “Chris Evans: ‘I’d take Ross TV slot’”

In a surprise announcement Jonathan Ross has said he won’t be renewing his contract with the BBC when it runs out this July. Jonathan has been with the BBC for 13 years. He says the decision is not “financially motivated”. He currently hosts Friday Night With Jonathan Ross on BBC1, Film 2010 on BBC1 and a BBC Radio 2 show. He posted on his Twitter page “my day is turning out to be far more interesting then I had anticipated” and “I feel sad that i can’t keep making the shows so many of you love”.

BBC Vision director Jana Bennett says “Jonathan is an extremely talented broadcaster and his programmes for BBC TV and Radio have been a great success… However, it’s been a difficult year for him and I understand why he feels it’s the right thing to do… I’m pleased that Jonathan will continue to apply his considerable abilities to the remaining six months of Friday Night, Film 2010 and his Radio 2 show, and I’m delighted that he will continue to present the BAFTA awards and Comic Relief for BBC Television”.

It’s not known who will replace Jonathan in the Friday night BBC1 chat show timeslot, but surely Graham Norton has to be a front runner? It’s not known what the motivation is behind leaving the BBC but he may be looking to move on to US television as he recently appeared as a guest on the Chelsea Lately talk show.

BBC News – “Jonathan Ross is leaving the BBC”
BBC Press Office – “Jonathan Ross: BBC statement”
Twitter – Wossy (Jonathan Ross’s official Twitter page)

The nominations for this year’s TV BAFTA awards have been announced.

Jonathan Ross is nominated in the Best Entertainment Performance category for Friday Night With Jonathan Ross, and The Daily Show With Jon Stewart is nominated in the International category.

Jonathan Ross being nominated for an award has been a controversial subject for some people, because of the BBC Radio 2 incident with Russell Brand last year, leading to Jonathan’s temporary suspension from the BBC.

The BAFTA TV awards ceremony takes place on Sunday 26th April.

BAFTA – “Television Awards Nominations”
Digital Spy – “Sachs shocked by Ross’s BAFTA nod”

The guest lineup for Friday Night With Jonathan Ross’ first show back following Jonathan Ross’ BBC suspension has been announced.

The first show back will be on Friday 23rd January at 10.35pm with Stephen Fry, comedian Lee Evans and music from Franz Ferdinand. BBC News is reporting there’ll be “one more guest will be added to the line-up nearer the time”. Could this mystery guest be Andrew Sachs or Georgina Baillie I wonder?

Jonathan Ross will return to host his Radio 2 show on the 24th January and BBC1′s Film 2009 a few days later.

Jonathan was suspended back in October following lewd messages left on the answerphone of Andrew Sachs on Russell Brand’s Radio 2 show when Jonathan was a guest.

BBC News – “Line-up announced for Ross return”
Late Show UK – Guest listings for Friday Night With Jonathan Ross

Friday Night With Jonathan Ross is expected to return with new shows on BBC1 from the 23rd January.

Jonathan Ross has been on a three-month suspension from the BBC since the BBC Radio 2 incident on Russell Brand’s show (dubbed “Sachsgate”) involving messages being left on ex-Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs’ answerphone regarding his grand-daughter Georgina Baillie.

Russell Brand and Radio 2 controller Lesley Douglas both resigned followed the incident. After Jonathan’s appearance as a guest on Russell Brand’s Radio 2 show, he was suspended without pay.

With the expected return of Friday Night With Jonathan Ross on Friday 23rd January, Jonathan’s BBC Radio 2 show will return on Saturday 24th January.

It is said on The Telegraph’s website that on the return show on the 23rd January, Jonathan will make references to his suspension. They say “the presenter has decided to mark his comeback on BBC One’s Friday Night With Jonathan Ross with a comedy monologue about his three-month suspension for taunting actor Andrew Sachs in a Radio 2 broadcast”. A source told The Telegraph “the script will be very closely scrutinised” as the show is pre-recorded.

The Telegraph – “Jonathan Ross makes TV comeback with ‘Sachsgate’ jokes”

As you may have heard, the BBC have announced they will be tightening up guidelines and editorial policy for all future shows with regards to swearing and things of that nature, following the Andrew Sachs, Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross incident on BBC Radio 2.

The Guardian reports “the director of BBC Vision, Jana Bennett, told the Guardian that Jonathan Ross had agreed to cut back on bad language in his BBC Friday night chatshow”. The Daily Mail says Jonathan Ross’s chat show – Friday Night With Jonathan Ross – will have “a ban on swearing and sexual innuendo” when it returns to BBC1 early next year following Jonathan’s suspension from the BBC. The Telegraph says “the BBC’s two most senior figures will face tough questioning over Jonathan Ross’s three-year £18 million salary in wake of Andrew Sachs obscene calls affair”.

Friday Night With Jonathan Ross is expected to return to BBC1 at the end of January or the beginning of February next year.

With toning down of swearing and sexual innuendo – two things which are a part of Friday Night With Jonathan Ross – is this a step too far? And will Jonathan stay at the BBC for much longer if they tell him strictly what he can and cannot do throughout every show he’s on?

Although the likes of David Letterman and Jay Leno on American TV don’t have any swearing on their shows (apart from a few bleeped words every now and again), and their shows are doing fine. In fact, swearing on network TV (ie. terrestrial TV) is not allowed in the US at all. Should the UK do the same or has this thing blown way out of all proportion? I think the latter.

We’d like to know your thoughts – leave us a comment.

