BBC accused of arrogance over prank calls row

The BBC was accused of “arrogance” today as its boss accepted Radio 2 was wrong to announce Jonathan Ross’s return date.

Michael Lyons, chairman of the BBC, said “nothing” had been ruled out during the inquiry into the Andrew Sachs controversy, sparking speculation that £6m (7.1m)-a-year Ross could face further disciplinary action.

But the BBC Trust later issued a statement which indicated no further sanction against Ross was expected.

Ross is serving a three-month suspension from the airwaves after he and Russell Brand caused uproar by leaving lewd messages on the 'Fawlty Towers' actor’s answering machine.

Lyons and BBC director-general Mark Thompson came under fire from MPs during a tough Culture, Media and Sport Committee hearing at the House of Commons.

Radio 2 said last week that Ross would return on January 24.

John Whittingdale, the committee chairman, asked Lyons whether this announcement was premature, given that the Trust was not due to publish its final report on the scandal until Friday.

Lyons replied: “There are many aspects of this affair which I would like to have seen handled differently.

“I am sure in the last week the BBC has done a few things I wish it hadn’t - it’s a big organisation.”

The Trust chairman indicated the body had yet to make its final decision on the scandal.

“The BBC Trust has not finished its deliberations and all of the matters are subject to the final decision,” he said.

“There is nothing that has been ruled out from the final deliberations of the BBC Trust.”

This appeared to raise the possibility of more punishment for Ross, as although the Trust has no power to sack BBC employees, it could rule the moves taken to redress the Sachs incident were insufficient, putting pressure on Thompson to take further action.

But a statement from the Trust appeared to put Ross’ position in less doubt.

It said the Trust had ratified the BBC management’s decision to suspend Ross without pay for three months as “an appropriate sanction”.

The statement continued: “The Trust will not pre-empt its own inquiry, but based on the oral updates it has received since 30 October, it does not expect the director-general’s final report to provide new information of substance relating to Jonathan Ross’s role which would lead it to change its view on his part in this incident.”

The BBC Trust meets on Thursday to discuss the corporation’s handling of the affair, which prompted more than 40,000 complaints.

Several apologies have been made for the comments, broadcast on Brand’s Radio 2 show on October 18.

During the furore that followed the show, Brand resigned, along with Radio 2 boss Lesley Douglas and David Barber, the Radio 2 head of specialist music and compliance.

Committee members accused Lyons and Thompson of “lamentable slowness” in the way the saga was handled.

After Thompson admitted the lewd phone messages were a “very serious editorial lapse”, Philip Davies, a member of the committee, accused them of presiding over “an arrogant organisation.”

Thompson said the BBC failed in its duty of care to Mr Sachs’s granddaughter, Georgina Baillie.

He said: “This is an example of a really serious editorial lapse which is not close to a boundary where you can debate it.

“It is absolutely well on the wrong side of the line in terms of invasion of privacy and in terms of a lapse in duty of care to some of the individuals – Sachs’s granddaughter being at the centre of that.

“I would say that it was entirely appropriate that the rest of the media should point to that.”

Lyons also said the corporation had “crossed a boundary” by broadcasting the messages on Brand’s Radio 2 show.

Davies, Tory MP for Shipley, said the initial complaints from viewers were “irrelevant” compared with the offence caused to Mr Sachs.

He added: “Even when you apologised, you did not check your apology with Andrew Sachs to make sure he was happy with the wording of the apology that was broadcast on Radio 2.

“How can you preside over such an arrogant organisation that does not even check with the person who has been offended whether they are happy with the apology that has been broadcast?”

Thompson went on to deny claims that Ross was paid too much.

When asked whether he was worth £6m (€7.1m) a year, he said: “I think, if the BBC has to have top talent, you have to accept that. Even when you grow your own talent, people are on the phone.”

Lyons and Thompson defended the corporation’s actions in the aftermath of the scandal.

When criticised for “lamentable slowness” by Nigel Evans (Tory, Ribble Valley), Lyonsl replied: “There was no lack of speed. This is something I do not accept.

“I refute and reject any allegations there were more actions the trust should have taken.”

Responding to criticism that they did not fire Ross and Brand for “gross misconduct”, Lyons added: “Before you bandy around words like gross misconduct, the BBC has a duty of care.”

He added: “The BBC looks at the evidence before making its decisions.”

Thompson said the BBC had made improvements over the past five years but Sir Michael admitted there were “lessons to be learned”.

But Lyons added: “It is in the nature of the BBC that it takes risks.”

The grilling was the second session held by the Culture, Media and Sport Committee in its ongoing inquiry into the commercial operations of the BBC.