Ross back on the radio

Jonathan Ross returned to radio for the first time today since he was suspended after he and Russell Brand broadcast lewd phone messages on BBC’s Radio 2.

Ross’s live Saturday morning slot has been covered by Richard Allinson since the presenter's suspension 12 weeks ago.

Last night he made his comeback to our television screens as he hosted his Friday night chat show for the first time since the suspension.

He greeted his audience with the words: “So, where were we?” and apologised again for the messages he and Brand left on veteran actor Andrew Sach’s mobile telephone.

He said: “Well, I am going to take this opportunity to apologise for what I said on the radio because being on the BBC and being allowed this level of freedom to communicate openly with people, it’s a great privilege and it’s something I’ve always enjoyed and I value enormously, and in future I do intend to be more aware of the responsibility that comes with such a gift.”

“But as the kids say, it was my bad, so I do apologise for any hurt or distress it’s caused.”

Director of BBC Vision Jana Bennett told ITV1’s 'Tonight' programme that the episode was “an act of broadcasting madness”.

She said she had a “sinking feeling” and added: “It didn’t feel like the sort of thing that we would have chosen to broadcast. And indeed, then finding out that we had, made that feeling even, even worse.

“So, I thought it was a great error, in terms of both as a recording but then more importantly because it was pre-recorded, that we then broadcast it.”

She said Ross had spoken to BBC bosses about the use of “over-the-top language” and limits on what he should broadcast after his return.