Suspended for 3 months.I think I'll suspend my licence fee/tax payments for 3 months.
Why don't we all do it - after all it was people power that got this fiasco into the spotlight otherwise it would have been shovelled under the carpet.
To get anywhere in this country you've got to shout. Sad

james allen, manchester, england

Having dumbed down for so long, how can anyone be shocked by the BBC dumbing up? The big surprise was discovering that 30'000 listen to Radio 2.

Doug Miller, Fulham,

What happened was bullying, pure and simple. Knife crime, etc all spring this shallow, nasty attiude to others. That's why it's important that hypocritical bullies like Ross should not be tolerated.

PL, London,

This has not been taken too far - the emperors of the BBC have been revealed in their unattractive ethical nakedness. The result Ross will lose 1.3m out of his 18m pound salary - oh, but that's OK because, according to another buffoon at the BBC, we envy his salary and this sop should satisfy us.

Graham Howells, Brasília,

I wish to offer my support to Ross and Brand. This pathetic, fake moralising is an embarassment to the nation. If you listen to the show on a regular basis (something I would suggest very few of the 30,000 complainers have done given the initial reaction) then you know what you are getting in to.

John, Leamington Spa,

Re: "brain dead supporters" & 2 complaints.It was true, complaints only picked up when the media picked up on the story. Patricia has a good point in that the media is responsible for the public hysteria, not just this story but the economy as well - report not sensationalize! Remember Brass Eye

Alex, Stroud,

Since when did abusive telephone calls and harrassment move from criminal offences to 'edgy' comedy. Ross, Brand, Lesley Douglas and all those in the management chain need to be permanently removed from broadcasting.

John Smythe, London, UK

How on earth did Mark Thompson successfully interview for his role ? The lack of talent and judgement at the BBC starts at the very top. After this pathetic response and performance we can again say that the dead fish stinks from the head.
Lets have a referendum on TV Licenses please..

Graeme Green, Middleton, UK

Jonathan who?

ronnie, Bridego Bridge, UK

12 weeks and 1.3 million? This will not hurt at all. Ross has had stratospheric wages for many years and his fame/notoriety means he could move to other channels around the world, write a book, do all kinds of things, or retire if he wanted and enjoy his vast wealth or resume in 12, not worried.

Joe, Manchester,

Comiserations to Jayne(his wife), im sure she will be at her witts end with him under her feet for the next 3 months.
At least the Gardening will get done.

I wonder how long the media witch hunt will go on for.
Looks like the media is obviously bored with the current stream of world disasters

simon, norwich,

I expect Ross will cling on to his fantastical salary. He really has no shame.

Much more of this stuff and the licence fee will HAVE to go.

tris, DUNDEE,

The presenters went too far but this is a witch-hunt. Well done the Daily Mail, you got what you wanted; to stir up hysteria and sell more newspapers. If you don't like it, don't listen.

Rachel, Chester, UK

Frankly this is all a bit embarrassing, these 30,000 odd toe rags are ruining our reputation. That Johnny & Brand's 'gag' wasn't particularly funny does not excuse this total sense of humour bypass after.

Andrew, Fareham ... totally up for it. If we could get Songs of Praise banned ... :-D

Nick, Hexham, Northumberland

Ethical Standards! The woman is a member of a group, which I, as a Christian find morally reprehensible, but I do not participate in sensationalism driven witch hunts.

If you want to look for ethical decline, look there. However, as a defender of free speech, I am disgusted with this "outrage"

Sinead, Coventry,

Thompson is saying he won't sack Ross. Just goes to show what a spineless waste of space Thompson is and indicative of what has happened under Labour these last 10 years. Ian Blair was another example of someone appointed way above their capabilities. New Labour is rotten to the core.

Charles, Leeds,

30 000 / 80 000 000 * 100 = 0.0375% of the population...

and the 99.9625% who thought it was nothing to worry about or funny... they just get ignored do they? ... more of the same please! (on behalf of 99.9625% of the population who can't believe the nanny / sensorship state we have).

GET OVER IT

Graeme, Edinburgh,

Making obscene phone calls to the elderly is a Bad Thing, and should be against the law if its not already.

I didn't hear it, but I still get to have an opinion as I was forced by the the TV license tax to pay for it.

Zdarma Smith, Cambridge, UK

If she wants to model and dance that is her affair, if she can take advantage of the media good for her, nice to see someone other than the usual celebs getting a cut. Her privacy was invaded now let her hit back, why not. Mountain out of a molehill yes but a harmless distraction from grim headlines

am, letchworrth,

What amazes me is that anyone could think this man is worth the obscene amount the BBC pay him in the first place.

