Brand and Ross apologise to Sachs – again
By politics.co.uk staff
Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross have apologised for the Andrew Sachs affair again as the pair reunited on stage to promote the comedian’s new book.
The two men prompted one of the worst rows in the BBC’s history when a live radio performance saw them sing about his granddaughter on his answer phone.
Only two complaints followed, but a prolonged tabloid campaign suddenly saw the corporation flooded with complaints.
The row sparked a review of BBC decency procedures and the creation of BBC ‘compliance forms’ to regulate programme makers.
At one point, Mr Brand brandished one of the forms, which he said had been signed by Newsnight presenter Jeremy Paxman, with the words: “Russell, this is your fault.”
Asked by an audience member to sing the song that sparked the row again, Mr Brand replied: “I’d better not do the Andrew Sachs song because as you know it nearly destroyed the earth.”
Mr Ross was suspended from the corporation for several months, and has now left the BBC. Mr Brand has concentrated on his Hollywood career.
