This Brand/Ross malarkey

[SeanMacGabhann]

I winced when I read the transcript of what happened on the show but having heard it, it didn't seem so bad

I don't really want this to turn into a "do you like them" thread as it's not really relevant (i wouldn't classify myself as unequivocally pro but on the whole I think they are ok) but I am interested generally in witch hunts

It seems to me that the vast majority of the however many thousand complaints now lodged are a direct result of the Mail and it's anti BBC bias, as well as all the other papers reprinting ad infinitum the transcript and details - if it was so offensive then surely some decorum on there part as they call for the heads of two broadcasters would be in order? Prior to the week-later reportage there were what, 2 complaints lodged

I think they were out of order and am happy for any number of apologies and/or rebukes but no way should they be sacked. I can't see much difference between this situation and almost any other broadcast they do. I'll go further and say that I reckon that the granddaughter is capitalising in a big way from this and has possibly used PR for the promotion of her burlesque gigs (which I have no problem with) but don't play the naif "how could he" card as well

[Brendan]

They got told-off by the PM, which is quite an accolade.

"Sorry Gordon. Won't do it again Gordon."

[Keef]

i wouldn't classify myself as unequivocally pro but on the whole I think they are ok

I'm much the same, used to hate Brand, but he's grown on me like a weed that you give up trying to ignore and just accept. Ross makes me laugh, with some female guests on his show he is beyond cheeky, and actually rather slimey.

I think they were bang out of order, but for the PM to get involved, come on!

To be fair, it's had a load of press on Radio 4, not just The Mail. There is no way they will be sacked, they'll have to say sorry, but they are worth far too much to the beeb!

[Ant]

Perhaps the BBC's spotted its chance to get rid of them and then, after a short while, take them back again on less expensive contracts. Or perhaps I'm just being a cynic.

[*Bob*]

I'm loving it.

I especially loved The Sun's contribution to the debate, up in arms at disrespectful treatment of 'Manuel' (ha ha) and then splashing a pic of the girl in question with her boobs half out and a call for the boys to resign.

[Jeremy]

It's been blown out of all proportion.

And I agree that the granddaughter seems to be making the most of the publicity.

[Keef]

"I did sleep with Brand, I feel so betrayed"

Don't know what you guys could possibly mean.

[jumpinjackflash]

Brand should be sacked cos he's crap. What the hell women see in him I will NEVER understand. Skinny, scruffy, nest haired lanky twat.

[SeanMacGabhann]

and there was me expicitly saying I don't want this to be about them being sacked if you like them or not....

[jumpinjackflash]

yeah well, tough. can't stand the tosspot

[Ted Max]

Is the whole thing some kind of displacement therapy by the media. It seems quite unbelieveable. The Tories are going on about system failures within the BBC - so presumably BBC bashing plays well with their vote. Why?

Just heard Sachs getting doorstepped, having to spit back all the rubbish the boys were trying to put into his mouth.

"I'm not collecting apologies" "I've had two lovely letters from Russell and Jonathon" "It's not up to me to say what is broadcastable" "Standards may not have slipped, just changed"

Finished with, "Now, I'm just going to try to get inside to see my dogs again"

> "Sorry, Mr Sachs"

> "No you're not." Quite.

[Jah Lush]

Oh yes! The press is having a field day. Let's face it they're just trying to sell newspapers, not trying to be moral guardians like the Daily Mail like to think they are. They've apologised and sent flowers and Mr Sachs seems quite happy with that. Obviously they were a bit out of order but I really don't think they deserve to be sacked. It's all gone way over the top

I notice that she is now being represented by none other than the doyen of publicity Max Clifford since all this went off a couple of days ago so I think you've made a very good point there Sean about her trying to further her career, whatever that is...getting her tits out in The Sun and all the lads mags I suppose.

[Brendan]

Well it's all slightly more entertaining than the dros on telly at the moment.

[Ted Max]

She linked to it on her MySpace page with the word "Enjoy", now she's out there harping on about the distress caused to an innocent old man.

Anyway, Sean, this interest you have in witch hunts. What do you think is driving this? Clearly, there's the anti-BBC agenda of the Mail and then the Murdoch press, and presumably some resentment amongst many of the public of Ross and Brand's success. Is it just a feeling that these two have ben due for a while, and there's not too many going to stand in the way of them getting it?

[bon3yard]

...still at lest its keeping the wolves from Max Cliffords door.

