[Nicola_Red]

So apparently the beeb got two complaints at the time this was broadcast (not counting the one from Mr Sachs himself) and since the whole incident started being reported on the news they've now had 10,000.

Did anyone hear it? What do we think about the call, and about the complaints? Just wondering.

[Yudster]

I think the public "bandwagon" complaints are ridiculous. However the one complaint the BBC are bound to take seriously is the one made to them by Mr Sachs. He could have gone another way - leaving obscene messages on a person's phone is an offense, he could have got authorities other than the BBC involved quite legitimately but he hasn't.

Bearing in mind that it is an offence for which people could be punished through the courts in other circumstances, I think the BBC has to take it seriously. But is there really any debate about whether or not its ok to leave filthy messages on an old age pensioner's mobile phone?

[S4B]

It's on You Tube, I listened to about 14 minutes of it before I got bored - I'm sure someone can find the link. What actually bothers me is that it's not even funny! They should have been stopped by the producer who is the one who should get in trouble as they take their guidance from them. It was out of order and should have been dealt with immediately and internally. However it has now been blown into such proportions that it has to be dealt with - which is a shame as we may lose Jonathan Ross off air and possibly off TV because of it. This could be his Angus Deayton moment - without the drugs and prostitutes. Don't like Brand so not bothered about him and to be honest I would expect nothing more from him.

[Munki Bhoy]

This, mobile. This Manuel. This, smack on head with mobile.

I frickin hate the easily offended. They're usually the ones that * this whole world up for everyone.

[Jacqueline]

It annoys me that people only make complaints after it's been on the news for being complained about. And people calling for them to be sacked- I don't think that's gonna happen, they are still too well liked and bring in a huge amount of viewers/listeners.

[Munki Bhoy]

Well they've been suspended, which is further than I thought they'd go. I mean, the Beeb suspending Jonathan Ross?!

[MK Chris]

Dominic said on the news this morning that most people texting in thought it was a 'fuss over nothing' - however, most of the people who texted in, in my opinion, are likely to be young people who don't have kids, let alone grandkids. Andrew Sachs is a 78 year old man for * sake. Obscene phone calls are bad enough (and as Yudwuk says, you can get into serious trouble for them), but to joke about the sexual promiscuity of a man's granddaughter to him is utterly contemptible. I do agree that the public complaints (particularly the ones after the media reports) are stupid, but to do that to an old man is not good.

The other thing to bear in mind is that this, apparently, was not a live broadcast, it was pre-recorded - so whoever's judgment it was to broadcast it to the nation is almost as bad as Brand and Ross for leaving the messages.

There's a bloke in our village (or the village I used to live in) who has a daughter slightly younger than me and just back from Iraq. He was in the pub with his daughter and she revealed to him that she had her tongue pierced, which he didn't like. Anyway, the daughter went home and this fella was teasing the dad with the stupidest things ('they only get that done because it makes the blow jobs better' and the like) - and anyway, he was warned and persisted and he got battered. I'm not condoning violence in the slightest, but there are certain areas you leave well alone when talking to people's families.

[Jacqueline]

Was this today? Because Film 2008 with Jonathon Ross was on last night, and I thought if they'd been suspended then they wouldn't show their programmes?

[MK Chris]

which is a shame as we may lose Jonathan Ross off air and possibly off TV because of it.

Sorry to double post, but I disagree with this. If the BBC were to sack Jonothan Ross, he could walk into another job at ITV or similar and they would at least match his salary, I'm pretty sure. I think this is a main reason they won't let him go, he commands too many ratings.

[TIAL]

I listened to the show as it was going out, and thought nothing of the comment. Neither did most of the audience considering the initial response.

This is just a bunch of Daily Mail readers reacting to sensationalist journalism about something they've not even listened to first hand. What's worth bearing in mind is that his granddaughter is in a burlesque group called the 'Satanic Sluts' - it's not as if she is particularly coy about her sexuality, and her family surely know about this. Also, Mr. Sachs had agreed to go on Russell Brand's show, but didn't pick up the phone. He must have known how near-the-line things can get - otherwise it was a very silly booking by his agent.

[MK Chris]

I am most certainly not a Daily Mail reader and I consider my views to be pretty liberal most of the time, however, I think they were totally out of line. You maybe thought nothing of it because you don't have kids or grandkids (and to be fair neither do I) - but if you did, would you seriously want to hear that and then have it broadcast on national radio?

[S4B]

He must have known how near-the-line things can get - otherwise it was a very silly booking by his agent.

Near-the-line is one thing but that was completely over the line, in fact the line was so far behind him that he couldn't even see the line! Tial, if someone talked that way on national tv about your sister (if you have one) or your mother would you like it? Would you think it was ok?

