Russell Brand/Jonathan Ross furore.

[rirv]

I'm sure everyone in the UK will now be aware of this, but I doubt anyone outside is.

Here is a link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7694989.stm which outlines what has happened. Basically, Brand and Ross on a radio program rang up Andrew Sachs aka Manuel from Fawlty Towers and left a series of answerphone messages which inlcuded references to Brand shagging his grand daughter and a few swear words.

It is now front page news.

I happened to actually listen to this show. I wouldn't normally - it was broadcast late on a Saturday evening but I was driving home from my ladyfriend's house in Liverpool. I listened to it all and I thought "oof that's a bit harsh if they really are leaving these messages." Then promptly forgot about it.

Now, about ten days after the show was broadcast, people are up in arms. The show received two complaints after it was broadcast- two. In the last two or three days, over 20,000 people have lodged complaints.
WTF??!! You weren't even listening to the show! How can you complain about something which you were not listening to, therefore could not affect you or offend you?

This is such a contrived and pointless controversy. Firstly, the show was prerecorded, so it is really down to whoever is in charge of letting things be put on air to decide it shouldn't be broadcast so I have no idea why Ross has been suspended and Brand has resigned. Secondly, it is only because of the Daily fucking Mail that this story is so big because of their whole middle England offended by four letter words and "darkies" whilst secretly knobbing the next door neighbour. These people make Austria look progressive. Thirdly, the granddaughter is clearly not offended in the least but sees this as a moment in the spotlight to try and make a name for herself. Why else would you do an interview with The Sun where you act all mortified whilst wearing lots of make up and pouting at the camera. If she was serious she would have talked directly to the BBC as Andrew Sachs did, where he politely said: they have apologised, I accepted it, isn't that enough?.

It makes me wonder sometimes what is actually news and what is actually made up. This is such a gigantic non-story that it beggars belief that it is being so intensively covered. I guess there is an issue with the BBC being funded with public money, but I'd rather they did this than half the crap that gets dumped on the TV and radio. Has anyone listened to Radio 1 lately? Awful.
/end rant

[Randetica]

These people make Austria look progressive.

this offends me!

[Bob]

i saw this on the news on my cell phone and i only read it because i watched forgetting sarah marshall the other day, so i'd just learned who russel brand was, and anyway the news article didn't mention andrew sachs' response, and i was kind of curious what he thought about it, since, you know, if anyone is in a position to be offended it would be him

[Dharma]

Russell Brand is on my shag list.

[faz]

Secondly, it is only because of the Daily fucking Mail that this story is so big because of their whole middle England offended by four letter words and "darkies" whilst secretly knobbing the next door neighbour.

I loved the fact that the front page was this story and it wasn't until page 2 that you got to read a small bit about the whole assassination thing on obama.

But yes, this whole thing is rather ridiculous.

[ScarySquirrel]

I just wanted to say that I actually did know about this. However... I don't really care. I don't know what all the fuss is about.

So take that! Some US citizens do pay attention to international news. Or, at least, some of the international news.

[hellojello]

While I hadn't heard of this incident, I agree it appears like an irrelevant controversy.

A similar thing happened here last year after a comedy show did a skit insulting dead people.
(http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=1GJ4j9h0tL8)

The station that aired it reported that after it was shown, 6 people called up the station - and only 3 of them complained.

However after it was mentioned on talk back radio it became a national travesty where even the PM weighed in to the debate. (http://www.smh.com.au/news/tv--radio/no-ones-chasing-us/2007/10/18/1192300907765.html)

It really is ridiculous how people become horrifically offended about something after the fact just because a few influential people deem it inappropriate.

[paul jones]

it's hardly a watergate is it?

[trailerprincess]

I'm so bored of this whole story now. But if they sack Rossy, I'll be very annoyed. His show is about the only decent thing on TV.

[Adam]

I'm the least qualified person to comment on this cus:
I didn't listen to the show
I don't have TV
I don't listen to the radio (even in the car)
I really dislike Jonathan Ross for years
I've only just found out that 'he' is Russell Brand - but I have seen his face before.

