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'No justification' for Brand show 'No justification' for Brand show
(29 minutes later)
Lewd calls to actor Andrew Sachs by Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross were a "deplorable intrusion with no editorial justification", the BBC Trust has said.Lewd calls to actor Andrew Sachs by Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross were a "deplorable intrusion with no editorial justification", the BBC Trust has said.
Chairman Sir Michael Lyons supported Ross's 12-week suspension, adding that no further action would be taken.Chairman Sir Michael Lyons supported Ross's 12-week suspension, adding that no further action would be taken.
He said the furore could have been avoided if BBC management had followed editorial guidelines.He said the furore could have been avoided if BBC management had followed editorial guidelines.
Steps taken to ensure there is no repeat of the incident include creating a register of high-risk programmes. It was "not rocket science" to have expected a show featuring Ross and Brand to cause trouble, he added.
BBC trustee Richard Tait said three main failures were made - in exercising editorial control; in following established compliance systems and a failure of judgment in taking editorial decisions. The trust, which acts as the BBC's watchdog, said a list of high-risk radio programmes should be put together to help prevent a repeat of the incident.
It recommended tougher penalties for staff who do not comply with editorial guidelines, and that there should be tighter controls on shows made by companies owned by their performers. Brand's show was made by his own firm.
Referring to the Brand incident, BBC trustee Richard Tait said three main failures were made - in exercising editorial control; in following established compliance systems and a failure of judgment in taking editorial decisions.
"Proper editorial control might have prevented the material ever being recorded in the first place and, had the established compliance systems been followed and the correct editorial judgement applied, the material would not have been broadcast," he added."Proper editorial control might have prevented the material ever being recorded in the first place and, had the established compliance systems been followed and the correct editorial judgement applied, the material would not have been broadcast," he added.
BBC Trustee Richard Tait on the 'grossly offensive' broadcast BBC trustee Richard Tait on the 'grossly offensive' broadcast
Mr Tait said the offence of the original broadcast was compounded by Russell Brand's appearance on Chris Moyles's Radio 1 show on 21 October, when the pair talked about the incident.Mr Tait said the offence of the original broadcast was compounded by Russell Brand's appearance on Chris Moyles's Radio 1 show on 21 October, when the pair talked about the incident.
He said this discussion, in itself, was also in breach of editorial guidelines in respect of privacy, offence and the fact it was broadcast at a time when children were likely to be listening.He said this discussion, in itself, was also in breach of editorial guidelines in respect of privacy, offence and the fact it was broadcast at a time when children were likely to be listening.
Mr Tait added that the trust considered Brand's "unacceptable, so-called apology" broadcast on 25 October to have "exacerbated the intrusion into privacy and the offence". Mr Tait added that the trust considered Brand's "unacceptable, so-called apology" broadcast on Radio 2 on 25 October "exacerbated the intrusion into privacy and the offence".
However, he said the trust, which acts as the BBC's watchdog, considered the corporation's response to the controversy to be appropriate. However, he said the trust considered the corporation's response to the controversy to be appropriate.
When asked if any further action would be taken against Jonathan Ross, Sir Michael said: "It is not the job of the trust to make decisions about the terms and conditions of performers or the sanctions that are applied to them."
"We are very clear that the director general has taken the right action with respect to Jonathan Ross."
Pressed further on the issue, he said it was a "fundamental constitutional position" that the trust could not direct the BBC to hire or fire its presenters.
"There is a slippery slope - in responding to pressure, where does it end? It starts with comedians, and it ends with making judgements about who presents the news," he said.
Brand quit his Radio 2 show after the incident and Radio 2 station boss Lesley Douglas also left, along with one of her executives.Brand quit his Radio 2 show after the incident and Radio 2 station boss Lesley Douglas also left, along with one of her executives.