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BBC pressured to sack presenters BBC pressured to sack presenters
(about 2 hours later)
The BBC is coming under increased pressure to sack Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross following their prank calls made to actor Andrew Sachs. The BBC is coming under increased pressure to sack Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross following their prank calls to actor Andrew Sachs.
His granddaughter Georgina Baillie told the Sun the pair "should at least pay for what they've done with their jobs".His granddaughter Georgina Baillie told the Sun the pair "should at least pay for what they've done with their jobs".
Tory MP Nigel Evans said he would choose to end the pair's contracts. Tory media spokesman Jeremy Hunt will say in a speech that Radio 2 was wrong to approve the material.
"The least that should happen is that they should be suspended, pending the outcome of the inquiry by Ofcom and the BBC Trust," he said. The BBC has apologised, and it and the regulator Ofcom are investigating following 10,000 complaints.
Brand and Ross made a series of prank calls made to Sachs, 78, famous for his part in Fawlty Towers. The calls were broadcast on Radio 2 as part of a pre-recorded show on 18 October.Brand and Ross made a series of prank calls made to Sachs, 78, famous for his part in Fawlty Towers. The calls were broadcast on Radio 2 as part of a pre-recorded show on 18 October.
During the calls, Ross revealed that Brand had slept with Sachs' granddaughter. During the calls, Ross revealed Brand had slept with Sachs' granddaughter.
Shadow culture secretary Mr Hunt will say it is "wrong for broadcasters to produce programmes that legitimise negative social behaviour."
"That is why the BBC was quite wrong to take the decision to broadcast the offensive phone calls", he will say in the speech at the London School of Economics.
Someone high up at the BBC must have decided it was funny and suitable for national radio. They've shown an appalling lack of judgement Georgina BaillieSomeone high up at the BBC must have decided it was funny and suitable for national radio. They've shown an appalling lack of judgement Georgina Baillie
But Ms Baillie, 23, said she felt "betrayed" and "embarrassed" that the relationship had been publicly revealed to her grandfather. She said that he was "really upset, and says he wants the whole situation to end". Ms Baillie, 23, said she felt "betrayed" and "embarrassed" the relationship had been publicly revealed to her grandfather.
She said he was "really upset, and says he wants the whole situation to end".
She added of Brand and Ross: "They are beyond contempt. They are warped for what they have put me and my grandfather through.She added of Brand and Ross: "They are beyond contempt. They are warped for what they have put me and my grandfather through.
"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."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.
"Someone high up at the BBC must have decided it was funny and suitable for national radio. They've shown an appalling lack of judgement.""Someone high up at the BBC must have decided it was funny and suitable for national radio. They've shown an appalling lack of judgement."
Political criticism
PM Gordon Brown has criticised Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross for their "inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour" on Brand's radio show.
The BBC and watchdog Ofcom have both launched investigations and the BBC has now received more than 10,000 complaints about the broadcast.
Conservative MP Nigel Evans accused the BBC of being "incredibly supine" in the way it has treated the affair, and has tabled a parliamentary motion saying the behaviour of Brand and Ross was "base and vulgar".
He also said the BBC's director general should step in.
"Mark Thompson, himself, wants to find out why it is that procedures should have been in place to have stopped this sort of thing.
"That... at least the producer should have heard it and said: 'No, this can't go out'.
"Or, indeed, when the initial request went in from Andrew Sachs, that it shouldn't be broadcast - why is it that somebody then listened to the programme and decided that this was acceptable?"
'Risky line''Risky line'
The comedian Helen Zaltzman, who ran a comedy club where Brand performed before he became famous, told BBC Radio Five Live that it was well-known that Brand and Ross "toe a particularly risky line" and said that was why millions of people listened to their Radio 2 shows. Prime Minister Gordon Brown has also criticised the pair for their "inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour" on Brand's radio show.
But Comedian Helen Zaltzman, who ran a comedy club where Brand performed before he became famous, told BBC Radio Five Live it was well-known Brand and Ross "toe a particularly risky line" and said that was why millions of people listened to their Radio 2 shows.
"I'm sure they regret this trouble. But, I think the reason why Russell Brand is popular is because... he is a liability."I'm sure they regret this trouble. But, I think the reason why Russell Brand is popular is because... he is a liability.
"He was sacked from MTV, he was sacked from XFM."He was sacked from MTV, he was sacked from XFM.
"This is why people are interested in him as a broadcaster - and why, presumably, he got employed and has a very popular show - about which the majority of people didn't complain.""This is why people are interested in him as a broadcaster - and why, presumably, he got employed and has a very popular show - about which the majority of people didn't complain."
Meanwhile, Jeremy Hunt, the shadow culture secretary, is to call on broadcasters to take more responsibility for their impact on society, in the wake of the row.
He is to give a speech at the London School of Economics and will say the BBC was "quite wrong" to broadcast the offensive phone calls.
He will also say that it is wrong for broadcasters to make programmes that legitimise negative social behaviour.