BBC suspends Ross and Brand

Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand have been suspended in the wake of the controversy over their lewd calls to Fawlty Towers star Andrew Sachs, the BBC said today.

BBC Director General Mark Thompson has also apologised to Mr Sachs for the calls which he said had caused “severe offence”.

The BBC has received more than 10,000 complaints since the broadcast, which has also prompted an official investigation from media watchdog Ofcom and drawn widespread condemnation from a range of figures including the British Prime Minister.