BUT: I think the arguement is more about that we have to pay a TV Licence for something that is very niche entertainment but it was still broadcast after being pre recorded. It also brings to light that Ross gets £6m a year to act like a 9 year old. Entertainment like this is suited to more commercial networks where crass and reality TV is what they do. The BBC shouldn't do this type of service, to justify the licence they need to be a cut above the rest imho. Which basically the reason I refuse to buy into the service and don't have a TV.

Also I think many people see that this type of bloke-ish TV is so 90's. Or aimed for a younger generation that only concerns themselves with themselves and has no appreciation of the outside world. Ross is not funny at all, he is not even that intelligent, he bleeds a lot of resources from the BBC - he is not Parkinson! From what I have seen of Brand, I thought he was just one of these bit part players in reality TV shows, didn't know the BBC had him on the pay roll. Again, why use TV Licence tax to pay such idiots? Maybe I don't get the comedy, maybe I'm too old to understand, but I do like edgy comedy. I will joke until it gets personal but there is a line that you can cross and although I will be happy for some1 to step on it now and then, crossing it too often loses all respect. Which is exactly the reason Johnny Vegas has almost disappeared - his antics of touching up girls on stage and basically stop being funny and rather be the type of guy you try to avoid on a Saturday night out is why he hasn't got himself a six figure contract.

And the fact that only a couple of people listened to the show already proves that they are not worth what they get paid.

/rant

[rirv]

Adam, when you find a radio or TV program that truly appeals to absolutely everyone, then let me know. Otherwise everything is niche programming to someone. I don't think anyone is arguing that this was funny. What should the BBC do at times when not many people will be listening watching? Turn everything off? The biggest point here is: what is the whole fuss? If people were talking about the license fee (yawn) or freedom of speech (not relevant in this case perhaps) then fair enough. They're not though, it's all about how rude these men are - and most people weren't even there to hear it.

[Guy Incognito]

Russell Brand is on my shag list.

Well, you're probably on his list, come to think of it i am probably on it as well.

it's hardly a watergate is it?

its a total farce that this is the biggest news at the mo, it was a mistake and everyone recgonises it, its just been blown out of proportion by all the snobby twats in this country, and the grandaughter in question has milked it for all she can. It'll all blow over and he'll be on radio one in about 12 months if he hasnt fucked off to the states full time that is, i couldnt give a fuck about Ross, i used to like him but he is such a fake, arse kissing unfunny twat now.

[Matt]

I can't think of anyone less funny than Russel Brand. He's lower than Dane Cook, and that's pretty damn low.

I have no real opinion on this issue, other than the less things Brand is in, the better.

[ms.peachy]

Adam, when you find a radio or TV program that truly appeals to absolutely everyone, then let me know. Otherwise everything is niche programming to someone. I don't think anyone is arguing that this was funny. What should the BBC do at times when not many people will be listening watching? Turn everything off? The biggest point here is: what is the whole fuss? If people were talking about the license fee (yawn) or freedom of speech (not relevant in this case perhaps) then fair enough. They're not though, it's all about how rude these men are - and most people weren't even there to hear it.

I think, though, that the point with regard to it being a BBC program and therefore supported by the licensing fee, is that any programming the BBC carries must be of a standard that it stays within the boundaries of what is an acceptable reflection of the culture of all license-payers. This doesn't mean you can't have programming that pushes the boundaries, but it does mean that if a significant percentage of people are saying "I do not condone this", the BBC has to take note of it and act accordingly. It wold be different if licensing was an opt-in system; however, since the law is such that if you want to watch television, you are obligated to pay for the license, then the BBC is by consequence obligated to consider the views of licensees. It doesn't matter if those who claim offense saw the actual broadcast, its content has been widely reported, and people are allowed to say "No I don't accept that I am paying for this."

