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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| BBC apologises over Brand prank | BBC apologises over Brand prank |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The BBC has apologised to actor Andrew Sachs for the "unacceptable and offensive" content of calls made to him by Russell Brand during a radio show. | The BBC has apologised to actor Andrew Sachs for the "unacceptable and offensive" content of calls made to him by Russell Brand during a radio show. |
| The Fawlty Towers star was called four times during a prank on Brand's BBC Radio 2 show on 18 October. | The Fawlty Towers star was called four times during a prank on Brand's BBC Radio 2 show on 18 October. |
| The actor's agent said Sachs was "very upset" after Brand and guest Jonathan Ross left lewd messages about the actor's granddaughter on his voicemail. | The actor's agent said Sachs was "very upset" after Brand and guest Jonathan Ross left lewd messages about the actor's granddaughter on his voicemail. |
| Brand himself apologised for the offence on his latest show. | Brand himself apologised for the offence on his latest show. |
| He said "you musn't swear on someone's answer phone", but added it was "funny". | He said "you musn't swear on someone's answer phone", but added it was "funny". |
| A BBC Radio 2 spokeswoman said: "We have received a letter of a complaint from Mr Sachs' agent and would like to sincerely apologise to Mr Sachs for the offence caused. | A BBC Radio 2 spokeswoman said: "We have received a letter of a complaint from Mr Sachs' agent and would like to sincerely apologise to Mr Sachs for the offence caused. |
| "We recognise that some of the content broadcast was unacceptable and offensive. | "We recognise that some of the content broadcast was unacceptable and offensive. |
| She added: "We are reviewing how this came about and are responding to Mr Sachs personally. We also apologise to listeners for any offence caused." | She added: "We are reviewing how this came about and are responding to Mr Sachs personally. We also apologise to listeners for any offence caused." |
| Sachs, who played Manuel in Fawlty Towers, was expected to be a guest on the programme, but was unable to appear due to unforeseen circumstances. | Sachs, who played Manuel in Fawlty Towers, was expected to be a guest on the programme, but was unable to appear due to unforeseen circumstances. |
| Obscene comments | Obscene comments |
| Brand and Ross went on to leave a series of messages on the 78-year-old's voicemail during the two-hour radio show, which included obscene comments about Sachs' 23-year-old granddaughter. | |
| In the first message, Ross suddenly swore and said Brand had slept with her. | |
| He then apologised and said he "got excited". | |
| Later in the programme, Brand said the only way to rectify the incident was to make another call - but caused further offence after he suggested Sachs might kill himself because of the previous message's revelations. | |
| A third call saw Brand and Ross singing an apology to the actor. | |
| Brand sang: "I'd like to apologise for the terrible attacks, Andrew Sachs. I said some things I didn't have oughta [sic], like I had sex with your granddaughter." | |
| During the fourth call, Brand said: "Now when I watch Fawlty Towers I think I'm going to think I've hurt his feelings." | |
| Andrew Sachs was unable to answer Brand's calls | |
| A BBC spokeswoman said the programme received two complaints related to Ross' swearing, rather than the content of the phone calls, but further complaints have arrived since the details of the incident were publicised. | |
| Sachs' agent, Meg Pool, has written a letter to Radio 2 controller Lesley Douglas asking for an unreserved apology. | |
| Ms Pool told BBC News that the actor had passed on his mobile phone number to Brand's production team "in good faith", which the presenter used to contact him during the show. | |
| Talk show host and Radio 2 presenter Ross has so far declined to comment on the incident. | Talk show host and Radio 2 presenter Ross has so far declined to comment on the incident. |
| Ms Pool added that the actor did not hear the programme, but listened to a recording and was "offended very much indeed" by its content. | Ms Pool added that the actor did not hear the programme, but listened to a recording and was "offended very much indeed" by its content. |
| Earlier this year, Brand apologised for making a hoax call to the police during a stage show in Northampton. | Earlier this year, Brand apologised for making a hoax call to the police during a stage show in Northampton. |
| He rang a police line in front of an audience and said he may have spotted a man who was responsible for a series of assaults. | He rang a police line in front of an audience and said he may have spotted a man who was responsible for a series of assaults. |
| Brand later said he was "devastated by the possibility" that he "may have offended vulnerable people". | Brand later said he was "devastated by the possibility" that he "may have offended vulnerable people". |
| The 33-year-old star, who hosted the MTV Music Awards in Los Angeles last month, has been a regular presenter on Radio 2 for almost two years. | The 33-year-old star, who hosted the MTV Music Awards in Los Angeles last month, has been a regular presenter on Radio 2 for almost two years. |