Late Show UK

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 It’s not known what will replace Friday Night With Jonathan Ross in the meantime but tonight’s show has been replaced by the film Speed.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.