Russell Howard supports Ross and Brand

Comedian Russell Howard has described the public reaction to Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand's suspension as "depressing".

Howard defended the presenters following the controversy over their prank phone calls to actor Andrew Sachs, telling ITN: "It's easy tittle tattle to say: 'Did you hear what they said?' As if any of these people listen to Russell Brand's show.

"It's just the desire to be angry that is just so depressing about this country."

The BBC received 10,000 complaints after the pair left messages on Sachs's voicemail on Brand's Radio 2 programme. Brand later resigned and Ross was given a 12-week unpaid suspension.