For a minute there, you’d be forgiven for forgetting the world is going to hell in a handcart.
Almost all the papers splashed today with the fallout from Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross’ poorly judged prank calls to actor Andrew Sachs, alleging that Brand had slept with his granddaughter. Who is hardly a shrinking violet herself.
Brand has fallen on his sword and issued a heartfelt apology for any offence this unfortunate episode may have caused Mr. Sachs. I’m not sure what the other 27,000 callers were offended about. It was a prank, and its biggest error was being neither funny or particularly subtle. But for Brand to feel compelled to resign due to the public outcry is the most lamentable thing of all.
The sheer weight of criticism aimed at the beeb for its part in all this is thanks in part to its anomalous position as a non-governmental state broadcaster. We pay for it, yet we don’t always get a huge say in what it shows. Not that that has stopped the big clunking fist weighing clumsily in:
“BBC audiences accept that, in comedy, performers attempt to push the line of taste. It is clear from the views expressed by the public that this broadcast has caused severe offence and I share that view,” said the Prime Minister, taking time off from saving capitalism.
One can’t help agreeing with Telegraph blogger Bruno Waterfield: “What is worse? That this rubbish goes out on the BBC or that it comes to dominate the political agenda at a time when there are many, many more important issues to get agitated about?”
