NJR: Manuelgate

[Mulboyne]

This is currently enormous news in Britain. I think most people have some sympathy with Andrew Sachs but his granddaughter Georgina seems more interested in selling her story to the tabloids.

To some degree, it reminded me of Japan in that people are trying to work out what constitutes an adequate apology. We get to see a rerun of "Speed" tomorrow in place of the regular Friday night chat show featuring Ross.

[Mulboyne]

I don't like Ross on television but, oddly, he is very good on the radio which is where the problems took place. (Useless trivia: his wife, Jane Goldman, wrote the screenplay for Stardust).

So far, Russell Brand looks to be coming out best from this. By resigning, he has satisfied some of his critics by "taking responsibility" and has received a groundswell of support from younger fans who think there was a press campaign to stitch him up as a way of attacking the BBC. Andrew Sachs is treading the right line so far by not openly calling for heavy punishments but his granddaughter is milking this in a fairly unedifying manner. Ross is left looking like a bully who egged on a younger colleague to cross the line so he probably still needs to make amends somehow.

[Mulboyne]

Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand row: Radio 2 controller resigns

The controller of Radio 2, Lesley Douglas, has resigned over the Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand phone prank scandal...The 45-year-old guided Radio 2 to become Britain's most listened-to station, and she is hugely popular within the corporation. Among BBC staff, there is anger that she has been forced to fall on her sword, while Jonathan Ross clings on to his job...more...

Britain is turning into a nation of 2chers.