Mike, Nottm, UK

Not long enough. When I next see and hear Jonathan Ross, I expect to find a new man, reformed. If not, the off switch will be hit.

There cannot be a more important issue than this. Disrespect of the elderly is a symptom of the modern contempt for the dignity of humanity.

Chris Gillibrand, Brussels, Belgium

Why haven't 20,000 people complained about the police officer who didn't shout "armed police" before shooting at stockwell? Why haven't the tabloids started a campaign against that?

.

mgb, Dumfries, Scotland

Ross is still getting away with not resigning, he has no honour and the BBC are scared.

J, rochester,

With a global economic meltdown and an humanitarian crisis in the Congo surely we can find more important topics to discuss? I am at total disbelief at how much air time/press coverage this has received. Enough is enough, now please lets move on.

Natasha, London, London

Maurits Kaiff: The British have a renowned sense of humour and can find the funny side in most things. What this incident shows is that most of the population are not prepared to tolerate people using the airwaves for vindictive and abusive bullying of innocents. A line has been drawn.

Graham, Towcester,

Did anyone notice this was nicely timed to deflect attention away from "the sleazy brothers" Mandellson and Osborne? We really ought to get our priortities right, the public allowed themselves to be led away from the real issue of dealing with these two, who are entrusted with running the country.

Simon, winchester,

Where are the brains? Ross and Brand for broadcasting this. BBC managers for engaging them in the first place, paid vast sums with our licence (ie surrogate taxpayers') money. Makes you want to refuse to pay and go to prison>

Howard, Chester,

Who is the clown, that comes up with these rates of pay?

Sounds like money laundering.

ronnie, Bridego Bridge, UK

don't care what ppl are saying or thinking. don't care about Brand

BUT!!!

I WANNA WATCH J ROSS'S FRIDAY SHOW AS USUAL !!! IT IS A SHAME THAT IT IS GONE !

I AM GOING TO STOP WATCHING BBC IF THEY WILL TURN OFF THIS ROSS'S SHOW

Alex, Surrey

Alex, Surrey, UK

This whole thing is hugely embarrasing. Im ashamed to live in a country full of armchair begrudgers with nothing better to do than complain about a show they have never listened too.

Stephen, London, England

"Amazing how many people are 'outraged' at something that had nothing to do with them.."

It had everything to do with me. I am a license fee payer.

gary smith, LONDON, UK

Wow! Imagine what would happen if everyone voted in elections!

Richard Nurse, Folkestone, U.K.

...and yet the man who has totally wrecked our country is allowed to continue to ply his trade unhindered. What an insane, topsy turvy world we live in.

Bev, Bucks, UK

£1.3 million for 3 weeks! How sick is that? (glad I got rid of my telly and he doesn't get a penny of my money).

Rob, Westminster,

I am disgusted with the BBC for broadcasting such trash.

Jonathan Ross should do the decent thing and resign. He had become more and more lewd in the name of entertainment - go now!

Octavia , London, UK

Amazing how many people are 'outraged' at something that had nothing to do with them and who can take offence on behalf of others to something they never even heard, yet they are happy to allow a Prime Minister to run the UK into the ground and destroy their children's future without a whisper

Bryan, Totland , UK

I can't believe what the British are on about...have you ever heard about prioritising?

What Ross and Brand have done might not exactly be 'good taste' but the way it is taken in the UK is far worse than the insult itself.

Maurits Kalff, Cape Town, South Africa

I'm delighted that Ms Douglas has finally gone. She made gaff after gaff contributing largely to the dumbing down of Radio 2. My only hope now is that Doulas' legacy of Chris Evans it demolished too.
She made a very poor job of "controlling" Radio2! Her arrogance was second to none.

James collins, London, England

Supporters of these two "entertainers" keep pointing out that there were initially only two complaints, surely this is an indication of the sort of brain dead morons that listen to this show, if the BBC are going to survive this, it had better be, one down, more to follow.

Steve B, Birmingham, UK

This is a very important matter and should be thoroughly debated. Most British people are deeply concerned about rapidly declining ethical standards in our society, for which, it seems ( at least to the rational thinker), the media is largely responsible.

Patricia , Ipswich, England

Speed instead...Sweet!

Tom, london, uk

They think they are paid so much because the public agree with their style of presenting no matter what. Doesnt matter how many complained as long as the one humiliated did do.In his view they were wrong-no one else has the right to tell Mr Sachs otherwise. He deserves a full apology

Anne, Newport Pagnell,

The Tories should be ashamed of this wanton bandwagon jumping. If this is the only thing the HoC has to worry about maybe it should be a part time job as an MP with a part time salary. It's about time evryone moved on andall get on with their jobs!

