naughty boys and lots of sheep

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 22:58:26 +0000

I Don’t normally write about this sort of thing, but this is crazy.

Trying to ascertain the facts is almost impossible, even though supposed quality broadsheets have written huge amounts about it.

So what happened?

Russell Brand has an evening radio show on Radio 2.
This is pre-recorded (really? every week? this is the biggest scandal!)
Last week he had Jonathan Ross on the show (presumably to promote his book), though it has never been made clear whether he was co-presenting or a guest
Andrew Sachs – an actor who was in Faulty Towers – was due to be interviewed on the phone to promote a TV show.
Andrew is 78
Russell phones Andrew while chatting to Jonathan, there is much banter going on, both are known for it.
When they are put through to the answer phone the banter continues, references about Andrew’s granddaughter are made, including implying Russell has slept with her, though these are done in a somewhat joking fashion (Brand: “Andrew Sachs, I did not do nothing with Georgina – oh no I’ve revealed I know her name”)
The Granddaughter is currently touring in Satanic Sluts burlesque group.
Various reports (including the Times, which is less inaccurate than most of the press) said she had slept with Russell.
Reports keep on referring to them talking about Andrew Sachs killing himself on hearing the talk about his granddaughter, though the one edited transcript I have seen does not mention this at all.
After the show was recorded, the Times claims that a junior produce contacted Andrew Sachs to confirm it was ok to be played on air (which I understand is actually normal practice), though does not state if they actually got permission, i.e. what his response was. (from the times) Apparently a senior executive (or senior editor – to me there’s quite a difference between an executive or editor) vetted the recording before going out, presumably due to the new guidelines which mean senior staff (above the show’s producer) have to sign off controversial content.
After the show went out there were, apparently, two complaints.
Roughly a week later the Mail reports on it, and then 18,000 more complaints are made, one wonders how many have actually listened.

Since Tuesday this has been at the top of every major UK news site, including the websites of the ‘broadsheets’. Ultimately it is all about a few minutes of talk left on an answering machine.

Media on nostuff.org archive | Chris Keene

naughty boys and lots of sheep