Petition supports Brand and Ross

A petition to overturn the suspension of Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross from the BBC has begun online.

The petition, on the GoPetition website, has already garnered 336 signatures and comes after the BBC decided to suspend Brand and Ross over comments made on Brand's radio show on 18 October.

"We, the undersigned, call on the BBC to turn blame on the 'Andrew Sachs' incident away from Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross, and instead onto whoever green lighted the show," the petition reads.

A Facebook group has also been set up and at the time of writing has over 1,000 members.

Brand and Ross were suspended in a scandal over obscene phone calls made on air to Andrew Sachs, the actor who played Manuel in Fawlty Towers. Brand claimed to have had a sexual relationship with Sachs' granddaughter in one of the calls.

Although initially the BBC only issued an apology to Sachs and those who heard the comments, it today decided to suspend the duo.

"This is not a marginal case. It is clear from the views expressed by the public that this broadcast has caused severe offence and I share that view," BBC director-general Mark Thompson said.

Industry regulator Ofcom has also begun an investigation into the incident and could fine the BBC up to £250,000.

Sachs' granddaughter Georgina Baillie, a member of the dance group Satantic Sluts Extreme, was quoted in The Sun today calling for the pair to be sacked. However, Baillie has confessed to having slept with Brand.

What do you think of the decision to suspend Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross? Have your say in the Web User forums.

www.gopetition.co.uk/online/22911.html