Russell Brand resigns over crude calls

Host Russell Brand is interviewed during a news conference previewing the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards in Hollywood, September 4, 2008.

LONDON (Reuters) - Comedian Russell Brand resigned on Wednesday from his BBC radio show over the crude messages he and television presenter Jonathan Ross left on the answerphone of actor Andrew Sachs.

The 47-year-old Ross also issued a public apology after he and Brand, 33, were suspended by the BBC for their "gross lapse of taste."

"As I only do the radio show to make people laugh I've decided that given the subsequent coverage I will stop doing the show," said Brand.

"I got a bit caught up in the moment and forgot that at the core of the rude comments and silly songs were the real feelings of a beloved and brilliant comic actor and a very sweet and big hearted young woman.

"I hope that now Jonathan and the BBC will endure less forensic wrath."

The Radio 2 presenters had joked on air that Brand had slept with the granddaughter of 78-year-old Sachs, who played Spanish waiter Manuel in the classic comedy series "Fawlty Towers," and said Sachs might kill himself after hearing their messages.

"I am deeply sorry and greatly regret the upset and distress that my juvenile and thoughtless remarks on the Russell Brand show have caused," said Ross in his statement.

"However, it was a stupid error of judgement on my part and I offer a full apology.

The escalating row prompted Prime Minister Gordon Brown to join the voices condemning the presenters' actions while Georgina Baillie, Sachs' 23-year-old granddaughter, called for the duo to be sacked.

In the light of the furore, with more than 18,000 complaints received from the public, BBC Director-General Mark Thompson said he had decided to take action.

"I have decided that it is not appropriate for either Russell Brand or Jonathan Ross to continue broadcasting on the BBC until I have seen the full report of the actions of all concerned," said Thompson in a statement."

Thompson said he wanted to add his own "personal and unreserved apology" to Sachs, his family and to licence fee payers for the "completely unacceptable broadcast."

Baillie told the Sun she had been a past lover of Brand but said what the presenters had done was "beyond contempt."

"What's funny about humiliating a lovely old man who has never harmed anyone in his life," she said. "They should at least pay for what they've done with their jobs."

Politicians have voiced their disapproval, with a parliamentary motion condemning the presenters and calling for their sacking signed by 13 MPs, while media watchdog Ofcom said it was investigating the broadcast.

Sachs himself said the presenters had sent him apologies but they had not expressed their remorse to Baillie.

"I am very glad that people are taking a stand and putting it far more eloquently than I can," he told the Daily Mail.

"It seems that things go too far on TV and radio, so I would certainly say that something needs to be done before the world goes to the dogs."

Ross, who also presents a television chat show, and Brand are among the best known names on BBC radio.

Ross's current BBC contract is widely reported to be worth 18 million pounds over three years.

(Reporting by Michael Holden and John Joseph; Editing by Luke Baker)