What a sorry affair. I didn't know till now what the outcome was and it is all the sorrier.
I don't think the call was in good taste but it's ridiculous that it has become a national incident. However, the punishments are the worst thing of all. What's the point of suspending Ross? It just gives him a nice holiday, since the money makes no difference to him and he does not need to worry about upcoming work. The B.B.C. wanted to save face by not having to overturn the decision to have given him that contract in the first place. What I'd at least like to see now is his programmes continue with other presenters, such that it would be immediately apparent that people could fill his shoes -- as happened with Angus Deayton. In that regard an open-ended suspension would have been better. No punishment at all would be preferable to the one he's got, as at least it wouldn't be hedging. And now I've written a paragraph about it and thus endorsed it as a big issue.
But hey, we've got Mandelson back and as a lord no less, so what's the point in pretending it's not all a game? I fully expect to see Obama's mad priest installed as an advisor in six months' time.
Something else
Posted - 10/30/2008 : 23:00:45
