Jonathan Ross suspended without pay and Brand resigns

I'm surprised they haven't switched Graham Norton to the slot... yet!

I just feel it's the usual case of when a long-time presenter of a show is replaced and it isn't as good anymore e.g. Stars In Their Eyes, SMTV

I see Wogan has been saying he thinks this might be "terminal" for Jonathan Ross and doesn't see how he can return from his suspension - and I kind of agree with him.

Russell Brand is seen as having done the honourable thing and I'm sure sooner or later he'll be employed in some capacity by the BBC once more. Jonathan Ross though is seen as trying to cling on to his multi-million pound salary whatever the collateral damage and by only temporarily being suspended he's not really drawing a line under the issue - hence why all the flack in the last couple of days has been aimed at his direction. It also makes things difficult for the new controller of Radio 2 in handling his comeback - I'm sure rightly or wrongly they'll be under pressure to axe Ross from the schedules as soon as they take up the role.

If it weren't for Russ ruling it out himself, I would agree with you.

He doesn't get £6 Million... his company gets £6 Million to make programmes. How much he (and his wife) get from that isn't known but if you subtract the cost of the 30 staff, studio hire etc it's no-where near £6 million

Sadly I think that's true too, the hype from the press over the event has been too much.

If he doesn't return to Radio 2 he'll most likely take his show to Absolute Radio (where it originally started) or one of the big commercial radio groups like the new Heart network

If he drops BBC TV he'll be picked up by another channel pretty sharpish. I did hear a rumour that some of his people have been talking to Sky

From this, even if Ross does come back and he retains his act like before, the Daily Mail brigade will only be out to get him. However, if he did go all serious on his chatshow , sure it will be good for certain guests but I would rather see his cheeky persona come out.

I see the SKY EPG has Ross on next Friday. One final thing from me for now, I was listening to a download of an interview of Russell Brand on the Chris Moyles Show from the 21st October and he actually slipped in an apology about what was said and further to that what Jonathon Ross then said straight after and this was said two days before the Daily Mail started it's "investigation" For those interested in downloading it, the file can be found from the home page of chrismoyles.net

Isn't the production deal separate to the talent deal Inspector Sands? My understanding is that the rumoured £18m is just the talent deal (i.e. salary) - and that once you lump production costs (i.e. pay Ross's independent production company to make the shows that aren't in-house or made by others) into it it comes out at a nearer £35m cost to the BBC. (This may sound a lot - and it is a lot - but it isn't as outrageous when you break it down into "per hour" costs)

Whilst the BBC have docked Ross his salary for 12 weeks, they are still covering the costs of the production company that will have been incurred.

AIUI the BBC usually has separate "talent" deals independent of production deals for shows fronted by BBC names with corporate contracts (rather than deals for just a specific show)

Not sure if anyone has heard this yet, but here it goes...

Jonathan Ross woke up this morning to find a message on his answer phone...

"Hi Jonathan, i f***ed your daughter last night, whos laughing now?....Lots of love...

Yes, it was doing the rounds yesterday evening on the 'texting' circuit.

I really can't see him returning to Radio 2. If he doesn't resign I do think the BBC will bow to pressure and (reluctantly) push him. CH4 have been trying to poach him for years so I expect his chat show will find a new home there.

That's tasteless. I didn't know it existed but now you've pointed me to it and I now know it exists I demand you are fired from your job.