Ross has in the past implied that his style his based on David Letterman. Letterman has infinitely more style, finesse and certainly is beyond relying on a small pool of equally talentless "buddies" such as Baddiel & Gervais as guests to bolster up his shows on a surprising frequency.

Rafael Gazpacho, Oxford, United Kingdom

If I see Jonathan Ross on a show I switch channels. He has a dreadful potty mouth and is vulgar and uncouth. Its sad for England that such a man is so popular that he is able to demand such a huge salary. Its just as sad that the BBC panders to lowest common denominator broadcasting by employing him

Tony, Guildford, uk

The two should be fired and prosecuted and every licence fee payer should get a rebate. That way the BBC would not be able to pay the egregious salaries of nobodies and no hopers like Brand and Ross.

William, Guildford, UK

Shows what their true colours really are. This is a huge international embarrasment and in the process they are making a mockery of British society. Whats worse one looks like a sewer rat and the other one cannot even speak properly. Really something for us all to be proud of.

Eric, Poole, UK

Andrew Sachs is a so-called 'soft' target (unless he really was in on the whole thing, which seems unlikely...).

Would Wussy & Wossy have dared pick on someone like, ooo - Arnold Schwarzenegger or Vinny Jones?

'Appen they wouldn't. Cowards..

Oh, and btw lads - "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore".

Kat Zeta Deeley, Dudley,

If I had used my employers 'phone to leave offensive messages on somebody elses 'phone, then i would be sacked for gross misconduct. This should be treated in the same way.

David Leslie, Perth, Scotland

Andrew Sachs: An actor who was part of one of the best comedies of the last 40 years - Fawlty Towers. And Russell Brand - a man who was part of Big Brother's Little Brother. Enough said. Let's hope Brand disappears from the airwaves asap.

Paul Osborne, London,

I think people are overreacting.
It's all blown out of proportion.

Basically, they are getting prosecuted for being honest.

Clare, Coventry, UK

Doesn't anyone stop to think that maybe the whole thing was set up and preplanned? Brand is good at ad-libbing, but I doubt whether he came up with that song (which was hilarious by the way) off the cuff. Andrew Sachs may even have been in on the joke.

Boris B, Liverpool, UK

Never heard of these two; Of course they're wrong,but the bit about "Satanic Sluts" is not their doing but yours,is it not? The article would have been just as relevant without it! It's called "en remettre une couche" in French i.e adding a ( quite unneccessary) extra layer!!!

Isa, Lyon, France

Both are much appreciated by young people and they should be aware that they set standards for a generation. They are role models, what they say and do influences impressionable people. Does Mr Ross want his daughters to live in a world where it is acceptable for them to be openly abused like this?

Lizzie, Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire

Brand does this "random" phone call thing in his live show, which is also about humiliating the helpless. All that alleged sex he talks endlessly about has fried his brain cell.

Let's be clear, if you are over 12 do not spend money to see his show. If there was a God I would get my money back.

Geoff, Binfiled, Berks

What should really happen?

1) Mary Whitehouse should be brought back to life and made honorary head of BBC.
2) Ross and Brand should be repeatedly assaulted by John Cleese.
3) Every BBC licence payer should be offered victim support and a box of kleenex.

James , Leeds,

not only sacked but prosecuted as well.

L Murray, WIMBORNE, UK

I suppose the BBC will hide behind the "freedom of speech" excuse and call this entertainment. Are we, the tax payers actually asking for such abuse and do we have to pay so much for it??
Time we kicked a few of them into touch and gave the savings to charity, at least that would br a good cause.

Serge, Villebois-Lavalette, France

Sack them both and the producer and they should all face criminal charges, If this was an ordinary member of the public they would have been arrested straight away, and the justice system would have been all over them.(celebrity status does not put them above the law) or at least it shouldnt.

Adrian, downham market, Norfolk

I trust the police are investigating this, with a view to Ross and Brand being prosecuted. The 1984 Telecommunications Act (section 42) is very straightforward - it is a criminal offence to use a public phone system to make grossly offensive or indecent, obscene or menacing calls.

P.D. Monk, Limpsfield, UK

Sack em both - including the controller of R2 !!!!!

IAN PAYNE, Walsall,

This sorry tale has only vindicated my opinion of Brand: he's utterly unfunny. With nothing clever, no wit to rely on, he ventures instead into the realms of edginess and still fails to amuse.
The BBC should do itself and everyone else a favour: sack him.