[SeanMacGabhann]

My interest in this witch-hunt: I've been pretty shocked at several things. One is the obvious sidelining of some pretty important and serious stuff to make way for this - and WTF is Brown doing giving his tuppence worth - "here Gordon say these things about these terrible men".

The other is the sheer lunacy of some of the people complaining. I've listened to a a few phone ins and people are going mental - and these mentalists are getting equivalent respect to sane, rational people. Anyone who brands these 2 pranksters "evil" and ACTUALLY MEAN it should have voting rights withdrawn - just what are their touchpoints for making any decisions in life? The whole thing reinforces my (admittedly patronising) view that too many people believe anything they are told, and any society that is so easily led by base prejudice doesn't stand much chance - especially given the challenging times ahead

Witch-hunts in general - there have been a few on the forum over the years and I just hate the abandonment of thought, reason and balance. Maybe I've seen too many zombie media lately (28 weeks later, Dead Set, World War Z etc) but the parallels are striking - the infection of people who were oblivious just hours previously, sudden;y becoming SO informed they start phoning BBC/radio call-ins with plenty of venom and few facts

[????]

Brand is 'Propa' West Ham so should be excused...

[Ted Max]

I think it's all that, plus from a media point of view: it's a dream cast list. The publicity-hungry burlesque dancer; the ageing actor suddenly upgraded to national treasure status; the sexually vainglorious ex-junkie; the smartarse millionaire tightrope merchant.

I'd wager most of the people phoning in don't really have much feeling about this particular situation, just that they feel, or have been told, that the BBC is moving away from them, and what they'd like it to be, and this gives them the chance to let off some of that steam.

The fact that the Tories are running a co-ordinated campaign on this says a lot.

[bon3yard]

My Housemates a borderline Blackshirt and has been ranting about how the pair should be strung up and beaten about their plums with rolled up copies of the Daily Mail for the last couple of days. As for Brown, any distraction from the impending Depression is a welcome one I guess and hes not the first policician to take advantage of easy diversionary tic-tacs. I like Brand and am a regular subscriber to his podcast, his shows are almost always near the knuckle so why this should come as a surprise to anyone is beyond me. Apparently only 2 people who listened to the show complained about its content before the Mail ran with it and turned it into the modern day equivalent of The Salem Witch Trials. Utter balderdash.

[Cassius]

What I didn't know is this all happened over a week ago and initially there were only 2 complaints. I now think that it has gone totally over the top.

Yes the two of them were insulting and rude and worse in my opinion, totally unfunny (where on earth is the wit and the repartee in saying that you'd f***ed someones grandaughter?) and it wasn't even live, let alone 'cutting edge' - schoolboy humour is not cutting edge. Let's be honest Peter Cook and Dudley Moore were doing this over 25 years ago - and when they did it, it was at least original.

However no-one had died, some silly girl has had lots of publicity, Ross. Brand and the BBC have all had to apologise. One women suggested that Brand and Ross should give Sachs a monetary sum that he can give to a charity of his choice - sounds like a good idea to me, and broadcasters should remember in future that not all their audience have the same SOH as them.

Brand and Ross are not particuarly popular and I think there has been a lot of bandwagon jumping in the desire to get rid of them (surely the BBC could do more creative things with the cash!).

And I am sad to see that Barack Obama has still not commented on the situation - does he not care what is happening over here!

[Ted Max]

Why is your housemate so angry? I'd be interested to know.

I think Brown was merely heading off what the Government knew what was coming - the Tory party, looking to get back in Rupert's good books after the Osborne stuff, ramping up the anti-BBC feeling. A short statement from Brown that action should be taken if any rules were broken stops the press and Tories making a direct Labour-BBC left-liberal-elite blah blah blah connection.

And contrary to your Brown point, I think the Crunch was playimg well for Brown's personal ratings, and the Tories and Tory press were all too keen to have some good old moral outrage to deflect attention.

[Moos]

The story was broadcast on Saturday and there were 1,500 complaints by Monday. So although there had been some coverage by then, it's not just a result of the coverage.

I don't disagree with anything that we're saying but the general tenor of the thread seems to be 'it's not such a big deal'. In my view, it was a horrible and incredibly puerile thing to do, and the original 'apologies' (i.e. before Brand/Ross realised how much trouble they were in) were openly mocking and insincere. I think they should certainly be punished by fine, as should the person who decided to broadcast the show.

[jumpinjackflash]

agree with Moos - what they did was vile.

[Brendan]

?Wussel, woggered your wuverly, wittle gwanddaughter.?

"?Qu??"

[Azul]

Brown would have shagged her too if he had the chance.

I see a bukkake coming soon on page3