Britain's favourite radio station is often IN the news, for good reasons AND bad....

	2008 the Ross/Brand Phone Prank How the affair unfolded, public and press reaction, BBC response Here is a Youtube extract of the broadcast that was pre-recorded 15 October and then broadcast 18 October: (you may have to click Allow Script on your Explorer toolbox) >>> DAILY MAIL reports: The Daily Mail article that caught the public's attention BBC suspends Ross and Brand Russell Brand resignation Georgina Baillie response DAILY TELEGRAPH REPORTS: the Telepgraph's first report Telegraph publishes transcript of the prank calls Prime Minister says 'unacceptable' Apologies from Ross and Brand BBC apologises twice on air, 8 November the GUARDIAN reports: BBC apologises to Andrew Sachs BBC acknowledges today broadcast was "unacceptable and offensive" Radio 2 Controller, Lesley Douglas, resigns Ross suspended for 12 weeks Mark Thompson defends 'creativity Terry Wogan comments THE INDEPENDENT BBC reviewing standards THE SUN BBC crisis talks David Camerson comments How THE BBC REPORTED EVENTS Director General Mark Thompson's initial statement Brand quits and 'apologises' Georgina Baillie's first reaction Brand/Ross apologies in full Brand's friends support Ross suspended for 3 months Lesley Douglas'career Sir Michael Lyons (BBC Trust) comments Mark Thompson on salaries Georgina Baillie, 'row out of proportion' Dave Barber resigns BBC airs apologies to Sachs family A BBC spokesman said: "Mr Sachs asked us to specifically include mention of his wife and family in the second broadcast apology..." Listen to the second BBC Apology BLOGS Manchester Evening News reports Paul Gambaccini's comments on BBC 5Live: Paul Gambaccini interviewed on BBC 5Live, a frank revelation of Lesley Douglas' Radio 2 Mark Easton Rod McKenzie

this page first published 26 August 2007
last updated 8 November 2008