I didn’t like what I heard happened, but I know Russell Brand’s sense of humour is generally offensive to me, so I’m not surprised I didn’t like it. Though I would have thought Radio 1 was a more fitting location for that type of material than Radio 2 anyway. Maybe the producers were caught out by the listenership of that programme (I can’t see the Mail On Sunday paying quite so much attention to Radio 1 because it’s not seen as “middle class”)… It wouldn’t have occurred to me to seek out his material just so I could register an official complaint. Mum reckons it’s symptomatic of the YouTube generation, but I think it’s the age-old problem that some people just need something to complain about.

The BBC have played into Ms Baillee’s hands, and are giving her more exposure every day.

It’s a predictable response from the BBC, concerned about all the complaints from Middle England’s wifeswappers. Personally I’m more offended by Eastenders and Strictly Come Dancing.

http://www.the-comedy-writer.com

If they can’t be arsed to use their writing talent, instead relying on rude prank calls and boasting about who they’ve slept with for LOLs, then they need to make way for other presenters – of who I’m sure there are many – queueing for the opportunity.

That’s the only reason I’d want to see either of them given the boot – not because some revolting tabloid, or 10000 people who have probably never even listened to the show, are getting their knickers in a twist.

Apparently there were only TWO complaints when the show originally aired, so the rest of the people who complained must have sought out the item in order to be offended by it, which is pretty sad!

Contrast this with Chris Moyles (with his £630,000-a-year salary), he is sexist, racist and homophobic, yet I don’t remember the Daily Mail or its readers getting their knickers in a twist when Moyles referred to female listeners as “dirty whores”, nor when he called Victoria Beckham “a whore” on air, not when he upset guest Halle Berry, who later accused Moyles of having “a racist moment”. There was also controversy over homophobic comments and used of the f-word on air. He has done the show drunk and also not turned up to broadcast (and all of this is on his fan site, so he is clearly proud of it). Well worth over half a million a year of licence payers money? I think not!

I guess that you have to offend a straight white man before anyone gets upset (though I don’t get the impression that Andrew Sachs is actually that upset about what happened).

As for the politicians, well clearly this story was a great boost to Gordon Brown, while the airwaves are full of discussion about this non-story, no one is talking about the important stuff, like the fact that the economy is in serious trouble and the government don’t seem to know what to do about it!

Yes, the fact it was pre-recorded should probably have meant it shouldn’t have been broadcast but even that doesn’t warrant all this crap.

From what I’ve seen politics-wise, the PM seemed to be trying to give a generic answer but Cameron was a bit more forthright on having to have an inquiry, etc.

What a complete waste of everyone’s time and money.

http://manmademound.blogspot.com/2008/10/worse-than-obama.html

You may not like it that it took a couple of weeks to get its voice heard, but the anger is still an authentic voice of a significant section of the population who are fed up with dumbed down cultural impunity.

I listened to the show and saw the TV images and was appalled by the obnoxious behaviour of Brand and Ross. Why should they be allowed to earn their very generous crust at the unaccountable expense of ordinary law abiding people when they behave in this unacceptable manner?

I agree that there are many other important issues about, but that is no reason to ignore the irresponsibility and bullying they have engaged in. The BBC needs to explain itself and ensure this kind of thing stops. A fair response if this were done in any other work place, would be to sack them. Making abusive phone calls is, after all, a criminal offense.