Alun, Llanfairpwll, UK

These are two of the worst people that the BBC has ever employed. They are both talentless non-entities. There is no point in ever asking a guest to come onto JR's show as he never lets them speak. If this is entertainment, what is happenening to our society?

Helen, London,

Have you heard of the biography Why Do I Say These Things? published on the 23rd of this month? Guess who wrote it? You've guessed it -Jonathan Ross. Need I say anymore.

Taylor, Cardiff, UK

Not only is this highly offensive, it is mediocre entertainment from two mediocre non-entities. I am at a loss to understand what is remotely funny about it. They disgust me, and I hope that there is a wave of popular sentiment that drives them out of the broadcasting industry for good.

Christopher Kerr, London,

Plain awful. They should be sacked.

Simon, Warwick, UK

What should happen?

1. Brand and Ross should be sacked IMMEDIATELY.
2. Brand and Ross should be arrested for criminal slander
3. The BBC, Brand and Ross should be sued civilly by Georgina Baillie for slander
4. Ratepayers should be refunded all costs associated with the airing of these cretins.

Bob Evans, Lowestoft, Suffolk, UK

For those who think this filth was funny, picture your own grandparents on the receiving end of this scummy filth.

I see no good reason I should have my money stolen to fund this disgusting rubbish and some heads should roll and the BBC should re-examine .its reason to exist.

Neil Murphy, Cromer ,

They are no different to two bullies in the schoolyard making fun of the bespectacled young geek. Or the man (or woman) who hurls abuse to someone they fancy who does not respond. No one deserves to have to think of their grand daughter in a sexual manner like that. Treat others as you would like

Anne, nottingham,

These people are being paid enormous amounts of our money. I suggest the BBC will only start listening when enough people refuse to pay the stealth tax which the licence fee represents. Jack Straw can't put us all in jail.

PSF, Winchester, UK

i find just about everything broadcast on ITV1,2 and 3 far, far more 'offensive' than this. Two comics winding up another comic oooooh, hold the front page! They shouldn't be sacked, they should be applauded for not plumbing the mind-numbing lowest-common denominator depths of, say, 'My Family'.

Matt R, London, UK

It was hilarious!

steven, worcester,

Agree - we all know by now Brand has no built in ability to understand when he has gone to far ,apart from the mealy mouthed 'apology' he always trots out on these occasions. Wont do this time. I'm sure phone calls of this nature must be a criminal offence. Its not as if there arent enough witnesses

peter, Newcastle, U.K

However Ross is the most disapointing.Older, better educated , and with his own children is the instigator. Like the manipulative playground bully who goads the Special Needs child in to do some thing outrageous "because its funny".
Simple Playground cruelty. He should be sacked immediately.

peter, Newcastle, U.K

Both Ross and Brand should be sacked. They a far too self obsessed and think that they can get away with anything. As for the BBC paying Ros £6M a year, its a disgrace.

Sack them both. How dare they cause such distress to an older
person ,they should both be very very ashamed of themselves.

denis, brighton, uk

Johnathon Ross and Russel Brand are simply immature people who have no respect for their elders.

Mr. Andrew Sachs is perfectly in his right to be upset and offended at such disgusting and contemptible comments.

Richard, Thorpe - Bay, England.

Overpaid, totally unfunny buffoons - they should be sacked. No wonder the audiences are reducing in numbers and many feel that the licence fees are not put to proper use.

Will, Wales,

So Ross (paid millions from public funds) and Brand get away with this now? Can we call them and make such comments about their sisters? Daughters? Mothers? Could be funny..but I'd hate to stoop to that level. Switch off and they'll soon be forgotten...ratings have more effect than management, sadly

Pritskull, London,

'Why is the BBC using licence payers money to pay people like Russell Brand in the first place?'

Because a lot of people want to watch/ listen to them.

Louis, London,

Ross and Brand are crass and sleazy. They should be sacked. They should also face criminal charges.

Patricia, Ipswich , England

i thought it was a great impromptu comic skit .i listen to the russell brand show every week ,even though im in india .The fact that both of them had no previous freindship with sachs meant it was always going to end in trouble!

manoj, bangalore,

When I first heard of this I thought it was April 1st. Is there anybody out there who can explain the "funny" side to all this. Maybe the 2 "comedians"? Without precedence and just adds to the long list of reasons against paying a TV licence.

