Not everyone thinks that the prank call from Brand and Ross was ‘unacceptable’:
“I can’t believe the amount of coverage this has got. I listened to Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross’ radio show every week and am so disappointed that Russell has quit and Jonathan been suspended. I think the prank went a bit far but surely Mr Sachs (or his agent) knew the nature of the show before agreeing to it. It is of a risque nature and the call is not dissmilar to stuff that has been done in the past. I am sorry to see you go Russell. There are many people that loved your show.”
That is a pretty typical reaction from BBC Radio One’s online forum which reflects how young people take this less seriously. It is something that the BBC Editor’s blog is raising in an effort to suggest that the current lynchmob mood may be over the top.
Some of the comments on the Radio One forum are pithy, but those of you without teenagers may need translation:
“It’ss A Jokee … Groww Upp .. !
It’ss The 21st Century – It’s Comedy …..
How Many People Actually Heard it ?
If You Don’t Like It …. Don’t Listen Lol ..”
Russell and Jonathan….start your own radio show…or better still come on ours….www.boo-carki.com….we love outsiders…..hasnt this country got more pressing problems to deal with such as unemployment and house repossessions…
I am outraged at the treatment of Ross and Brand. They provide fine entertainment and I miss them already. Naughty twerps – they know they went too far and have apologised and that is enough for me. I heard the broadcast and it was funny – but yes a bit ouch! But doen’t anyone else feel that the real obcenity this week is that this issue displaced the horrors that are going on in The Congo, not only in the news, but in pariament as well! These comedians are our ‘court jesters’ – the BBC will be poorer without them. Safe boring broadcasting – is that what we want? I don’t want to live in a country where we will live in fear of offending – lets be rude and funny in this bleak grey time and place we inhabit – and if we go too far apologise and move on. Don’t take our freedoms for granted!! Lesley Douglas did a fine job bringing radio 2 up to date – lets support her.