Nov 01 2008
Latest From the BBC - Brand and Ross - Ross Hanging his Head in Shame - Ross Counting The Cost - Transcript of phone messages here.
Transcript on the infamous phone messages here!
Mark Thompson Director General of The BBC
Counting The Cost
In the light of the dismissal from the BBC of Controller of Programmes, Leslie Duncan and in the wake of this high profile case, Jonathon Ross has decided not to host the ITV Television awards next week; Causing him a loss of £100,000.
Meanwhile life goes on in the Jonathon Ross household as he threw his lavish, annual Halloween bash last night. Guests were arriving in their drones at the North London party and friend since 1991, Chris Eubank had this to say “He should not be vilified over this” He is a very good man who made one mistake”. Yes Chris, and just look at the mess this one mistake has caused:
Russell Brands unexpected resignation from his post as host on his Radio 2 show. - The shock sacrificial resignation of Leslie Duncan - The suspension of Ross from the BBC for three months as both presenter and broadcaster with a loss to his pay packet of £1.4 million; Plus loss of face, both for both Ross and the BBC. With eighteen months left to run on his three year contract, for which he has netted an astonishing £18 million, one wonders if it will be the end of the road for Jonathon Ross with the British Broadcasting Corporation, once this contract has expired.
The major effect to come out of this whole sorry affair is that the antics of Russell Brand and Jonathon Ross could just have changed the face of the BBC forever. These changes will include: Stifling of creativity, almost certainly a reduction in the hiring of edgy, non mainstream comedy talent. Instead, Safe, ‘Middle of the road’, low risk comedy will be on the menu for the future I feel as the BBC intend to employ a new regime of tight discipline.
The BBC simply can’t afford to risk a repeat of the scandal which has just dominated the front pages for the past week and beyond, tarnishing their once exemplary image both here and abroad. Safety and predictability will be the name of the game from now on in and great shows such as: ‘Have I got News For you’ will be treading gently in the wake of the scandal, as the BBC say they will have no hesitiation in sacking ‘anyone’ who doesn’t tow the line.
The only person to come out of this sorry affair smelling of roses is Russell Brand. As he jets off to the states, he must be taking stock of his gains. These include the two Hollywood films which he is just about to start work on, increase to the sales on his book and 50% increase in ratings to his television series ‘Russell Brand’s Ponderland’.
His post at the BBC was a drop in the ocean to Brand, whereas Leslie Duncan’s job was her life’s work. She turned Radio 2 into the most successful Radio Station in the country and has now paid the price for a couple of huge egos that got a bit ahead of themselves, leaving Leslie to carry the can. Brand must be laughing all the way to the nationalised bank.
Radio Station owner and Presenter Steve Penk said of Leslie Duncan’s work,”She did a magnificent job’, and was very well thought of and respected in the industry. Jonathon Ross should now be hanging his head in shame to have caused her resignation. He continued, “He’s old enough to know better at forty eight and has had enough experience in the industry to know not to cross the line” “Hang your head in shame, Jonathon”, Penk reiterated a few more times.. “Hang your head in shame”.
As we await the outcome of Ofcom’s findings the BBC Trust is already calling for ‘tighter control on predictably provocative material’ and ‘new rules of taste and decency’. The BBC will be making a full on-air apology to the licence fee holders duly…and I can’t help but think; Too little; and far too late.-
Christianna Garrett-Martin
Transcript on the infamous phone messages here!
Sounds as though Steven Penk may well be holding some serious resentment that Leslie Duncan has lost her job and that Jonathan Ross still has his. I sense a ’slight’ sense of animosity in his tone. All’s well with Russell Brand though! The extra publicity has certainly done him no harm; book sales are up, as too are viewing figures, and he’s got lots of work lined up as well! He definitely did the right thing in resigning straight away, taking full responsibility for the actions of he and Jonathan Ross. It’s made him look the bigger man, and out of a very sticky situation he’s actually come out smelling of roses really.
It’s a shame that all this has happened, and I genuinely do fear for the future of the BBC. All individuality is now going to be discouraged and BBC employees will be forced to act as if robots. It’ll all be very safe and predictable, and what this ultimately will mean is that all BBC shows will provide for a tediously boring viewing/listening experience. BBC broadcasts will have no edge, the presenters no fire in their bellies, and all will be too scared to say anything remotely provocative. This situation could effectively kill off the BBC, if shows are going to be so bland and predictable then viewers will be forced to look elsewhere in order to find some excitement.
As always your article is incredibly well written and you’ve really covered the issue well. I’ve enjoyed your updates on this issue so far, your writing is simply magnificent and you have an absolutely wonderful way with words. You’re a brilliant news reporter, and there’s no doubt in my mind that your blog will have much continued success in the future. I very much look forward to reading your news items of tomorrow!