BBC One controller backs 'responsible' Ross

BBC One controller Jay Hunt has defended Jonathan Ross's actions during the Manuelgate affair.

In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, Hunt described the presenter as a "responsible broadcaster".

Hunt, who has overseen the channel for the past six months, claimed that the BBC should be blamed for the lewd prank calls to Andrew Sachs being aired.

"He is a responsible broadcaster and he can take direction," she said. "He's hugely contrite about what happened. He knows that he crossed the line.

"I genuinely think Jonathan had reason to expect that the BBC compliance processes would detect a point where he had overstepped the mark.

"On this occasion, for a variety of reasons, the systems broke down and that didn't happen. I don't necessarily think that means that you automatically leap to sacking a key piece of talent like Jonathan."

However, she admitted that the events may change Ross's broadcasting style in the future.

"I think he will come back as a slightly different sort of individual," she said. "Does that mean he won't still make compelling television? No, I don't think it means that at all."