BBC Trust to discuss prank calls show

The BBC Trust is meeting today when it will discuss the management’s report on the furore over Russell Brand’s radio show.

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

Sir Michael Lyons, chairman of the BBC, said “nothing” had been ruled out during the inquiry into the Andrew Sachs controversy, sparking speculation that £6m-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.

The Trust previously said that it had requested a final, written report from the director-general at its meeting scheduled for tomorrow, covering “all relevant issues”.

Other unrelated matters are also on the agenda at the meetings which continue until tomorrow.

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

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

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

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

Sir Michael 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 Mr Thompson to take further action.

But a statement from the Trust appeared to put Ross’s 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 October 30, 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.”

After Mr 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”.

The affair 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.

No statements were expected to be made outside this week’s BBC Trust meetings, which take place at an undisclosed location in Cardiff.

An official statement will be made by the Trust at a press conference in London on Friday.