[na§tee]

it's totally blown out of proportion. i agree they should get some slapped wrists. but to essentially force brand to resign? please. if jonathan ross is forced to do the same (unlikely, since he is one of their biggest money-spinners) i think there is going to be a lot of very upset people out there.

andrew sachs just wanted an apology and for it to just go the hell away. he got an apology, he accepted it, i don't think he wanted anyone to lose their jobs. he just wanted people to get a bit of a telling off, essentially. and for them to maybe re-evaluate their behaviour for future shows.

anyway. i wonder what radio station is going to pick up brand now? BIG MONIES.

[Planetary]

Channel 4 have started advertising Russell's chatr show more now lol(y)

[roosta]

Im a fan of Brand, i admit the prank was tasteless and ill-conceived, but fuck me if this isnt making a mountain out of a molehill.

Gordon Brown should be concentrated on stopping his country going down the shitter than worrying about a radio show.

[Adam]

I'm with peachy. Basically, my rant is that it just re-inforces why I do not wish to pay the TV Tax. If it was all free, I just wouldn't watch it but I'd be free to pay for what I did want to watch - if I have to pay for something that I never will watch, I see no point in subscribing. Yeah, I'm being elitist but for those with kids where not having a TV is not an option, or that you have mobility problems and TV is a window to the outside world, why the hell should they pay for such a service when its not in thier interest. This is a bigger issue that has been bought up by this.

I said it was niche as most people wouldn't find it entertaining. Obviously some people will. I think if Andrew Sachs wanted to take it further then he should contact police for harrasment. That issue should now be dropped cus he didn't, but the issue of being forced into paying for such entertainment by most people in the UK shouldn't be dropped as it wasn't in the best interest of broadcasting to the British public. Leave it to C4 or Channel 5 where they have to find funds for cheap crass. BBC don't have to raise funds and have the money to rise above it ~ but choose not to in this instance.

[rirv]

Gardener's World doesn't appeal to me. Women's Hour by definition is not for me. Chris Moyles is a twat. I don't watch Doctors or Casualty or Strictly Come Dancing. I've never tuned into Working Lunch. All these property programs are not for me. I hate watching Alan Yentob and his pretentious rubbish that he vomits onto BBC2 every now and then. Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps is quite possibly the worst comedy I've ever seen. Oh wait, that would have to be that thing with Jasper Carrott in where he has a paralysed kid in a wheelchair with a robot voice, and an Indian family. That was awful.

All paid for by the license fee.

But for every one of those TV and Radio shows above there is something that I do watch and enjoy, and the majority of them come from the BBC. The BBC can't cater for everybody's interests with every single broadcast - you pick and choose what appeals to you. Without the BBC being publicly funded (to an extent - they do have many commercial interests which they make most of their money from) then we would lose a great deal of quality British programming. Just look at ITV or Channel 4: it's mostly rubbish imports. Adam, obviously you're a special case and have decided to not watch any television - I hope you have never used the BBC iPlayer or you're a big old hypocrite.

Also, the fact that this was a radio show - for which one does NOT need to pay the license fee - seems to have gone over everyone's heads.

[HAL 9000]

I blame Sach’s agent – to book a client on a show to promote a product the week after the shows host, who is renowned for lewd and suggestive interviews, announced he slept with your client’s granddaughter is really shitty. I would sack them if I were Sachs.

Assuming he has an agent…. which he might not.

Personally I am a fan of the show and thought it was very funny, but then I think it is valid to say that if the majority of licence fee payers don’t like this then it should be conducted on a commercial rather than public medium.

The worst thing about this is that now Sir David Attenborough will not be appearing on the Jonathan Ross show on Friday which is a terrible shame IMO.

[Adam]

BBC iPlayer or you're a big old hypocrite

Nope - I've heard about it tho if that helps but unsure what it does?

Also, the fact that this was a radio show - for which one does NOT need to pay the license fee - seems to have gone over everyone's heads.

I did not know that, I thought you did.

[Lex Diamonds]

This is the first I've heard of this and it's fucking ridiculous. I listen to Brand's show via podcast and there was nothing any more offensive in that show than shit they've done in the past. The public are a bunch of pussies.

[roosta]

Peter Tatchell has an interesting take on it. (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/oct/30/russell-brand-jonathan-ross)