The Guardian – “BBC swears to cut down on bad language”
Daily Mail – “Jonathan Ross told to cut out smut and swearing…”
The Telegraph – “BBC chiefs to be quizzed over Jonathan Ross’s salary…”

Following the recent controversy on BBC Radio 2, Jonathan Ross was suspended along with the Radio 2 host Russell Brand. Russell Brand has since quit his Radio 2 show and the BBC Radio 2 controller Lesley Douglas has resigned. It has now been confirmed that Jonathan Ross will be suspended for three months (12 weeks) without pay.

BBC News says “it is believed the suspension of pay will cost the entertainer more than £1 million”. BBC director general Mark Thompson describes Jonathan Ross’s suspension as “an exceptional step” and the content on Russell Brand’s Radio 2 show a “very serious breach of editorial standards”. Mr Thompson also says this is a “final warning” for Jonathan Ross.

It has also now been confirmed that Film 2008 With Jonathan Ross has been taken off the air, and – presumably – any programme featuring Jonathan. The suspension will mean Friday Night With Jonathan Ross won’t return to BBC1 until mid-January 2009 or the beginning of February 2009. It’s not known what will replace Friday Night With Jonathan Ross in the meantime but tonight’s show has been replaced by the film Speed. The BBC could get in guest hosts for the programme, but – in my opinion – this is unlikely.

BBC News – “Ross suspended for three months”
BBC News – “Thompson statement on calls row” (Video report)
BBC News – “BBC draws a line under radio row”

Last updated 29th October 2008 at 20:40

Jonathan Ross has been suspended by the BBC following this week’s controversial prank calls on BBC Radio 2, and Russell Brand has now quit his Radio 2 show. Jonathan was a guest on Russell Brand’s Radio 2 programme where – in a recorded interview – they made prank calls to ex-Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs. Russell and Jonathan left messages on Mr Sach’s answerphone where Russell Brand said he had slept with Mr Sach’s granddaughter and Jonathan Ross swore. Over 18000 complaints have been made to the BBC about this matter.

BBC News reports Andrew Sachs said to them Jonathan “personally delivered a letter of apology and some flowers” but that he hadn’t “heard anything” from Russell Brand.

Director General of the BBC Mark Thompson has described the incident as a “completely unacceptable broadcast” and has apologised to license fee payers and anyone who was offended by the comments made by Jonathan and Russell during the programme.

Georgina Baillie (Andrew Sach’s granddaughter) has told The Sun newspaper “it was bad enough that they recorded these things on my grandfather’s answer machine but astonishing the BBC saw fit to broadcast it when they could have stopped it”.

Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand have both now issued apologises, and Russell has quit his Radio 2 show with immediate effect. Jonathan says he’s “deeply sorry and greatly regret the upset and distress that my juvenile and thoughtless remarks on the Russell Brand show have caused”. Russell says he’s “apologised to Andrew Sachs for the rude messages I left on October 18 and he has graciously accepted” and that he has “decided that given the subsequent coverage I will stop doing the show”.

This week’s edition of Friday Night With Jonathan Ross has been cancelled (it was due to be recorded today for broadcast this Friday evening) – the guests for that show would have been David Attenborough, Miley Cyrus, Frank Skinner and The Killers. All future editions of Friday Night With Jonathan Ross have been cancelled until further notice. Jonathan Ross’s show on Radio 2 has also been cancelled until further notice. It’s not clear what will happen with regards to Film 2008 With Jonathan Ross on BBC1 but it’s likely this will be taken off the air as well (a James Bond special was due to air this Sunday in addition to the usual weekly shows).

Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment on this post.

BBC News – “Brand and Ross suspended by BBC”
BBC News – “Brand and Ross: BBC statement”
BBC News – “Brand and Ross: Apologies in full”
BBC News – “Brown condemns Brand prank calls” (Video report)
The Sun – “‘Sickos’ Ross and Russ suspended”
Reuters – “BBC suspends Brand and Ross over calls”
Metro – “Brand and Ross suspended”
Teletext – “BBC suspends Ross and Brand”

The BBC’s governing body has written a report released this week into whether BBC personalities are paid too much. The report said “the top 30 to 40 stars across all TV and radio each earn more than £1m a year”. However, the report found there’s “no evidence that the BBC is paying more than the market price”.

In previously leaked salary figures it was revealed “a three-year deal for Jonathan Ross reportedly worth £18m”. Do you think hosts and personalities such as Jonathan Ross are overpaid for their TV and radio work? We’d like your comments.

BBC News – “BBC stars ‘are not paid too much’”

If you missed the historic Friday Night With Jonathan Ross interview with Michael Parkinson on Sport Relief last night, the BBC have put up some highlights of the interview – including Michael Parkinson discussing his meetings with Mohammed Ali and what he thinks of David Beckham.

YouTube – “Jonathan Ross & Sir Michael Parkinson on David Beckham”
YouTube – “Jonathan Ross & Sir Michael Parkinson on Mohammed Ali”

There’s no Friday Night With Jonathan Ross on BBC One tonight, because of Sport Relief 2008. However, there will be a special Jonathan Ross interview with ex-chat show host Michael Parkinson, which should be very interesting, and the BBC describe the event as “an eagerly-anticipated showdown of the TV chat show kings”. Sport Relief kicks off on BBC One tonight at 7pm and will continue into the small hours of Saturday morning. I believe the Jonathan Ross interview is going to be on after the Ten O’Clock News, but don’t hold me to that.

BBC Sport Relief – “Sport Relief all set for star-studded show”
Sport Relief – Donate

Friday Night With Jonathan Ross was back on our screens last night, with Wossy showing off his new facial hair. A somewhat bizarre look for Jonathan – maybe he’s been watching too much of his pal Ricky Gervais on The Office with that sort of beard. Keira Knightley seemed impressed though – “You look like Johnny Depp because of your beard”. Picture is available here.