10,000 complaints over Brand phone prank

The BBC has now received more than 10,000 complaints over Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross's prank phone calls to actor Andrew Sachs, it has been confirmed.

The broadcasters have faced a backlash over their behaviour on a pre-recorded edition of Brand's Radio 2 programme, which went out on Saturday, October 18. In a series of voicemail messages, the pair spoke about how Brand had "f**ked" Sachs' granddaughter before joking that he would kill himself after hearing the news.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has today described the incident as "inappropriate and unacceptable", calling for "appropriate action" to be taken. Conservative leader David Cameron has also urged the BBC to respond to the row by answering some "very straightforward questions".

Meanwhile, media regulator Ofcom has announced that it will launch an investigation into the matter.

The BBC's Audio and Music director Tim Davie tonight promised that the corporation will launch its own internal review. He said: "We need to look at the process which allowed the programme to go to air."

Speaking outside his home today, former Fawlty Towers star Sachs insisted that his granddaughter was the real victim of the prank.

"I had a very contrite letter from Jonathan Ross making no excuses for his behaviour. I haven't heard from Russell Brand directly," he explained.

"They apologise to me and they say how awful for Mr Sachs, but nobody has offered any apology to my granddaughter. I replied to Jonathan Ross and suggested that is where he should direct his attentions. The real focus should be on the harm they have done to her."