Killers and Glasvegas caught-up in Ross and Brand BBC ban

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Oct 29, 2008
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The Killers have inadvertently been caught up in Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand's BBC controversy - triggered after the pair made a prank call on Radio 2.

Ross and former Shockwaves NME Awards host Brand were suspended from the BBC today (October 29) while an investigation takes place into the incident.

The pair made several prank phone calls to 'Fawlty Towers' actor Andrew Sachs on October 18, which involved some comments about Brand sleeping with his granddaughter.

Although only two complaints were received when the show was originally aired, the subsequent reaction has led to more complaints, resulting in today's ban while the matter is looked into.

This means 'Friday Night With Jonathan Ross' (due on air on October 31) will not take place.

The Killers' were billed to be playing their new single 'Human', and so will now miss out.

Comedian Frank Skinner, US teen singer Miley Cyrus and nature TV presenter David Attenborough were also set to appear on the show.

Meanwhile ' frontman James Allan will appear on BBC2 quiz 'Nevermind The Buzzocks' a week earlier than expected because of the ban.

Brand had been filmed for this week's edition, but because he is not allowed to appear on the nextwrok, that show has been postponed. Instead an episode filmed for the following week that features the Glasvegas man, along with James Corden and Germaine Greer, will air tomorrow (October 30) in its place.

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Comments (26)

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Willy Plonka

Oct 29, 2008

What makes me laugh, is that the whole country has gone overboard, including Gordon Brown. While the tabloids are reporting this bollocks, the real issues, like Banks Going bust, the large amount of job losses, the whole Banking system that is in potential meltdown...........and all we are worried about is an old bloke that was famous for 5 minutes, a bloke with a lisp, and a Goth that has too much Harmony hairspray in his hair. Cant the UK see that, its just a smokescreen. I am not condoning it, but come on, the tabloids that have ruined many lives through libel, are calling for the two to be sacked...........kettle, black, boiling springs to mind.

Luke The Rifle

Oct 29, 2008

Everyone is making a meal out of nothing. There were only 2 complaints from the listeners of the show. The 10,000 complaints since the show was aired are from people who don't listen to the show anyway, so what should it matter?

hness

Oct 29, 2008

we all had a lucky escape then1 i hope Andrew Sachs wsasn't a killers fan...oh sweet irony if he was!

gazhat

Oct 29, 2008

..........just THE best news of the day, well done Wossy & Wussell, now if only The Killers could be banned from every radio staition and recording studio....or just simply planet earth....

cupsfromikea

Oct 29, 2008

now millions will be denied the right of hearing this artistic and not in the least bit cringe-worthy piece of innovative song-writing. damn

Chris_Parlabane

Oct 29, 2008

I don't get it...do we all hate the killers now? What's the deal? Been around too long? Just as well you folk weren't around when the beatles were. It would've been 2 good albums then on to the next one. What's the bets that you guys were the ones going mad for them at Glasto a few years back?

gordondrysdale3

Oct 29, 2008

this pair should never again be allowed to ever broadcast again for all the utter filth that they spit out . they are a pair of overpaid big headed louts. KICK THEM OUT, THEY ARE DEGRADING.

alex_01482

Oct 29, 2008

i found it funny. ross is bigger than the bbc and along with clarkson is their biggest star! he would just get a job at itv

cancelmysubscription

Oct 29, 2008

kick both them of them out, or just brand.

waspmonkey

Oct 29, 2008

Couldn't agree more Willy Plonka! The Prime Minister commenting shows just how ridiculous this is....weighing in on a minor issue to distract from the economic carnage that's all around us. Blown massively out of proportion by 9,998 Daily Mail readers whose only exposure to this 'outrage' is through what they read in their facist pamphlet every morning. I'm not condoning what they did, but for god's sake, everyone needs to take a few deep breaths and a few steps back!

waspmonkey

Oct 29, 2008

As for cancelling the Killers....one less exposure to whiny, middle of the road, unoriginal crap can't be a bad thing....

Soundedd

Oct 29, 2008

The thing I don't get is hasn't Russell Brand learnt his lesson? He pranked called the Northamptonshire Police at a live show and was in trouble for that, you'd think he'd have learnt that it's wrong and that he wouldn't do it again, but no. We'll just ignore gazhat's silly comment as well, everyone knows the killers are class, thats why they sell so many records :)

gazhat

Oct 29, 2008

Chris_Parlabane, i've always hated The Killers, ever since the beginning of their joke that they call music...i really can't believe that anyone can seriously think that new "so called" tune of theirs is even passable as a song, just horrible horrible bad synth 80's revival music with an even worse singer...utter dogshit...

