Jonathan Ross says Radio 2 has become more boring after Sachsgate scandal
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Radio 2 is so risk-averse and boring now â and Iâm to blame over Sachsgate scandal, says Jonathan Ross
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Jonathan Ross claims the BBC has become more risk-averse and dull in the wake of his Sachsgate scandal on Radio 2.
The Corporation faced a public backlash after the 2008 incident, when comedian Russell Brand and the TV presenter called the much-loved Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs during Brandâs show and left lewd messages on his answerphone.Â
Brand also bragged about sex with Sachsâs granddaughter Georgina Baillie, with whom he had had a brief relationship.
At the time, the BBC sacked Brand and suspended Ross for three months, and it was also fined ÂŁ150,000 by the regulator Ofcom.
Jonathan Ross claims the BBC has become more risk-averse and dull in the wake of his Sachsgate scandal on Radio 2. Pictured are Brand and Ross singing an apology for Sachsgate
Ross, who hosted a show on Radio 2 for ten years, admits he now rarely tunes in. Talking to Dermot OâLeary on his Audible podcast, he said: âI wish it was a little bit more interesting.Â
‘A lot of the time it feels like they donât take risks any more, which they used to.
âObviously Iâm part of the reason they donât do that any more because of the huge cock-up of me and Russell on his show.
âItâs one of the reasons they allowed themselves to be beaten back into a position of, âOh, donât take risks, donât take chances.â
Ross, who hosted a show on Radio 2 for ten years, admits he now rarely tunes in
âTo an extent I sympathise with that, but at the same time thatâs why I donât listen to a lot.â
Last week Paul OâGrady became the latest big name to leave Radio 2âs weekday schedule, following Steve Wright and Vanessa Feltz out of the door.
Despite the public outcry over what became known as Sachsgate â which was even discussed in Parliament â Ross did not consider walking away from the broadcaster, claiming the issue had been âblown out of all proportionâ.
The 2008 Sachsgate scandal saw Russell Brand and Ross call Andrew Sachs during Brandâs show and leave lewd messages on his answerphone. Brand also bragged about sex with Sachsâs granddaughter Georgina Baillie (pictured), with whom he had had a brief relationship
Recalling the incident, Ross added: âI didnât want the people who were going for me and going for Russell to win. That would have been their victory.Â
‘I didnât want to throw anyone under the bus, but after the recording I actually said, âYou know you canât put that out unless we have his [Sachsâs] permission? Youâve got to make sureâŠâ Thatâs why the BBC couldnât fire me.â
Sachs, who died in 2016 aged 86, said that the pairâs âlewd banter was deeply hurtfulâ.