Russell Brand's 'Sachsgate' radio rant revealed as he quits BBC (+audio)

Russell Brand

has announced he is to resign from his

radio show

over lewd phone calls he made with television presenter

Jonathan Ross

to

Fawlty Towers

actor

Andrew Sachs

.

In a statement to the media, Brand said he took "complete responsibility" for the incident after both presenters were suspended by the BBC.

"As I only do the radio show to make people laugh I've decided that, given the subsequent coverage, I will stop doing the show," he said.

He added: "I got a bit caught up in the moment and forgot that, at the core of the rude comments and silly songs, were the real feelings of a beloved and brilliant comic actor and a very sweet and big-hearted young woman."

Meanwhile, Ross said in his statement: "I am deeply sorry and greatly regret the upset and distress that my juvenile and thoughtless remarks on the Russell Brand show have caused."

"It was a stupid error of judgement on my part and I offer a full apology," he added.

A massive backlash occurred after the clowning pair left a series of offensive messages on Sachs' cellphone during a pre-recorded radio broadcast last week.

The lewd calls led to a flood of more than 10,000 complaints to the BBC from incensed listeners about the broadcast.

During the BBC Radio 2 show listeners heard Brand and Ross make a series of offensive calls to 78-year-old Sachs' cellphone after he failed to turn up for an interview. When the actor didn't answer the pair left several voicemails, which included obscene comments about Sachs' 23-year-old daughter Georgina Baillie.

"He’s f***ed your granddaughter," Ross yelled during the first message. He later apologised and said he "got excited".

The pair then discussed how Sachs might hang himself as a result of hearing this news.

Another call had Brand singing: "I'd like to apologise for the terrible attacks, Andrew Sachs. I said some things I didn't have oughta [sic], like I had sex with your granddaughter."

As public condemnation of the broadcast escalated, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown intervened and called on the BBC to take "appropriate action". He also criticised Brand and Ross for their "inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour".

British Media watchdog Ofcom has also vowed to launch a full investigation into the incident.

The BBC also issued a limp apology, saying, "We recognise that some of the content broadcast was unacceptable and offensive". But the corporation initially refused to comment or take further action until an official investigation is complete.

Meanwhile, Sachs' humiliated granddaughter Baillie says she was left “utterly horrified and disgusted” after British newspaper

The Sun

revealed to her the full transcripts of the phone prank.

Baillie, a former lover of 33-year-old Brand, called for both presenters to be sacked.  She also revealed that her family is considering making a formal complaint to police.

She said: "What’s funny about humiliating a lovely old man who has never harmed anyone in his life?

“My grandfather is really upset and says he wants the whole situation to end. It has been awful for him.

“I will be speaking to him to ask whether we should complain to the police and we’ll be making the decision as a family.

“We’re very close and I can’t tell you how much it hurts to know they were so unkind to such a sweet person.

“They should at least pay for what they’ve done with their jobs.”

Why it happened

The biggest question that remains unanswered is how and why the decision was taken to broadcast the pre-recorded show in the first place. Surely any producer with a modicum of taste and decency would have pulled rank and shelved the show? Apparently not.

Word has it that the producer did actually call Sachs to ask him if he agreed to have the voice messages broadcast, but it appears as though the actor's reported objections were ignored.

Undoubtedly, Brand And Ross's joke has backfired. They've touched a raw nerve by picking on a much-loved 78-year-old man with lewd and sexually suggestive sneers about his granddaughter.

Funny? Not a lot.

The fickle finger of blame is pointing squarely at the BBC's chain of command on this one. And, understandably, the taxpayers - whose sterling goes towards Ross's inflated £6million a year salary - want questions answered and heads to roll.

Here's looking at you, Auntie.

Audio:

Here's your chance to hear what all the fuss is about. Decide for yourselves if the presenters crossed the line; or is it merely a case of innocent high jinks that got a little out of hand?

Warning: This audio clip contains swearing and suggestive language. Slightly NSFW

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