So, Brand and Ross are up to their zany, madcap antics again, eh? Makes you spunk blood in pure rage doesn't it?
OK, let's deconstruct the whole sorry story blog-style. Two of the most notorious, well-paid and therefore popular of the BBC's employees thought it would be a good idea to call up an elderly man and leave lewd and inappropriate answerphone messages for him. The content is thought to include references to his granddaughter's sexual proclivities with Brand and suggestions that he might hang himself because of the bad publicity. Given their ages and stature, it really is a pathetic state of affairs.
My initial opinion was 'you daft apoths', and to be fair it's not shifted far from that. Yes, it is moderately newsworthy for one day and undoubtedly upsetting for Andrew Sachs, but the obvious little-Englander badnwagoning to the complaints received is bugging me. Apparently, the pre-recorded show drew 2 complaints when it was first aired, but since it's hit the news stands more than 10,000 people have complained. Even Gordon Brown has got involved. Not since the days of 'Free the Weatherfield One' has the House of Commons' time being so ridiculously misspent.
Seriously, who gives that big a shit about this story?
In these times of financial uncertainty and people being slotted for preaching Christianity (probably shouldn't ask for my opinions there), is a story about a limp-tongued fop and his Dot Cotton lookalike sidekick really that important? Really?
A lot of the vitriol stems from the fact that these two (particularly Ross) earn an absolute shitload for their dubious services. A fair wedge of the complaints seem to be that we pay their wages, so they should act more responsibly. That's fair enough as far as I'm concerned, although I put towards their wage as well and I couldn't care less what they did, as long as they leave my car alone and don't dawb 'QUEER' on my door in dog shit.
The act itself was despicable, especially when they targeted a former BBC employee and much-loved comedy performer. True, his granddaughter has bumped uglies with Brand, but that's no reason to leave messages proclaiming the fact; I very much doubt he gives a rat's ass. In my opinion, the pair should be suspended and docked wages which should be paid to a charity of Sachs' choice. When they return they should issue full and frank apologies and explain why they did what they did. All of this media-based tut-tutting and claiming of the moral high ground is doing nobody any good, and misses the point spectacularly. I'm pretty sure if John Suchet or David Dimbleby had done this they would be out on their ear; the fact it's two of the brightest stars on the station is preventing the Beeb from showing some balls and giving them a slap. This blatant lack of decisiveness is what's pissing the general public off so much. It was an opportunity for Auntie to show they are in touch with the people by carpeting them, but anything they do now will just be locking the door once the horse has bolted.
The thing is, as already stated this was pre-recorded, which meant the show had to go through what the Beeb laughingly refer to as 'editorial guidelines'. Dropped the ball a bit there didn't you fellas? Nobody's sure how far up the chain of command this goes, but somebody in a higher position than those two clowns gave the OK for it to be aired. Regardless of the responsibilities of the presenters, somebody further up has to take responsibility for it ever being broadcast. And I'll bet my bollocks to a barndance that we've never find out who.
Anyway, the granddaughter isn't getting out of this scot-free. I'm not saying she's to blame, but shagging Brand was a bit of a daft thing to do wasn't it? And she's in a burlesque troupe called Satanic Sluts or summat, which brings its own set of questions. She's upset that they've effectively picked on her granddad and rightly so, but she might want to reconsider her future bedfellows to keep the peace at the Christmas dinner table.
All in all, a sad way for two genuinely talented personalities to conduct themselves. It was quite funny though...
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