The power of the media and delayed outrage

So Russell Brand has fallen on his sword for his ill-judged prank call to Andrew Sachs.

I suppose following the delayed outrage of tens of thousands (there were 2 to the BBc in the first week after the broadcast), most of which I wager didn't and never listen to his show and may well not even have heard the broadcast until a week after the event.

The prank itself is not really an issue, that is Brand's style - Ross may well regret joining in - but Channel 4's Fonejacker may well be jealous at the amount of coverage Brand's single call is getting!

But the Beeb broadcast the show despite Sachs not giving the green-light to use the content, and they must face up to that.

But the whirlwind of media and political bandwagon-jumping and finger-wagging is rather sad and tired, talks of a drop in standards of comedy and broadcasting.

We must not stifle creativity - that's not to ignore the fact that some ideas fall flat and backfire - even within a seemingly restricted public service broadcaster.