Celebrities speak out about Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand

Thursday, 30 October 2008

More than 30,000 people have complained to the BBC about Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross's lewd phone calls to Andrew Sachs, and everyone has their opinion on whether what the pair did was in bad taste or not.

But who cares what we, the humble public think? This is the age of celebrity, so we take a look at what some of the country's showbiz stars think about "Manuelgate".

Close friend of Russell Brand, Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher has condemned the media for overreacting, saying he was "outraged" that columnists in the press had "dictated the tone and are telling people how to behave".

He told BBC Radio Ulster's Across the Line: "I've seen the Daily Mail, they said that Russell should be arrested and charged. Arrested for what? For taking the piss? It's so typical of the English in general. 10,000 people get outraged, but only days after it has happened."

"At worst it was a juvenile prank that wasn't unfunny but it's hardly offensive. I feel bad for Russ, 'cause he really loved doing the show. I loved being on it as well."

Dermot O'Leary, who also presents a show on Radio 2, spoke about Brand's resignation at the National Television Awards last night, saying: "It's really sad, he was brilliant on the radio.

"He's a lovely lad, a nice colleague. It was a bit silly what he said, but then it was a pre-recorded show so there's a debate to be had over whether the buck stops with him or not."

Also at the NTA awards was Brand's former Big Brother colleague Davina McCall, who told Radio 1's Newsbeat: "I think Andrew Sachs is ok about it and his granddaughter is ok about it so we should just let it go."

Comedian Paul O'Grady added "Aren’t there more important issues? The credit crunch, the war in Iraq and Afghanistan..."

A couple of celebrities weren't so supportive of the pair, with X Factor judge Louis Walsh telling the BBC he was "glad" the two presenters had "been put in their place".

He said: "It's about time. Jonathan Ross does and says what he wants and gets away with it."

"He had it coming. It was rude, crude and he'd been getting away with it for too long. I'm glad he was caught out in the end."

Alan Partridge actor Steve Coogan also failed to find the funny side of Manuelgate, telling the Western Mail: "What they did was inappropriate, wrong and in bad taste – and not particularly funny either.

"Everybody makes mistakes, I’ve made a few, and you have to hold your hands up and do a mea culpa pretty quick. It’s got blown out of proportion because they didn’t do it quick enough.

"I have done stuff that some people might consider close to the bone. As Alan Partridge, I insult certain people, but the joke is on Alan for his bigotry.

"Comedy is about how you couch things. But it was very mean spirited what they did and I was angry when I saw it."

Since the scandal hit the headlines on Tuesday Russell Brand has resigned from his BBC Radio 2 show and Jonathan Ross remains suspended on full pay as the BBC Trust investigates how and why the radio show was allowed to be broadcast.

Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand: Acceptable or abominable?

More Russell Brand stories.

What are your thoughts on the saga? Tell the forum.

Russell Brand photo gallery.

Image Credit: WENN