Chris, Aberdeen, Scotland

One just wonders what "talents" you need these days to become a comedian/presenter. If Brand is anything to go by, BBC is certainly scraping the bottom of the barrel. He is deeply unfunny, with a sense of (toilet) humour that leaves much to be desired. He is by far the worst comedian of the decade.

vin, Newcastle upon Tyne,

Why does the BBC continue to glorify Jonathan Ross when his show has never obtained high viewing figures and I have never seen it attain enough ratings to enter the television "top ten". It would be interesting to know just how many viewers the Jonathan Ross show pulls in.

Mrs Carol Kettle, Warrington, Cheshire

The fact that Brand pulls in 2m listeners is testament to the poor taste of those listeners, rather than any talent on his part.
I gave up on Jonathan Ross years ago, I would expect nothing better from Russell Brand.

P Reid, Liverpool,

I avoid Brand at all costs. He's unbearable.

On a separate note- BBC's £8 million man Ross's Friday night show is smutty, childish and unfunny. Its crying out for a new presenter who does not talk about himself the whole time.

Fawlty Towers was genuinely entertaining and wiity- unlike BBC '08

Dave, London,

By agreeing to appear on the Brand show Sachs knew what he was letting himself in for, the fact that he didn't answer a pre-arranged phone call on live radio somewhat left him open to be taken the mickey out of. Brand and Ross went a little far, but it was incredibly funny.

jon, blackpool,

They should be sacked. And the police should also investigate this as a criminal matter.

Mark, London,

Sack the two of them and invest the 10's of millions of pounds of their salaries in two educated, intelligent, and witty presenters, something they both lack.

R Baldwin, Castillones, France

Why should we have to pay a license fee? And given that we now do, why should the license fee be used to ensure that these two foul-mouthed individuals receive millions of pounds at our expense?

Mark, Nottingham,

Why is the BBC using licence payers money to pay people like Russell Brand in the first place? Surely it is time for a fundamental review of the role and funding of the BBC. It has long since lost any sense of providing quality broadcasting to justify being supported by the taxpayer.

Robert Smith, Nottingham, England

I didn't see the show - but the transcript just looks like 2 bullies 'having a laugh' in the playground to look big. And yes, bullies look funny to some, but not so funny to others. Pretty childish to be honest. Very poor.

Kirsty, Wirral,

I actually heard this show unlike a lot of others who are jumping on the bandwagon and believe me the whole show was funny.

The fact that Brand has managed to pull in 2m listeners on a Saturday night proves his talent and popularity. If you don't like his views or personality simply turn off.

Paul, London,

I like a laugh but this was not funny. It was the sort of prank you expect of a low budget commercial station, not the BBC. This is not what I pay my licence fee for.

Margaret, Lincolnshire,

Apart from his movie critiques, Ross never struck me as half-intelligent, and even less amusing. He was intellectually inadequate, given to poking fun at those not in a position to reply, but unctuously grovelling and uncritical in the presence of anyone whom he regarded as a superior being. RIP.

Graham, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Who runs the BBC? What has happened to it's once standards of excellent. I agree with the previous comments . I saw Brand's performance in America and felt sorry for the guy, he appeared mad! in a piteous way. Ross Mr. Smug, crude and rude, his show is not informative and seldom funny.

Jane Prior, Whiteway, Canada

If only either of these overpaid poseurs were as amusing as they found themselves. Brand slightly pips Ross in the pointless stakes, but both regularly confuse smut and poor taste for humour. In an ideal world, they'd be sacked.

John Maclean, glasgow, UK

Ross, Brand and the BBC deserve each other: biased, ignorant ,offensive and grossly overpaid.

Tricia, Sussex, uk

How about apologising to his grand daughter as well.

Tom, Reading,

Stuart- On another note we cannot make comment on every single item of news-This affects people because these 2 'comedians' who work for the BBC that get all the TV licence money we pay are literally abusing an old man. Stating that he would commit sucide even as a joke is sick.

Jen, Edinburgh,

If we see Ross in the street in St Tropez again this year, I will pay someone to repeat that kind of language in front of his children and see how he likes it. Appalling behaviour warrants drastic measures.

Dave, Eastbourne, UK

Neither Brand nor Ross would be missed. Both ego-maniacs who think we're interested in their opinions and squalid lives.

Sack 'em.

