Russell Brand - who actually complained??

[BrookeBond]

What annoys me about this whole thing is that this radio show was broadcast nearly 2 weeks ago now but because the media have blown it all out of proportion people have jumped on the bandwagon and complained. There is something seriously wrong with our society when this makes front page news. I listen to Russell Brand's show every week and although i don't agree with what he and Jonathon Ross did, I don't believe that even 10% of the complaints were from genuine listeners. Do these people really have nothing better to do than bay for someone's blood? Does it really merit Gordon Brown getting involved - when the economy is in meltdown, repossessions are up 71%, unemployment is staggeringly high - come on people ... have some perspective! Even Andrew Sachs is uncomfortable with the level of hype over this. Although no doubt few of you will agree, i believe that Russell and Jonathan are genuinely sorry and Saturday nights won't be the same without Russ.

[gina32]

saturday nights wont be the same, they will be better, get something decent on tv instead

[Scarlett]

I don't see it as jumping on the bandwagon. I see it as- people clearly felt incensed enough to want to complain about these two- regardless of what they did! They are both over paid and in this time of recession, this makes people's blood boil more than ever. Thanks to the internet, the public can now voice their opinions worldwide, rather than just doing it over the neighbours' fence!

[jno]

even so, Scarlett, the show on Radio 2 is heard by lots of people and yet only two of them actually complained. The rest are doing so because the media incited them to do so. And by 'media' I mean people who are in competition with the BBC.

Personally I think everyone in this wretched saga comes out badly, expect Andrew Sachs - poor guy can't be blamed for getting stuck with a granddaughter who calls herself Voluptua.

[samuelcat1]

If this whole episode is so upsetting for the grandaughter how come she was in the papers this week in a photo with only black tape on her nips and telling us of her nights with Russell?

[Hammer Head]

Because there's money to be made.

[weecalf]

Let the veiwing public decide on this .The viewing figures in Janurary may or may not reflect on this sorry mess .Do you not think the 12 week punishment was a ploy by the BBC to keep Ross of the screens till this sorry item is in the history bin and he gets back to doing what he does best .In all this fuss I,ve forgot what does he do again ???. .

[Mattk]

massive mountain from a tiny molehill. personally i am stunned that the guy who edited and approved the show for release has survived whilst the R2 controller has gone.

[littleoldme]

I've been saying this for a few days now. I don't condone for a second what Brand and Ross did and have no sympathy for them, but apparently, the number of people who a) heard the broadcast at the time and b) complained about it at the time was very small. The rest of the 35,000 and counting must therefore fall into one of three categories:

1. Those who heard the broadcast when it was made but didn't complain about it until the media got all hot under the collar. They then decided to follow like the dutiful, mindless nodding donkeys they are.

2. Those who didn't hear it at the time, but are so in love with the idea of being offended at something - anything - that they sought it out on YouTube or podcast, so they could understand what it was they were supposed to get so upset about.

3. Those who still haven't heard it, but are sure that it must have been really awful, because that nice Melanie Phillips said so, and it's not as if she's a razor-toothed, knee-jerk reactionary, bile-spewing, right-wing, hate-filled, gutter press harridan hack or anything, is it?

For all Ross and Brand's (and Lesley Douglas') gross errors of judgement (and I'll repeat for the benefit of the sabre-rattlers, I have no sympathy for any of them), there is something wrong when the morals of large numbers of people in this country are determined by the rancid twitterings of some sensationalist so-called "journalist". Still, I suppose "important" news like this will stop them having to think about "trivial" matters like impending genocide in the Congo.

[loonytunes]

Littleoldme, there is another option. People who were unaware of the original broadcast because, simply, they do not listen to a programme by an untalented egotist. Having had the details brought to their attention by whatever means, they have become incensed by the realisation that public money is being spent on this c*ap. In these circumstances, they are entitled to put their views forward. The results have proved that they were right to do so.

[BenDToy]

People are annoyed not just by the fact that it was broadcast, but the fact that these two morons actually made such an offensive phone call to an elderly gentleman justifies the complaints. How would you like it if your father or grandfather was treated like this? The fact it was then broadcast on prime time BBC radio, and the perperators paid obscene amounts of money using my licence money, then gives me the right to complain about this whether I heard it or not.

[littleoldme]

How would you like it if your father or grandfather was treated like this?

Very surprised, seeing as my father and both grandfathers are dead. Flippancy aside, of course I wouldn't like it, and may very well complain, but I wouldn't expect 35,000 complete strangers to take offence and complain as well. In fact, I'd feel rather uncomfortable about it and would wish they wouldn't, especially if they were seemingly taking offence on my behalf and portraying me as some helpless, doddery old duffer who can't speak for himself. OK, I'm not 78, but as far as I can tell, Andrew Sachs is a very intelligent man, still in control of all his faculties, who must be feeling well and truly patronised right now. If people want to be offended on their own behalf, fine, but anyone who is truly concerned about Andrew Sachs would surely do what he is trying to do - put the whole sorry business behind him and move on.