Wayne, London,

Let the BBC decide for goodness sake. There is more political concern over this matter than our kids dying every day from knife and gun shot wounds on the streets !!!!!

IAN PAYNE, Walsall,

How absolutely pathetic this is. I wonder whether this story has been whipped up just to take the public's minds off the fact that the country is in such a financial mess.

Julie, Romford, UK

It would be fair to say this is blown out of proportion, if the BBC was a private business. What makes it a scandal is that fools are being paid astonomical sums from our taxes to insult people. This really raises the fundamental question of why we even have a publicly funded BBC in the first place.

John Thompson, Reading, Berkshire

Why does every scandal in this country have to end in the word "-gate"? Just because the Americans coined Watergate, doesn't mean we have to follow by using the same naming convention. This wasn't even a scandal, it's just a couple of Z-list celebrities misusing radio for their own petty gain.

Khaled, London,

What is wrong with these MPs? We have a more important things to worry about like a global credit melt down. Baillie is no angel herself, look at the publicity she and her grandfather have got. Until last Saturday it was Sachs who? It sounds to me that Ms Baillie has a vendetta out against Brand

Stuart Bird, South London, Surrey

Deflects attention away from George Osbourne doesn't it? Seriously, if they sack Ross because of 30,000 complaints, I'll get 31,000 signatures tomorrow to remove all religious programming at the license fee payers expense!

Andrew, Fareham,

I feel sorry for Brand and Ross now. I wish people would stop going on about it. Especially poloticians, who surly should be concentrating their efforts getting this country out of the fiscal mess we are in!

Ray, Dundee,

I think everyone should all just get over it. It was a JOKE. Jesus, you would probably pull a prank like that on your friend. From what i can gather all they did was a spin-off version of 'your mum' joke, but with the actor's granddaughter.
Laugh it off people.

Steph , Norwich, uk

Why waste the time on this? Surely the HoC has far more important business!

Jeremy Taylor, Crawley by Gatwick,

Jonathan Ross OBE should be ashamed.

He has brought the BBC into disrepute and should be sacked

He has brought the OBE into disrepute, and it should be recalled

K Richards, London, England

A full Commons debate!!! Do our politicians have nothing better to do... I can think of plenty if the Tories are short of things to worry about.

Theresa, Chelmsford, UK

This is just amazing... only two people complained during the show and that was about the language being used.

Thanks to the media's insatiable desire to whip up trouble/dirt, politicians now want to discuss this in the Commons.

Next we will be having a referendum on whether to sack Ross!

Rob, Richmond, UK

This whole situation has been blown out of proportion !

Yes they went a bit far, but they apologised and that should be the end of it.

I very much doubt that the majority of people who complained even heard the programme, it is just the press who keep snowballing the story.

Richard, Preston, England

Georgina Baillie, a member of The Satanic Sluts Extreme, is worried it could have damaged her reputation permanently?

Sorry, I'm chuckling here!

Ben, Ealing, UK

Enough is enough. This is not a Parliamentary matter. The Tories are just damaging themselves.

Chris Jackson, London,

Hasn't the government got slightly better things to debate, such as, erm, lets see now... oh I know! Complete global economic collapse.

This hysteria is ridiculous. It's li Diana all over again. Sad people with nothing better to do working themselves up over something they read in the paper.

Azbola, Romford, England

Well ..... Brand has certainly tarnished HIS Brand. I think he is hugely overrated. He got too up himself and regrettably at the emotional cost of others, his cocky, obnoxious persona has cost him a HUGE £price. Hopefully a real intelligent and natural re-Brand returns a better person.

Monique, Molesey, UK

I'm not saying what Brand or Ross did was right but if the young lady in this matter is going to give out details of what he did in the bedroom (RE: "prancing") then is there not a bit of the pot calling the kettle black?! She's been rightly indignant about the whole thing but this doesn't help her.

Richard Pickup, Wakefield, UK

The 2 presenters clearly lacked any respect, decorum or taste. The BBC are more culpable for letting a recording like this go to air. But is this really headline news? I am sick of hearing about it.

Dom, London, UK

Oh for crying out loud! Haven't they got more important things to concern themselves with!

Paula, Warks, England

What a storm in a teacup! I think far too many people have wasted too much time on a silly joke already without wasting (more of) Parliament's time on it as well.

