29 October, 2008

Brand and Ross

Some people, including the normally intelligent Ian Dale, are saying that since the programme was recorded the blame should go to the editor or senior official who approved it for release.

Certainly. But that does not excuse Brand and Ross. Irrespective of whether the programme was released for broadcast, they had left offensive and obscene messages on the answerphone of an innocent 78 year old, using BBC time and BBC equipment. No, they have to go, both of them.

Incidentally, it is said that Jonathan Ross' contract is for £18m, which seems fairly, um, chunky, at a time when the media are braying at bankers who earn considerably less. Does anyone know how this figure was arrived at? Was another station offering him seventeen and a half and the BBC thought 'oooh! we've got to have him'?

Out, both of them. The editor too. Otherwise we'll get the impression that the people running the BBC condone this sort of thing, and I'm afraid that would be the end of the licence fee and the BBC with it, which would be a tragedy.

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