tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8242563674302521905.post2599536053518769451..comments2023-03-26T09:04:44.946+01:00Comments on It's a Rough Trade, Politics: Russell Brand, Jonathan Ross and Jack StrawUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8242563674302521905.post-86800809411842604082008-10-30T14:12:00.000+00:002008-10-30T14:12:00.000+00:00I think that the BBC's failure even to recognise a...I think that the BBC's failure even to recognise at the outset that an apology was required suggests that there are failing within that institution that go considerably higher than the producer concerned. I find this offensive in a way that the David Kelly affair never was, and feel that their editor-in-chief should carry the can if they are to recover their reputationStephenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15464069586293077271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8242563674302521905.post-9274994675399382562008-10-30T13:54:00.000+00:002008-10-30T13:54:00.000+00:001. There is a great tradition in this country of ...1. There is a great tradition in this country of free expression, iconoclasm, and general knocking of those in power. There is also a tradition, perhaps not so great, of bawdy humour. <BR/><BR/> <BR/><BR/>2. Into none of the above categories did the antics of Ross and Brand fall. They weren't saying anything of public interest. They weren't exposing a public figure to deserved ridicule. And they certainly weren't being funny - there wasn't even a bad joke involved, rather no joke at all. All they did was make fun of a 78 year old man for no reason whatsoever. It wasn't even a knock knock joke. In fact they technically committed the crime of harassment. <BR/><BR/> <BR/><BR/>3. The BBC took a disgracefully long time to respond and even now witters on about an "inquiry". Why the need for an inquiry? All they need is to establish who was the most senior editor who signed it off, and sack them. They might want to think twice about calling them "brilliant comedians" which rather obviously they are not. I did see that Ross is down to host a "Dad's army" special. Something tells me that the audience for that programme wouldn't have a great opinion of him.Political Umpirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05025804183639479675noreply@blogger.com