Forum Views () 
Forum Replies ()  
 
 
Read more with google mobile :
BBC to issue on-air apology for Manuelgate
| Entertainment
|  
 
 
  
  	
  	  
			 
  
  
    
    
    	
		
			
                
                    
 
                    
                
            
			
			
				
                    
             
                
				
					My Profile 
					 
                    
            
            
                
			
		
  
	
	
	
    
		
          
	
     
Postcards to the President
Messages from citizens around the world
Watch Now
  
	
  
	
	
	
    
		
	 
	 
         
         
        
	
	
  
  
  		
  	You are here:
  
    Home
    
      >
      News 
      
      >
      Entertainment 
      
      >
      Article
	
    
		
	
  
 
          
	
    
Home
        
Business & Finance
        
News
        
U.S.
                
Politics
                
International
                
Technology
                
Entertainment
                
Film
                            
                        
Music
                            
                        
People
                            
                        
Television
                            
                        
Arts
                            
                        
Industry
                            
                        
            
Sports
                
Lifestyle
                
Oddly Enough
                
Environment
                
Health
                
Science
                
Special Coverage
                
Video
                
Pictures
                
You Witness
                
The Great Debate
                
Blogs
                
Reader Feedback
                
	
    
		
	 
	 
         
         
        
	
	
  
	
Do More With Reuters
		
RSS
		
Widgets
		
Mobile
		
Podcasts
		
Newsletters
		
You Witness News
		
Make Reuters My Homepage
	
Partner Services
		
CareerBuilder
		
Affiliate Network
	
Professional Products
		
Support (Customer Zone)
		
Reuters Media
		
Financial Products
	
About Thomson Reuters
 
    
      
    
	
		
BBC to issue on-air apology for "Manuelgate"
	
Fri Nov 7, 2008 5:47pm EST
 
	 
               
       
	
	
	 
		
			Email | Print | 
Share
 | Reprints | Single Page   
	
			[-]
			Text
			[+]
	
	
	
	
       
		
    
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's publicly owned broadcaster, the BBC, said it would issue on-air apologies on Saturday for an "offensive" prank phone call made by star presenters Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand that provoked thousands of complaints.
    
During Brand's Radio 2 show on October 18, Brand and Ross left crude voicemail messages for the 78-year-old actor Andrew Sachs during a radio show.
    
The presenters joked that Brand had slept with Georgina Baillie, the 23-year-old granddaughter of Sachs, who played the Spanish waiter Manuel in the cult British comedy TV series "Fawlty Towers."
    
Media coverage of the ensuing row, dubbed "Manuelgate" by newspapers, led to more than 30,000 complaints to the BBC and demands that the two entertainers be sacked.
    
Brand and Lesley Douglas, the head of Radio 2, resigned. Ross, one of the corporation's highest paid stars, was suspended for 12 weeks without pay. The BBC said on Friday that another executive, David Barber, Radio 2's head of specialist music and compliance, had also resigned.
    
The BBC Trust, which oversees the broadcaster, ordered the corporation to broadcast an apology for serious breaches of editorial standards.
    
The BBC said this would be done on Radio 2 at the times when shows hosted by Brand and Russell were usually broadcast.
    
"On 18 October, the BBC broadcast an exchange between Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross on the Russell Brand show on Radio 2. This concerned the actor Andrew Sachs and his granddaughter, Georgina Baillie," the apology will say.
    
"Some of this exchange was left on the voicemail of Mr Sachs. The conversation was grossly offensive and an unacceptable intrusion into the private lives of both Mr Sachs and Ms Baillie.
    
"It was a serious breach of editorial standards, and should never have been recorded or broadcast. The BBC would like to apologize unreservedly to Mr Sachs, Ms Baillie and to our audiences as license fee payers."
    
Baillie, who is a member of the Satanic Sluts dance troupe, said this week she now believed the two presenters should be reinstated.
    
"I was really angry when I said I wanted them both to be fired, but I think the suspension was good enough. So I'm feeling a bit gutted really about the whole thing," she said in an interview aired on channel Five.
    
"I think it's way out of proportion to what's happened, and I don't hate either of them."
    
(Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
    
    
    
      
      
	
      
          © Thomson Reuters 2008 All rights reserved
    
               
      
	
    
		
 
	
		
 
		
Share:
		
Del.icio.us
		
Digg
		
Mixx
		
My Web
		
Facebook
		
LinkedIn
	
	
  
      
               
      
 
	
			
 
		
  		    Next Article:
		"60 Minutes" crew attacked by angry Chinese
		
 
			
		
 
	
       
 
	
     
Also on Reuters
Bullies may get kick out of seeing others in pain
Slideshow 
Pets that have made the White House their home
Michelle Obama's election outfit gets dressing down
  
	
     
  
  
	
    
  
	
	
    
     
     
    
    
        
	
		
		
               
       
      
               
       
      
	
	
 
	
		
	
    
		
	
  
          
	
    
		
	
	
	
    
		
	
	
  
	
	
  
	
    
		 
 
	
    
				
Editor's Choice
				
					
					
Pictures
					
Video
					
Articles
					
				 
			
			
  
	
     
Slideshow 
A selection of our best photos from the past 24 hours.   Slideshow 
  
	
     
Showbiz Week
Oddly Enough
Barney bites
  
	
     
Business: Derivatives deals go bad, banks under fire
International: "New" synagogue opens old wounds
Lifestyle: It's a dog's life for pets in hard times
  
	
  
	
    
		
          
	 
	 
         
         
        
	
  
 
 
	
    
				
Most Popular on Reuters
				
					
					
Articles
					
Video
					
Recommended
					
				 
			
			
  
               
      
	
	
		
		
			
Scientists say a rock can soak up carbon dioxide
				
		
			Obama wants economic stimulus package passed quickly  |  Video
				
		
			Al Gore group urges Obama to create U.S. power grid
				
		
			"Little House on Prairie," adults-only version!
				
		
			Jobless rate at 14-year high as losses continue
				
		
			Victim drives sleeping rapist to police station
				
		
			Apple's iPhone makes headway in corporate market
				
		
			Oil rises as U.S. jobs data hits dollar
				
		
			GM, Ford losses worse than expected, burning cash
				
		
			Chrysler cash drains away as crisis deepens: sources  |  Video
				
		
		
			
			
Most Popular Articles RSS Feed
		
		
      
               
      
	
	
		
            
                  
                  
										
                  Video 
		
    
			
 Sarah Palin's future
    
			 Door to door killing in Congo
    
			 Silvio's Obama gaffe gets a tanning
    
			 Obama's promise
    
			 From victory to reality
    
			 Beating Somalia's pirates
    
			 Bush promises smooth transition
    
			 Latin America reacts to Obama
    
			 Obama-nomics
    
			 Syria: Fatah al-Islam behind bomb
    
	
		
		
Most Popular Videos RSS Feed
	
	
      
	
	
		
	
    
		
	
  
                    
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
      
Reuters Deals
 
The global destination for corporate leaders, deal-makers and innovators
Knowledge to Act
  
	
    
		
 
 
	
  
          
  
    
Reuters.com: 
    Help and Contact Us  | 
    Advertise With Us  | 
    Mobile  | 
    Newsletters  | 
    RSS  | 
    Interactive TV  | 
    Labs  | 
    Reuters in Second Life  | 
    Archive  | 
    Site Index  | 
    Video Index
    
Thomson Reuters Corporate: 
		Copyright  | 
		Disclaimer  | 
		Privacy  | 
		Professional Products  | 
		Professional Products Support  | 
		About Thomson Reuters  | 
    Careers
  	
 
  	
International Editions:
  	
  	Africa  | 
  	Arabic  | 
  	Argentina  | 
  	Brazil  | 
  	Canada  | 
  	China  | 
  	France  | 
  	Germany  | 
  	India  | 
  	Italy  | 
  	Japan  | 
  	Latin America  | 
  	Mexico  | 
  	Russia  | 
  	Spain  | 
  	United Kingdom  | 
  	United States
    
 
    
Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests.
    
NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.
  