Grimbo

Oct 29, 2008

russell brand has proved he's a total sleazeball with this. ross took it too far it seems, but we need him for film 2008, so just sack brand and lets move on!

hatfullofsmiths

Oct 29, 2008

agree with willy and wasp, ok they over stepped the mark, but for the prime minister to get in on the act and many mp's calling for them to be sacked, its a bit rich, thecountry will be on its knees next year, people are losing there jobs and houses everday, i dont suppose its there fault its a worldwide problem, how convenient, totally OTT, suspended on full pay, sounds good to me, enjoy your break lads

latenightbus

Oct 29, 2008

alex_01482. Who pays for the BBC? Us. If they want to act like morons on ITV at least I'm not paying them to do it.

numberonestrokesfan

Oct 29, 2008

i love the way they're getting bullshit, but fonejacker does it week in, week out to non-famous people and he wins a bafta for it

davee13

Oct 29, 2008

They are both a complete pair of pricks anyway. Sack the both of them. Ross has got to be one of the worst presenters ever, unfunny and cannot speak properly.Brand is just not funny at all.Get rid of both.

rufoid

Oct 30, 2008

i bet that episode of buzzcocks wouldve been funny as f*ck too. the more folk hate brand, the more i like him.

thekillersandthewombats

Oct 30, 2008

I don't get it...do we all hate the killers now?Yep its the nature of NME and the majority of its followers to hate success. Most people on here dont care if the music is good they just care that no one else listens to it. And thats fine by me people like that are only harming themselves. The killers are by far the best band out there at the moment and ever has been. They are not only talented musicians with a frontman with an amazing voice they also write awesome music and their live performances are the greatest in the world.

garyjive

Oct 30, 2008

The thing that bothers me is the fact that the show did not go out live. This show was pre-recorded and was given the ok to be aired. What the hell is that all about? The bbc knew the content of the show but let it air anyway. Fair enough brand and ross have been irresponsible, childish and have taken the joke too far, but I feel that the responsibility lies with the producers for letting this show go on the air. If an nme journalist were to write something potentially libelous or inflammatory, you would expect the editor to consider the article before printing it. Same rules apply. All the bosses at the bbc had to do was say 'no,' and now look at the mess thats come out of it. smokescreen, you say......?

binhawk

Oct 30, 2008

I love how soundedd is a legend on here for all the wrong reasons. The Killers are pretty rubbish mate. The only reason they sell so many records is because radio 1 spoon fed you there kack (music) and people like you flock out to buy it. Like msst bands nowadays, cracking first album and the rest of there overhyped efforts, utter dross...

andrewmutton

Oct 30, 2008

Personally i'm not too bothered about the loss of Russell Brand was never much of a fan of his anyway.Would certainly be a shame if Jonathan Ross had to go too though, especially over something so small....2 complaints...ignore the 10,000 or so which came after. Personally from what I know it was perhaps a bit offensive to Andrew Sashs (who it has to be said, was a legend in his time)...and I am a little dissapointed in Ross...but let's hope he will learn from this and keep his job.I don't want to not see him interviewing great bands/actors on a friday night....he is a breath of fresh air against so much more crap TV out there.As for the Killers being postponed excellent.. Maybe Rossy doesnt like them either...Frankly, I dont know anyone who does!

Nickthestripper

Oct 30, 2008

Just another example of people in Brokun Britan thinking they can do as they please, when they please and to whom they please. Without recourse to 'the law'. I think they should be hanged.

thekillersandthewombats

Nov 20, 2008

binhawk you're a twat, the killers first album was the worst. You clearly don't understand music...

Minstrel92

Jan 18, 2009

i'm laughing so much at these comments cause i can't actually believe that people are suggesting the killers are awful! are you DEAF? beautiful, BEAUTIFUL lyrics are being played and not often enough f i must say. Hot Fuss was brilliant, Sam's Town was even better, Day and Age is out of this world!don't know anyone who likes them? umm try the majority of people i know plus millions more.and do you know why that is?cause we have taste ;)and oh yeah U2, Paul McCartney, Elton John, Neil Tennant and New Order love them. Some of the biggest musical legends love them.and you're all actually going to try and argue that they're trash?what music do you like?