Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross suspended by the BBC for latest tasteless prank

Russell Brand, and his guest partner in crime, Jonathan Ross (top left), were suspended by the BBC today after leaving ill-humored messages on the voicemail of 78-year-old Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs as part of a gag for their BBC Radio 2 show. The pre-recorded show aired during Russell’s Saturday night time slot. Apparently Sachs was to appear live on the show but cancelled and the boys decided to follow up with the hoax voicemails.

In the voicemails (offending video clip below), the two tell Andrew that Russell had made love to his granddaughter Georgina Baillie (which was true). They also joked that Andrew Sachs might kill himself after finding this out.

The BBC received around 18,000 complaints. Because of this, they have announced that both Russell and Jonathan’s shows are temporarily suspended while they investigate. Russell and Ross made things worse by suggested making it up to Sachs by breaking into his house and fondling him as he slept.

Andrew Sachs said that he was not surprised about the suspension, but he isn’t going to report the matter to the police. He said the matter was “very upsetting” not just for himself, but for his wife who is ill in hospital and other members of his family.
Andrew’s granddaughter, who performs as Volptua in a burlesque group called the Satanic Sluts, told The UK Sun that she wants them both fired for her humiliating her. She said, “Russell Brand has embarrassed me by making a private relationship very public in the cruelest way imaginable. We were lovers but I trusted him as a friend as well. He has betrayed me for a few cheap laughs and left my grandfather distraught. Is that what the BBC calls entertainment?”

The Prime Minister even commented, “This is clearly inappropriate and unacceptable behavior, as is now widely recognized. Ofcom have said they will investigate the matter and it is for the BBC, the BBC Trust and Ofcom to take any appropriate action.”