BBC suspends Russell Brand

Oct 29 - Comedian and actor Russell Brand has been suspended by the BBC following offensive prank calls.

Brand, along with TV personality Jonathan Ross are to be suspended and have all their shows taken off air.

Ross is one of the BBC's highest paid stars and there have been calls to sack the two entertainers.

The decision came as the BBC received 18,000 complaints regarding calls made to 78-year-old actor Andrew Sachs, known for his role in sitcom ''Fawlty Towers'', during Brand's radio show which guest starred Ross.

During the show the pair joked that Brand had slept with Sachs' granddaughter, Georgina Baillie, and that actor Sachs might kill himself after hearing their messages.