Peter Hearn, Faringdon, England

Not sure who Brand and Ross are but seems they have little talent and even less class.

tony freeman, tampa, usa

for those who didnt listen to the show, as mentioned before, it was hardly criminal, just a bit of mickey taking, to be taken lightly, this article fails to mention that Sachs' grandaughter is part of a group called the 'Satanic Sluts' - thats the thing i would 1st be addressin if i where him! lol

Andrew, Manchester,

Not good enough. Not nearly, nearly good enough.

Susanna, London,

Come on now it was pretty funny.

From the little bit of the podcast I heard yesterday apparently Sach's granddaughter is in some of group called the "Satanic Sluts", which was why they were on the topic. Unless I disastrously misunderstood the context.

Steven Willis, Newcastle Upon Tyne,

I think both have made a living out of being different and trying to go to the limits that they can get away with.This so called joke back fired the producer should not have let it be aired but he probably had no bottle.Im really surprised that Mr Sachs didn't phone the police.

TOM, Dundee, Scotland

Sadly, the BBC has proved yet again that it is not equal to the task of providing entertainers or controllers with even a mediocre talent. How these two vulgar, tasteless, talentless cretins continue to be employed is beyond understanding.

Philip Hastings, Sherborne, UK

I couldn’t care less about bad taste but I do have a problem with Russell Brand being a witless, shallow, self-promoter with absolutely no talent and basing his entire career on a particularly bad Captain Jack Sparrow impersonation.

The BBC should just sack him for being completely unfunny.

Jason Mead, Bristol, England

A co-ordinated stand against the beeb is required . People should stop paying the license fee en-mass . They have become just another example of rip-off Britain at its worst , peddling over-priced dross .

Benzo, Nr Chelmsford,

I don't feel that the BBC's apology goes far enough. Neither the BBC nor these two presenters are little children who can say 'sorry' to Mummy and then afterwards everything's alright again. I believe we should no longer have to pay the licence fee: the BBC haven't kept their side of the contract.

Margaret, Bath, UK

I hope we have a vote on the BBC's future - from being a stauch defender 5 years ago, I now want the licence fee scrapped. The BBC is too pc in many areas - e.g. anybody else noticed how many ethnics unrealisitcally appear in historical dramas?-and yet pays a fortune to Ross et al.

David, London,

Sack them both would be the order of the day in any sensible organisation but obviously the beeb won't have the guts to do this which means we will have to put up with their "toungue in cheek" apologies. The arrogance and conceit of both knows no bounds.

john davighi, london,

Hilarious show! maybe they crossed the line this time but leave them be.

DB, Dubai, UAE

I know these two 'comedians' enjoy huge popularity in the Uk but there must be people like me out there who find them both utterly imbecile and tiresome egotists. This is a great opportunity to disabuse the pair of them of the belief that they can say and do what they want - please, please sack them

Jon Lord, Manchester, uk

sack them, the swines!

bob, derby,

Dumbing Down's reached a new low! Shame on the BBC!

Once again the untalanted get the chance to belittle those who are so much more talented.

Brand and Ross, who receive exhorbitant salaries, should be sacked for gross professional misconduct, and consigned to the bin of those who "never were"

Terry, Bagneres, France

Steve, Kendal - have you heard it? I just don't see it as obscene - maybe a little over the top for the old man.. but come off it.. I've had worse messages left from some mates on a night out after a few drinks.. think I might start pressing charges!! :-)

stuart, southampton, uk

Are these two a product of the UK education system? Worse still we have paid them! Whoever is in charge of selecting them should be given 'a labouring job.'

David Vinter,, Louth, Lincs,, UK.

Ross is very funny on his own. But Brand is a disaster with or without anyone -- like the loudest bragger on the schoolbus mouthing off without once being told shut the hell up.

The stuff gets worse and worse, louder and more shrill, and less and less listenable. Embarrassing to even listen to.

iain, bedford, uk

The egos of some presenters on Radio 2 have become larger than the music. Chris Evans, for example, did a pointless time check over Jimi Hendrix!

These talentless presenters, including Ross, Brand, Evans & (sometimes) Wright, are destroying the ethos of Radio 2 where the music should come first.

John Rollings, Stamford, UK

Please please please remove Brand from any form of public entertainment. He's not funny, he's not entertaining, he's not clever: there is absolutely no reason for this individual to be hoisted on the poor public. Haven't we suffered enough?

Lisa, London,

Why are we continuing to pay these people? If any of my husband's employees behaved in this way, they would be sacked for gross misconduct. Our licence fee is being abused; if these puerile prats remain in their jobs, the BBC won't have a leg to stand on when it asks for more money.

