Now GORDON BROWN has suspended BRAND and ROSS at the BBC ( Both oppose his government I might add ) it is time for millions of us to not pay the TV license.

Our economy - the Iraq War - the price of fuel are all more important things.

This "Stunt" has been staged by the Grand-daughter of Andrew Sachs to promote her career and the factual content was indeed true.

They apologised.

I am shocked that GORDON BROWN is now dictating who is broadcasting on TV.

We live in a dictatorship.

Tumbleweed..

NO. I will gladly pay the license fee now knowing it might not be funding Ross and Brand's flagging careers thankyou very much. As for your remark that this was staged by Andrew Sachs and his granddaughter, that is just the biggest pile of tosh I have ever read on any messageboard anywhere. Is there any wonder we have a problem with yobs, delinquents and ne'er dowells in this country when we always have a bunch of handwringing bedwetting numbskulls rising to their defence and then demonising their victims. Where is your evidence that this was all set up by Georgina Bailey?

I don't think for a second it was staged by Georgina.

I certainly would not withold my licence fee. Any organisation that makes Spooks, Little Dorrit and others is worth every penny of it as far as I'm concerned.

But I do think the Beeb are cowards and should either stand up for their staff or should punish them immediately after offences - not be persuaded by a fake public outcry masterminded by tabloid media keen to inflate a good story.

A slap on the wrist after the show would have been fine.

Look, I never found Derek and Clive funny when they went on about removing lobsters from Jayne Mansfield's vagina, but many loved it.

Again I repeat - this entire episode deserves just one response - grow up.

I agree that many BBC TV programmes ARE offensive.

I find the latest series of "little britain USA" oversteps the mark completely.

I find the reality shows clogging up BBCTV on Saturday evenings where celebs have their noses in the trough offensive

I find encouragaing Gambling ( which leads to more child abuse and family break up than anything apart from alcohol and drugs ) with the National Lottery being on before the Watershed of 9.30 offensive.

I find most people who are decent believe these things.

I can also say that as someone who spent 4 years with Jonathan Ross and therefore I knew him before he was famous - he is one of the nicest and most generous people I have met in my life. Very funny and endearing - I also know that he would never intentionally "hurt" one of his heroes - which "Manuel" almost certainly would be knowing his taste in comedy.

I also know people who have met Brand and say he is also incredibly sweet.

These two guys are not the enemy - they are US - ordinary guys who have made something of their lives. Neither was born with a silver spoon in their mouth like most politicians.

Anyone who "bashes" them misses the point completely. As JK says the "event" itself is a non story. It is the way first the "media" and then the "New Labour" party used it to create a story which has led to Brand now resigning and the BBC losing a massive star and millions of listeners a favourite show.

Given a chance of spending an evening with Gordon Brown and Jacqui Smith OR Brand and Ross - I can be certain that 99% of the UK population would choose the latter. They are warm and funny people and Ross has a lovely family whom he protects in a wonderful way.

I have to say it hurts me very much to see these two very decent blokes being hung out to dry like this. Andrew Sachs likewise did not deserve this attention in his later years.

So how long will Little Britain USA last in this new climate of righteous TV programming. It is far more offensive than the Brand/Ross incident - and is prime time TV.

Yes the BBC buys some good programmes and makes some really great dramas. But the downside is that its National Radio stations have lost their way - and its entertainment and news programmes have become the propaganda arm of whichever Party is in Government due to funding issues.

I would like to see the BBC abandoned and so that we dont pay a license fee. It is an institution that has had its day. It is not fit for purpose in the 21st Century.

<<They are warm and funny people and Ross has a lovely family whom he protects in a wonderful way.>>

So pleased that Ross 'protects his family'. Sachs and his granddaughter may agree. I think you've said enough, especially as your original points were crass... enough rope for you.

I have read the transcipt of the show ? cant see the problem myself.

The DE MENEZES police shot an innocent man - yet no paper ran a campaign for them to be sacked.

They made a mistake.

People make mistakes.

No one is perfect.

Forgiveness is the sign of someone who has evolved out of the selfish caveman mentality and into a civilised person.

Jonathan's first job was as a junior researcher for me on No Limits.

He's a lovely guy as is his brother Paul.

I'm sure Russell is a great guy too.

I loved both Peter Cook and Dudley Moore (see the Tipsheet thread).

I've always found John Cleese a delight and I'm sure Andrew is too (John, his son, certainly is).

But we get on dangerous ground when we allow the Mail or any other tabloid - or any other meejah outlet, come to that - to dictate our comedy.

This may be fine; it won't be so fine when it's a harmless passing joke from you, not (yet) a celeb.

I agree JK but both of them have admitted they crossed the line. They have both apologised and Brand has resigned. Totally out of proportion - but like all of us they can and have made mistakes.

I think that if the Police had held up their hands and said - we are wrong - then there would have been no problem. The fact they have tried to hide behind each other and pretend they did not make a mistake is tragic and unfeeling.

At least Brand and Ross have apologised and not tried to wriggle out of resonsibility.

I would hope the BBC would turn down Brand's resignation - fine them both and re-instate them. They WILL have learned from this. They are very decent people and though not victims I am sure both are deeply uspset by all of this. The Media needs to stop destroying people even if they are well off. They pay the price of fame in so many ways that I am sure we never know.

The Derek and Clive stuff was puerile...but was meant to be puerile. That was the whole point of the joke. However they didn't force it on anyone, and certainly didn't bark obscenities down the phone to the unsuspecting and bewildered. In my view Peter Cook was a genius. I'm afraid neither Ross nor Brand could tie his boot laces. Are you saying Ross and Brand are the new Cook and Moore? I don't think so. Only in their own imagination.

There are many different forms of comedy. Start condemning those you don't like and you might as well join the Nazi party.

JK2006 wrote:
There are many different forms of comedy. Start condemning those you don't like and you might as well join the Nazi party.

It really ought to be invoked more often on this forum as it is becoming a silly place... Godwin's Law means you lose

I suppose that is why God invented the off button or the remote control

Sorry to go way off topic but I rather liked this Reductio ad Hitlerum

I believe the Nazis had their own kind of comedy, usually at the expense of the Jews. I would gladly condemn that.

We cannot have it all ways. Either we have a line which should not be crossed, and penalties for those who cross it - or we scrap all standards and have a free for all.

Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross both admit they crossed the line. Brand did the decent thing and resigned. Maybe Ross will do likewise.

There seems to be an unbridgeable gap between those who think what they did was ok, and those who think it wasn't. Brand seems to realise that it wasn't and he has acted accordingly.

I don't think there's much else to say on the subject without everyone going round in circles.

...and start defending the indefensible and you may as well join the Nazi party. Especially if you compound that and start labelling the victims as the villains of the hour. The Nazis were expert at creating villains of their own choosing. If Andrew Sach's daughter wanted this attention then why not just go to the NOTW and brag about her exploits with Brand? No. I'm afraid this time I'm on the side of the victims.

I'm with JK on this one..we musn't let tabloids run an offensive and call the shots as so often happens.

I didn't hear the show so I can't comment upon it.

As for Andrew Sachs those (very) old enough to remember was pulled over by the cops about 25 years ago for speeding and abused and called a "poofter"..outrageous for such a nice man.

As for his grand-daughter, I don't care what she does but I now read she did actually have an affair with Brand so that's pretty crass of Brand to use that as a device for humour.

Sounds like this pair are to be crucified..but is Ross worth that much money a year ?..he should give a big whack to a suitable charity to show remorse but should 2 people have their careers ruined over one incident ?..not very fair no matter how big or small they are.

Polticians should keep their dirty noses out of this stuff..they have more important matters at hand and this continual claim that the BBC should be "accountable to the people" is rubbish..it's an important public outlet that should remain free of such pressures. Once started it's a slippery slop..as we saw during the Iraq War. Even though they did better than the US outlets they still pushed the government line.