Jonathan Ross suspended without pay

The BBC has suspended Jonathan Ross without pay for 12 weeks and issued a final warning to the star over his on-air conduct.

The corporation's director general Mark Thompson accepted the resignation of Radio 2 controller Lesley Douglas over the public row that embroiled the BBC after Ross and Russell Brand left a series of vulgar messages on the voicemail of Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs - messages that were subsequently transmitted on an October 18 edition of Brand's programme on the station. He said that "ultimate editorial responsibility for BBC programmes lies with producers and editorial managers", but added:

"Nonetheless, Jonathan Ross's contribution to this edition of the Russell Brand show was utterly unacceptable and cannot be allowed to go uncensured or without sanction. A 12-week suspension is an exceptional step, but I believe it is a proportionate response to Jonathan's role in this unhappy affair.

"Jonathan Ross has already made a comprehensive and unreserved personal apology to Andrew Sachs and his grand-daughter. I believe that he fully understands the seriousness of what has happened. I have made very clear to him the central importance of the clause in his contract about not bringing the BBC into disrepute. We agree that nothing like this must ever happen again and that tight discipline will be required for the future."