Trust the UK media to focus so much attention on this bit of celebrity nonsense when there are far more serious matters to fill pages!

Kieran, London, UK

Is this really the most pressing issue of the day?

Mike Lee, London,

This is a media story invented by the media. 2 complaints turns to 30K complaints. Goes to show 2 things: 1. How pathetic the British media are and; 2. The British public are officially sheep.

Johnny Briggs, Fleet St, UK

The politicians should pay attention to their proper business. In the middle of a global financial crisis, their business is not to waste time debating the foolish actions of a couple of idiotic media personalities.

Kate Corwyn, Bristol, UK

The underling question not addressed by Gordon Brown or the Conservatives and certainly not by anybody in the BBC is : Why are we paying a licence fee?, £18 million pounds for an egocentric juvenile (who happens to be 47 years old).

Simon, Leeds, U.K.

The world financial system is collapsing; at best we are going to have the biggest unemployment this country has seen and there is every chance that this is the start of the collapse of the western world as we know it ...and the politicians are busying themselves with this nonsense !

g sculler, stoke, UK

why has jonathan ross not been sacked.
cjris evans and kenny everett were sacked for less!!!!!

kathy firth, yeovil, somerset

This has been blown out of all proportions. The papers, the publicists and the politicians should keep quiet on this matter. Oh the braying mob. It makes me sorry that people can't see through the hype at the real issue at stake.

Martin, maidenhead, uK

The same day I heard about this I heard about one of the young boys repsonsible for murdering a young Miss Lancaster (because of the subculture she aligned herself with) had his sentance reduced and yet there is more media and public outcry about this?
"Tories demand commons debate"?
Priorities?

Archie, Thanet, Kent

If anyone has ever watched Nevermind The Buzzcocks, they'd be aware of the frequent and often offensive remarks made by the shows host and it's contestants. This has never been an issue.

Since when has it been a house of commons topic? There's a reason why Russells show was after 9pm.

Joanna Whitby, Cardiff,

The issue is not how this pre-recorded programme was allowed to go to air. The phone call to Mr. Sachs was made and the abuse delivered. Preventing the broadcast would not have removed the insulting behaviour - just prevented the licence payers knowing what trash we are subsidising.

William Mieran, NORTHWOOD, England

Are they being serious? Millions face negative equity, hundreds of thousands are quivering over their jobs and the Tories want to extend the garrulity of the episode the commons? Watching this from the US, I cannot help but think how tragicallly trivial this whole saga is. Is my country this petty?

michael green, chicago, USA

If we did this the police would already have us locked up. Do Celebrity have different laws now?

Gary Cisco, Brentwood, UK

This is ridiculous, haven't our MP's got better things to focus on, the majority of licence payers are not complaining
They made a mistake, did something silly and are paying now
Its the BBC management and risk controls processes which need to be examined. Why are they not naming the real culprit?

Arlene Deane, London,

it's a total shame that 30000 people didn't phone Gordon Brown and tell him what a mess he's made of the country. yes we pay a licence fee, and yes, we're not happy that 2 overpaid idiots are abusing their privileges, but really a commons debate? get real Britain.

Andy , chelmsford,

I wonder how many of those complaining have been outraged by listening to the programme or by the overblown media coverage of it?

Bob Thompson, upminster,

Haven't MPs got anything more serious to discuss? First Brown, now the Tories - you'd think they'd both know better. Further, it's alarming that both want to censor material. No I didn't hear the broadcast, nor do I watch either Ross or Brand but I wouldn't stop anyone else from doing so.

Dr I Burgess, Bristol,

Although it was an episode of which Ross, Brand and the BBC should be thoroughly ashamed and the BBC are right in their suspension of the pair, Parliament surely has far more important matters to debate than this.

michelle, Stoke,

"Me and my granddad are both really happy because it could have damaged our reputation permanently"

She's a dancer for a group called Satanic Sluts and has her photos taken in tabloids with duct-tape covering her nipples and wearing fishnet stockings - does she really have a ruin-able reputation?

Rosie, Essex, England

“I’m thrilled because justice has been done... Me and my granddad are both really happy because it could have damaged our reputation permanently.”

You did that yourself dear. (see last two paragraphs)

Alex, London,

This is just completely crazy. This has just been taken too far. It was a very rude joke and should be taken in that context.

Matthew Cheatle, Hertford, England

The fallout from this is even more entertaining than the calls themselves! Good work Brand & Ross, this is comedy gold!

Michael Graham, Belfast,

Two comedians do something silly, for which they apologise. Well worth a debate in Parliament. Much more important than trying to run the country. And do we really believe that the young 'lady' in question cares about her Grandfather's feelings? Would she have employed a publicist if she did?

