Ross To Keep BBC Contract

Jonathan Ross is set to keep his job at the BBC after the corporation's governing body agreed the "right action" had been taken against him, despite the Andrew Sachs obscene phone call scandal.

The BBC Trust, which published its report today, has deemed the obscene phone calls made by Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand, to Fawlty Towers actor, Andrew Sachs, a "deplorable intrusion with no editorial justification".

The Trust, which published its report on the controversy, also described the lewd calls as "grossly offensive" and said there was no justification for broadcasting them.

It added there was no "informed consent obtained" for airing the messages, which Ross and Brand left to 78-year-old Sachs.

In the calls Brand claimed he had slept with Sach's grandaughter Georgina Bailie, 23.

BBC Trustee Richard Tait said three main failures were made - in exercising editorial control; in following established compliance systems and a failure of judgment in taking editorial decisions.

He added: "It was a very offensive programme which should never have been recorded. Once the offensive phone call was made, the recording should have stopped and senior management alerted."

BBC Trust Chairman Sir Michael Lyons said the BBC's Director General had taken the right action regarding Ross, who was suspended without pay for three months.

"We have underlined very clearly that it is not the job of the Trust to make decisions about the terms and conditions of performers or the sanctions that are applied to them when they are found to be wanting," he said.

"We are very clear that the Director General has taken the right action with respect to Jonathan Ross."

Jonathan Ross is due to return to his £6 million per year job at the BBC, following the period of suspension which is due to end in January.

(JM)