7:34PM, Oct 30, 2008
The ongoing controversy over prank calls on Russell Brand's Radio 2 show has seen two people resign.
But Jonathan Ross hasn't quite escaped the rap - he's been suspended for 12 weeks, without pay.
BBC Director General Mark Thompson issued a statement saying: "Jonathan Ross's contribution to this edition of the Russell Brand show was utterly unacceptable and cannot be allowed to go uncensored or without sanction.
"A 12-week suspension is an exceptional step, but I believe it is a proportionate response to Jonathan's role in this unhappy affair.
"Jonathan Ross has already made a comprehensive and unreserved personal apology to Andrew Sachs and his grand-daughter. I believe that he fully understands the seriousness of what has happened.
"We agree that nothing like this must ever happen again and that tight discipline will be required for the future."
The news comes after Russell Brand publicly apologised for his actions, and announced his decision to resign from his radio show.
"I am sorry that I upset Mr Sachs," said Russell in a statement to the press on Wednesday.
"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."
BBC Radio 2 Controller Lesley Douglas has also decided to step down.
In her resignation letter, Lesley took responsibility for the events of the past week, saying: "The events of the last two weeks happened on my watch. I believe it is right that I take responsibility for what has happened."
Russell and Jonathan's prank calls to Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs resulted in over 25,000 complaints calls to the BBC. The pair have since been lambasted.
X Factor judge Louis Walsh publicly disapproved of the prank, saying: "It's rude, it was rude," while Prime Minister Gordon Brown cited their behaviour as "inappropriate and unacceptable."
But other famous faces have defended the duo. Noel Gallagher told the BBC: "At worst it was a juvenile prank," and fellow Radio 2 DJ Dermot O'Leary commented: "It was a bit silly what he (Russell) said, but then it was a pre-recorded show, so there's a debate to be had over whether the buck stops with him or not."
The BBC have promised to review compliance procedures and investigate where the appropriate boundaries of taste and standards should lie across all BBC output.
Meanwhile, Jonathan's BBC1 show, Friday Night With Jonathan Ross, has been removed from schedules until further notice.