[TIAL]

I'm not defending what they did, I'm just saying that the huge response was probably a bit over-blown given the nature of both the show and her line of work.
I don't know I'd react if I was in Sach's position, but I'm pretty certain I would be more offended if my Granddaughter wasn't in the Satanic Sluts and being sexually provocative as her line of work.

[TIAL]

So now they've both been suspended. Can't say I didn't see that coming, I guess it had to happen given the response.

[TIAL]

So now they've both been suspended. Can't say I didn't see that coming, I guess it had to happen given the response.

[Munki Bhoy]

I think I'm with TIAL on this one. She's made more comment about her sexual promiscuity by being in a band of that name (whether she is a slut or not) than anything Ross and Brand said.

Still, it will get the ratings up next time one of them is on the telly or radio I suppose. All publicity is good publicity after all.

[chrysostom]

I think if this was on radio 1 or bbc 1 there wouldn't be as much kerfuffel - and it's an excuse for all the radio 2 listeners who don't like Ross and Brand on the station to try to get rid of them.

I don't think the act itself was criminal - maybe of poor taste but a public apology might sort that out. The ridiculous way which this has spiralled out of control, and suspension is insane.

[Andy B]

I love how the editors at The Sun were so outraged by the whole incident and the injustice done to both Andrew Sachs (national treasure) and his granddaughter that they felt the need to therefore publish topless pictures of said granddaughter from when she auditioned to be a page 3 model.

Helping of standards for you sir...oh I see you're a Sun journalist in which case then we better make it a double helping.

[Nicola_Red]

I'm a regular listener to Brand's podcast, and this phonecall didn't really surprise me. I think a reprimand and a public apology would have sorted the whole thing out without any need for so much fuss. I agree that Sachs' agent was a bit foolish to book him on Brand considering the type of show it is..I would have thought he's be more suited to Ken Bruce or Steve Wright!

[Jacqueline]

That's so typical of them...here, you're in the news, and we have some photos of you already...

Why is it one of the bestsellers? Are we really that stupid?

[lima eel]

I heard the show and listened back to the podcast this morning and when Russell starts his voicemail to Mr Sachs, he is very pleasant and not at all rude, then Jonathan starts to get a bit silly suggesting that Russell is trying to hint in the message that he has slept with his granddaughter, anyway after a bit of laughter and such it's then that Jonathan blurts out 'He * your granddaughter'. In my opinion Jonathan Ross started this and Russell Brand being the easily led kind of guy that he is, got carried away and it just went over the top.

I agree with some of the stuff said in earlier posts, we all know what Russell Brand is like and that is why he is famous, this isn't the first show that he's ever done and has been stupid with other guests before (he interviewed the guy who does the voice of Zippy and George and started to talk about Zippy's sexuality and size of girth, whilst the guy was doing the voice). The only person to blame in my opinion is producer, who I believe is Nick 'the vicars son', for allowing an unedited pre-record to go out!!

Who advises Mr Sachs? and surely you would find out a bit about what the show was about before agreeing to do it.

Great for this 'Satanic Slut' though, slept with Russell Brand and now is the most talked about person in the country, perfect promotion for her 'act'. I find the interview laughable that she did with 'The Sun' online, condeming both Jonathan & Russell.

Suspended, * me, what a * joke, talk about playing to the * crowd!

[Yudster]

It has blown out of all proportion in terms of the public response. Its total bollocks, really. But.

Thing is, there is apparently now talk that Andrew Sachs may be giving the matter to the police to investigate. I very much doubt that he will do that - but it underlines the seriousness of what Ross/Brand did. Its potentially a prosecutable offence. What is the beeb supposed to do? Brush it under the carpet? Pretend it isn't important? They absolutely have to be seen to be treating it at least as seriously as the police would.

Brand/Ross have been suspended, temporarily and probably on full pay. If they are lucky, and I sincerely hope they are, thats as bad as it will get for them. If the police are brought in, it could get a lot worse.

[MK Chris]

Had they just said those things on the radio, not directly on Andrew Sachs' personal voicemail, it would have been more acceptable. It would probably have got the sort of response that Moyles' comments on Charlotte Church did, for example. However, to say it to the girl's grandfather is what makes it particularly serious. As much as it probably sounds like I am, I'm not in the least bit upset about it because it has nothing to do with me, but I can absolutely see why he (and she, for that matter, regardless of the name of her band) is upset.

[S4B]

So now Brand has resigned from BBC Radio 2! I'm really bored of all this now!

[Andy B]

Has he really? Oh well it's not as if he's short of a few bob or too and better to jump than to be pushed. If he wants another radio gig I'm sure he could pick one up in a matter of days.....Absolute, XFM, I'd love to hear him do a show on Magic!