 
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
Other News on Friday,  7 November 2008 U.N. and African leaders meet on Congo crisis
| International
|  
Honda unveils leg assist machine for elderly  
Death toll in NW Pakistan suicide attack rises to 22: officials  
Election win boosts Britain's Brown
| International
|  
DRCongo peace summit opens in Nairobi  
Opposition rally tests Georgia's leader
| International
|  
British Airways profits take a plunge  
U.S. military shoot, then rescue Afghan soldier
| International
|  
10 dead in suspected US missile strike in Pakistan  
US doctors tell Liu Xiang he needs surgery  
Russia to study U.S. anti-missile proposals: report
| International
|  
Zuma says SADC summit must force Zimbabwe deal
| International
|  
Art masterpieces flop at auction  
Rice to discuss Mideast peace with Palestinian president  
Pro-North Korea paper says Obama brings in new phase
| International
|  
US GI dies of noncombat related causes in Iraq  
UN official hopes for US role in climate change  
Cell phone makers face toughest year since 2001
| Technology
|  
Myanmar and Bangladesh meet over sea dispute  
Malaysian court frees blogger
| Technology
|  
HK stock index rebounds to end 3.3 pct higher  
Daiichi completes takeover of India's Ranbaxy Labs  
Report: Hong Kong investors sue over Lehman buys  
IMF says Cambodian economic growth to slow in 2009  
China shares rise as investors hope for new policy  
Taiwan dlr ends flat, hurt by foreign share sales  
LUKOIL may halve '09 capex if oil under $45  
Hollywood already in holiday mode
| Entertainment
|  
Panasonic, Sanyo in talks on possible takeover  
Taiwan's exports down 8.3 percent in October  
60 Minutes crew attacked by angry Chinese
| Entertainment
|  
S.Korea cuts rates third time in a month, more seen  
Fox launches Friday sci-fi block
| Entertainment
|  
Steve Carell could make Beaver speak
| Entertainment
|  
Extremist leader in Iraq sends message to US  
Insurgents to Obama: Pull troops from Iraq  
New Congo fighting flares, summit urges ceasefire
| International
|  
Muxlim.com to launch virtual world site for Muslims  
Obama: First pooch may be mutt 'like me'  
Analysis: Obama faces early test in Iraq  
Paloma strengthens into dangerous storm near Caymans
| International
|  
Microsoft CEO rules out another Yahoo bid: report  
GM warns of cash crunch, appeals for bailout  
Iraqi Shiite clerics warn against US security pact  
Syria's Assad congratulates Obama, urges dialogue
| International
|  
Craigslist moves to crack down on prostitution ads  
EU leaders urge rapid results on financial reform  
Iran says EU's Solana wants more nuclear talks
| International
|  
Detained US student's dad asks Iran for compassion  
Ford warns of tough times ahead amid heavy losses  
Russia's Medvedev urges vigilance after bomb blast
| International
|  
Police question Israeli prime minister on expenses  
Obama rules out new cabinet picks as jobless rate jumps  
Mexico rules out bomb in crash of minister's plane
| International
|  
Palestinian state coming soon, says Rice  
U.S. diplomats meet North Korean on disarmament
| International
|  
Obama offered help in finding presidential pup  
Mexico captures Gulf drug cartel member
| International
|  
Migraine's silver lining -- drop in breast cancer risk: study  
European politicians defy Israel, sail to Gaza
| International
|  
US jobless rate rises to highest level since 1994  
Hurricane Paloma powers up on path to Caymans, Cuba  
Ford loses $129mln in third quarter, to cut 10% of jobs  
Las Vegas offers surprise hotel bargains for CES
| Technology
|  
Pulau Ubin could be model "green" island powered by clean energy  
Hurricane Paloma now a Category Two storm  
Steelmaker Corus to cut production by 30 percent  
Rich nations should ditch 'unsustainable' lifestyles: China's Wen  
Britons waste a week a year channel surfing: survey
| Technology
|  
U.S. judge orders Apple executive to stop work
| Technology
|  
Global finance reform needed says China's Wen to British PM  
Obama meets top economic advisors  
Pakistani stocks end flat, volume withers  
Panasonic to buy Sanyo, more deals may follow
| Technology
|  
Kandinsky art prize plays with politics
| Entertainment
|  
Jesse McCartney out to shock fans with new TV role
| Entertainment
|  
Shakespeare texts pledged to London's Globe theatre
| Entertainment
|  
BBC to issue on-air apology for Manuelgate
| Entertainment
|  
Documentary about Obama campaign in the works for HBO  
Hollywood meets Bollywood in Oscar-hyped `Slumdog'  
BBC to issue on-air apology for Manuelgate
| Entertainment
|  
US says al-Qaida regional leader killed  
Digg founder says economic meltdown prime time for Internet startups  
Fifty killed, scores hurt as Haitian school collapses
| International
|  
G20 summit will not yield Bretton Woods II, IMF chief tells paper  
Opposition ahead as voting ends in NZ election
| International
|  
Iraqi forces kill senior al Qaeda leader
| International
|  
Britain revokes visas of Thai ex-PM and his wife
| International
|  
Human Rights Watch urges regional pressure on Mugabe
| International
|  
Obama vows to confront economic crisis head on  
US military deaths in Afghanistan region at 555  
US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,191  
Gene Simmons rushes to cash in on rock videogames
| Technology
|  
Pakistani cenbank sells 12.7 bln rupees of T-bills  
Digital albums now offer liner notes, lyrics
| Technology
|  
Momentum grows for global finance overhaul  
Idol champ David Cook set to release debut album
| Entertainment
|  
Gene Simmons rushes to cash in on rock videogames
| Entertainment
|  
Billboard CD reviews: Taylor Swift, T-Pain
| Entertainment
|  
Hollywood joins the furor over gay marriage ban  
Billboard single reviews: Miley Cyrus, Ludacris
| Entertainment
|  
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro  
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found  
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever  
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production  
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time  
AMD to Start Production of piledriver  
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs  
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia  
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air  
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch  
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent  
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up  
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform  
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis  
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets  
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights