Metropol

I'm guessing there will be a decision on the future of both presenters tomorrow. Given the current furore and the style of JR's show, I don't see how it can go ahead without a decision one way or the other. The programme is recorded on a Thursday.

Sir David Attenborough, Miley Cyrus and Frank Skinner are the scheduled TV guests with music from The Killers.

Skinner is the potential loose cannon amongst those, and Miley Cyrus could be a 'risky' interviewee in respect of her 'relationship controversy' too.

I suspect that it'll be postponed and something used as a filler. JR's radio show on Saturday could be easily hosted by Lamarr and a filler obtained for Brand's slot too.

Well whatever happens, Ross' show will probably get the highest ratings it's ever had.

I find this 'sack Brand and Ross' from certain people a bit over the top. I think the phone call was completely out of order (not because of swearing or whatever else, but because if I was Mr Sachs I would have been very upset by the comments about his granddaughter). However, I think that it is now just being used as a way to get rid of him/them from Radio 2. If you don't like the show, fine, don't listen.

Of course that would be fine to say, had this been DJ Joe Bloggs off Outer Hebrides FM. Unfortunately these idiots are on the payroll of something paid for by us - that is why this has turned into more of a "Sack Ross and Brand" issue.

Jovis wrote:I find this 'sack Brand and Ross' from certain people a bit over the top. I think the phone call was completely out of order (not because of swearing or whatever else, but because if I was Mr Sachs I would have been very upset by the comments about his granddaughter). However, I think that it is now just being used as a way to get rid of him/them from Radio 2. If you don't like the show, fine, don't listen.

I think I agree. Total overkill.

The fact is, both programmes have their listeners, and both of them have their fans. I personally think Jonathan Ross's Saturday show is a fantastic listen but don't like him much on the TV. I think Russell Brand is actually quite clever on TV, but indescribably appalling on radio. I know others who are the opposite way around or can't stand them altogether. Either way, they draw in a large audience. I think it's for granted the phone call was totally disgusting, and I can't believe someone with as much experience as Ross would have made that initial comment, let alone carried on with the "joke". But...

I think this thread is a tiny example of the wider picture right now:

I started the thread 3 days after the show because I happened to listen to the show on iPlayer. My opinion: fantastic radio. I laughed (I'm a bad man) and thought it was quite edgy. Maybe too edgy, so I thought I'd get others' opinions. I could find nothing on Media UK at the time. The first response was a full week after the show had aired, and even then had nothing to do with the content in question.

Only when the Mail on Sunday did what the Mail on Sunday do best, and the news slowly and gradually started to whip it up did people decide to become offended and decide again they get paid too much. The old ladies in the BBC News report earlier obviously aren't into Ross or Brand, and of course that means they should be fired, irrespective of their popularity and experience.

Give Alan Titchmarsh a gig on Radio 2 and maybe a Friday night chat show and the country will be in a much better state.

In other news, Andrew Sachs's agent has said the matter is closed as far as she is concerned.

Film 2008 with Jonathan Ross has just appeared on my screen. I shall be muting the Jonathan Ross bits in protest.

Still doesn't excuse Lesley Douglas' stupid 'Celebrity Radio' culture though, that she started with the appointment of Chris Evans at the expense of other more suited candidates. If the BBC wanted to give Brand an outlet on Radio, Radio One would have been the network. Radio Two isn't the place.

DVB Cornwall wrote:Still doesn't excuse Lesley Douglas' stupid 'Celebrity Radio' culture though, that she started with the appointment of Chris Evans at the expense of other more suited candidates. If the BBC wanted to give Brand an outlet on Radio, Radio One would have been the network. Radio Two isn't the place.

And I agree with that as well - I'm a Radio 1 listener and the likes of Kelly Osbourne and Dick and Dom taking up airtime irritates me. But it can sometimes work. I was nearly physically sick when Vernon Kay appeared on the radio. In the early days his handywork with the buttons was amusing to say the least. But as the months went on he fitted in brilliantly and is now a great asset. Nick Grimshaw is another example of someone who was crowbarred in but is now becoming a part of the woodwork. I can't comment on Radio 2 since I don't listen often enough anymore, but I certainly agree that Russell Brand is just not a Radio 2 person. 6Music at a push.

BUT... the point I make is this has zero to do with the issue at hand. What evidence can you give that they left dodgy answerphone messages because they are associated with television? The point I make is that people are using this incident for jumping on the He's-Paid-Too-Much-And-Should-Stick-To-TV bandwagon. Why?

I think that the opinion that "Jonathan Ross gets paid far too much for doing very little" is one that has been held by many people for a long time - this story has reinforced for many people that he simply doesn't deserve it.

I think that Russell Brand will come out of this relatively unharmed, most of the bad feeling seems to be towards Ross.

It's perhaps worth noting that his granddaughter has since admitted having a sexual relationship with Russell Brand, though this is probably beside the point. I notice the Daily Mail (and probably others) have taken the opportunity to post a selection of her (Bebo/Myspace) photos, presumably for 'editorial purposes' http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/ar ... prank.html.

all new Phil wrote:I think that Russell Brand will come out of this relatively unharmed, most of the bad feeling seems to be towards Ross.

From glancing at the newspaper front covers the focus does seem to be shifting to Jonathan, with many papers picking up on Gordon Browns' call to "take appropriate action" which presumably is another way of saying 'sack'.