Alison, Markfield,

Brand's "apology" compounds the offence. Sacking matter for both of them.

Joe S. Walker, Liverpool,

For a long time I have argued in support of funding for the BBC. Not any more. They have gone too far down the slippery slope, and now stand for very little.

R.Todd, Kirkby Stephen, UK

Ross and Brand are neither funny or clever. They are a complete waste of money and should be sacked forthwith. Neither shoud ever be classed as entertainers and if the BBC consider that they are - they should be refunding my licence fee now. They are both the dregs of society.

Anne, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

In response to Stuart Southampton who claims that the comments were hardly criminal. - I would like to point out that obscene comments left on an anwerphone IS a criminal offence!!!!

Steve, Kendal,

They should be made to apologise to Sach's personally - although really they chould be volunteering.

I like both Brand and Ross, but they need to grow up a little - especially Ross. This sort of juvenile behaviour isn't funny whatever way you look at it.

James, London,

I certainly won't be watching Ross on TV again...he crossed the line and should be sacked. As for Brand...he's a waste of space anyway...what is he on TV for anyway...he's not even funny!

Dave, Harlow, UK

3 issues here:

1) The BBC's lack of editorial control - why did no-one step in and put a stop to it?

2) That these 2 men receive licence-payers money. Sack them.

3) That this abuse could ever be considered entertaining - which says much for the "culture" we have allowed ourselves to become.

Reggie , London, UK

I used to be a fan of Ross-but not any more.He and Brand should both be sacked.If the BBC call this entertainment then I want my license fee back.

Andy, Bristol, UK

I have (note passed tense) enjoyed both Ross and Brand on many occaisions and i suppose i fit the demographic that these two are meant to address for the BBC. Alas i have lost all respect for the limited talents they may have posessed to entertain my television viewing. Deeply dissapointing BBC!

hemi, Darwin, Austraia

Well, I think your all over reacting. They are a pair of comic geniusus! 30 years ago the Sex Pistols swore on TV and we learnt to accept it! Now we are up in arms about a couple of comics making a joke at another comic's expense! For god sake, the shock factor is entertainment, just live a little!!

Darren Steger-Lewis, Lowestoft, England

wow I cannot believe the comments that this has got..more than some of the recent stories on the state of the economic climate in our country.. really people if you didn't listen to the show and are just commenting from what you have read then shame on you.. it was hardly close to criminal!!

stuart, southampton, uk

and I think whoever commented that they were making a elderly man fear for the safety of this grand daughter is crazy - if they had said they were going to hunt her down etc etc. .then fair enough but all they said was they slept with her!!

stuart, southampton, uk

Perhaps we can set up a phone call to tell Ross that I've slept with his children too - that would be a laugh really it would.

Paul Munro, London, UK

The BBC has at least recognised the calls as abusive. Now it needs to sack the pair.

MarkS, Leeds,

Behaving like this in most jobs would get you sacked. It ought to do in this case. But I somehow doubt that BBC will have the courage to take the appropriate action.

MikeF, London,

What a vile, grossly overpaid and over rated pair these two are

CA, Manchester, UK

they disgust me.

Pete W, Bristol, UK

So Ross has not yet apologized or even commented? Probably the first time he has ever failed to have something smug and self-serving to say for himself in 25 years' worth of fatuous broadcasting. Brand's attempt at an apology is almost as contemptible.

Well done, BBC - another winner!

Nimrod, WSM,

I'd expect little better from Brand, but Ross has teenage daughters - damn ghastly behaviour for a father. Making an elderly man fear for his granddaughter's safety is not comedy - its close to criminal.

Amy Davies, Richmond, England

why have they not been fired?

Roger, Southwark,

Actually the BBC should make Brand and Ross apologies personally. It was they would committed the offence.

CA, Manchester, UK

Russel Brand is a bully - plain and simple.

Catherine , London,

Brand & Ross have gone too far this time. What they think is 'funny' is wholly incompatible with common decency. Brand's subsequent apology is hardly 'unreserved'. And Ross remains silent. The BBC's response is totally spineless. And the licence fee payer funds these two talentless non-entities.

Jo, Hinckley, UK

Both about as funny as cancer and paid ridiculously to spout their rubbish.
Sack them both and save us all a fortune BBC

G Morgan, Worcester,