Chris Watson, Oxford,

"But I never thought he’d use it to cause such a lot of damage.”

If 'damage' is how Georgina describes the swelling of her bank account by 50k in a recession courtesy of the tabloids, where do I sign up for some?

Sean, Surrey, UK

A milion people demonstrated in Britain against going to war with the people of Iraq.
I don't recall Brown, Cameron or any of their cronies taking any notice of public opinion then.

peter franzen, Wigan, England

There are obviously 30,000 people out there with no sense of humor and nothing better to do with their time than complain. It was a joke that crossed the line...but it was never meant to hurt or offend anyone.

Carl, Bristol,

So Ms Baillie and Mr Brand did have a fling, so the allegations weren't untrue then. So the real problem is that they were broadcast on air.

Daniel, margate, uk

I can't believe how overblown this has become. I have listened to this segment on a popular video sharing website and I have to say it barely registers with my sense of bad taste. Will the world as a whole please get over it!

Michael Codona, Edinburgh, Scotland

"But I never thought he’d use it to cause such a lot of damage.”

If 'damage' is how Georgina describes the swelling of her bank account by 50k in a recession courtesy of the tabloids, where do I sign up for some?

Sean, Surrey, UK

I wish politicians would devote as much time to more serious issues that affect the reputations of their own parties as they are to the Russel Brand/Jonathan Ross saga.

I do not condone what has happened but enough is enough, let the B.B.C sort out this mess, afterall that is where it began

Dianne george, Launceston, United Kingdom

It's when the Tories do pathetic knee jerk public relation stunts like this that I worry whether they are a creditable, realistic option to the useless crowd we have in office at the moment. Heaven help us all.

Jim, Brierley Hill,

That does it. I'm going to vote Monster Raving Looney Party at the next election. They could not be a bigger bunch of idiots than our present Labour and Tory lot. Why dont they have a debate on the stupidity of The House Of Commons,that would make for some interesting reading.

John Chambers, Swindon, UK

Why is this getting so much attention? Fuel price fixing is a real public interest issue that actually affects our lives. Discuss that in parliment and maybe even do something about it for a change.

sean linard, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

Shows you how out of touch the tories are, if this is their main priority. This story has been blown way out of proportion. They said sorry - one has resigned - that should be the end of the matter. The only one who needed to be sacked was the producer that let this show go out on air.

James Thompson, manchester, England

Can we PLEASE just forget about this now?

gemma, glasgow,

this circus is worse than the joke itself - surely there are more important things to worry about?

Armand Tamzarian, London,

The perennial problem with Jonathan Ross is that he seems to think that no-one is as funny or as important as....Jonathan Ross. He is wrong on both counts.

Tony Elliott, London,

So typical of politicians, trying to divert attention away from their own incompetence. Here they are, jumping on the bandwagon and attempting to score brownie points by going along with what they perceive to be public opinion. Demagogy at its greatest. Once a hypocrite, always a hypocrite.

Simon, Hérouvillette, France

Astonishing - The economy is in melt-down and our government is about to debate the appropriate comments that can be made about an 'exotic dancer' . How about, "Subtle use of movement to simulate rutting." - decent enough? ..And what a bunch of sanctimonious hypocrites the UK press are.

Bob, Merseyside, England

I can't believe how unecessarily out of proportion this has got. So Russel Brand and Jonathon Ross made a joke, I'm willing to bet there have been worse jokes broadcast live on the radio and T.v over the years. Does it really need to be bought to parliament? For gods sake, get a sense of humour!

Sam, Herts,

Is this really important national news?! Cannot believe the coverage on this. There are far more important issues to be resolved in our country than for such issues to be blown out of proportion.
These guys made a mistake, (like we all do) and the issue should be dealt with behind closed doors.

Greg , Harlow,

What a great Dr Who He Would Make or maybe (post watershed) in torchwood he cannot be any worse than two men kissing.

David, Cornwall, UK

At last the British public have woken up to the decline of civic pride in the UK. 30,000 complaints, fantastic.
Now complain about Brown, crime, the economy, high taxes, weak police, poor education, MPs detached from reality, high petrol taxes, easy credit card debt, gross inefficiency on the NHS.

Lawrence, Hale, UK

ridiculous - debate the cost of gas, electricity and petroleum by all means. Conservatives are already losing ground to NuLab without this stupid request

Mike, Sole Street, England

I think we should all be concentrating on getting George Lamb off 6music - far more offensive.

Andrew, Bath,