General Chat

Should they be made an example of ?

no

In today's world it seems everything goes on TV & media & more and more people are pushing it a step further each day that passes.

I've seen & heard far worse on tv, swearing is the norm, as are sex scenes and violence. Its much the same with phone wind ups on shows. It seems if the person being wound up is anonymous its OK though.

With no clear boundaries to follow it's no surprised JR & RB have taken things a step forward, after all, are they not reflecting things which have been done already ?

Dont get me wrong, I dont endorse their actions, they remind me of a couple of school boys trying shock tactics to get laughs.

They crossed the line thinking their joke was acceptable (I would imagine they thought If others can do it why not us)

I wouldnt want these men to lose their careers over a prank which backfired.

No one died, they were embarrassed & humiliated though which wasn't nice at all.

As I said before, a hefty donation towards the mans favourite charity & sincere apologies would be a great start making things right. And a review by the radio bosses on how to put measures in place to stop people going to far for the sake of entertainment

All very good points Mildred - I'm not saying I agree or disagree but I like to put a spanner in the work Imagine your Andrew Sachs and family and they were saying such stuff and in such a public way about a member of your family - would your reaction be the same ?

Yes sack them both, this well loved man Mr Sachs has been sadisticly humiliated by these arrogent imbecilles.
The BBC has done itself no favours in allowing these two to remain in their employ and let this drag on.

Their behaviour was immature, thoughtless and unprofessional, but the system fell down as it was pre-recorded yet still aired.

Someone somewhere will take the consequences, but I bet it isn't either of those two.

Yes I believe that they should get rid of the pair of them, but I can't see it happening unfortunately. They get paid enormous salaries, and let's face it they aren't worth that obscene amount 'cos they're not that funny.

My guess is that there will be 'an enquiry', and it will just be brushed under the carpet and forgotton about, or indeed in some strange warped way will make these two over paid pra*ts even more popular.I'm afraid that's how life is nowadays, shame isn't it.

Mel

I would be very angry if I was Andrew Sachs and his family, But asking what I would do if I was in their shoes ?

I would want the person who authorized the recorded show to be aired without checking content first taken to task.

After all, I would imagine RB is a bit of a loaded cannon at the best of times so this process should have been common practice.

Its also a shame that even though its been reported that originally there was only 2 complaints, that the whole thing was turned into a media circus.making more and more people aware of what happened, causing further embarrassment to the family.

What was originally an embarrassment which would have blown over quickly, has turned into a nationwide humiliation for them..making the situation ten times worse.

If left, it could have been dealt with quietly between all parties, and a private investigation mounted & those at fault dealt with.in a manner which will satisfy those wronged and no one else..

Apparently Andrew was played the sequence, but never heard it properly. and he asked to come in the following week to hear it.. It may have been too late to do this because it was aired a few days later.
Its a shame a transcript couldnt have been faxed or emailed to him if he couldnt hear it properly.

Quote BBC news online

Meanwhile, Andrew Sachs tells the BBC the show's producer called him on the day of recording to ask if he could use the sequence in question.

He continued: "The signal was poor and I couldn't really hear what was being played down the line to me.

"But I asked whether they would consider allowing me to come in the following week and then the recorded segment would not have to be included."

For 'normal' working people the terms 'gross misconduct' and 'bringing the company into disrepute' would be on the dismissal notice.

But of course we don't get paid megabucks to 'entertain' do we?

I think a lot of us feel strongly as we have to pay their wages in the form of the TV license, which really needs scrapping in my humble opinion anyway:)

See this is the thing the buck doesn't neccessarily stop with them ~Someone above them would have to give the ok for it to be aired ~ does that make that person as guilty or more guilty than them?

Andrew Sachs is a well respected comedy actor and would in his younger days have found this type of thing funny and pranks like this may well have taken place but never in such a public way

Brand is hardley my cup of tea but is it this type of prank not done by thousands every day without risk to themselves or to their careers

Both just been suspended....

very interestin point Kitty why pay for this type of thing ~ why pay a licence fee at all

Is this not closely akin to footballers who when drugged and drink crazed kill someone on the motorway, run away and then still be aloud to play or again causing gbh to another person and being selected to play for their country ~ should not so-called "examples" prove themselves good role models for our society and our children

both suspended ? Well does that mean problem solved? I don't think so ~ what about the radio station, the 'BBC and the man (or woman) who said yes this is fine air it !!!

Both suspended and radio show taken off the air

They have the full transcript of the calls ,,,,,go read make your own mind up,,,,,,

bbcnews,

Brand and Ross have been suspended from the BBC until and enquiry takes place. This was just on the 12.00 news.
Julia in Derbyshire

Wonder if they're suspended on full pay?

Don't really think they'll feel the pinch even if they aren't!

Now Pam - there is a good point.
Julia in Derbyshire