Wogan: 'Manuelgate row will pass'

Rex Features

Terry Wogan has revealed that he expects the Manuelgate scandal to blow over once Jonathan Ross makes his BBC comeback.

The broadcaster confirmed that he has revised his view of the furore after previously claiming that the damage to Ross's career could be "terminal".

Ross is currently serving a three-month suspension after leaving lewd messages on Andrew Sachs's voicemail while recording a Radio 2 show. He has also been issued with a final warning over his on-air conduct.

In a new interview with the Daily Mail, Wogan explained: "The thing is, we are quick to praise but, as soon as someone makes a mistake, the media jumps on top of them. Radio 2 is enormously successful, so it's inevitable, in the event of anything going wrong, that everybody would jump on them with cleated boots. But nobody died. It will pass. These things do."

Wogan also admitted that he is willing to take risks with his own Radio 2 programme - but never pushes the boundaries too far.

"Anyone who listens to my show knows that we are anything but safe. In fact, we get away with murder," he explained. "The difference is that I am pretty sure I know just how far to go. I was trained, you see. I came up through a strictly-defined TV structure that just doesn't exist any more."