England's broadcasting watchdog Ofcom has fined the BBC $220,000 for Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross's infamous on-air prank call to actor Andrew Sachs. Brand and Ross left sexually explicit messages about the 78-year-old Fawlty Towers actor's granddaughter on Sachs's voicemail during Brand's Radio

British TV and radio star Jonathan Ross, who was recently suspended for an unpopular on-air prank, has been named host of the BAFTA film awards show. Ross was suspended without pay from his shows for three months after he and comedian Russell Brand left lewd messages on the voice mail of 78-year-old Fawlty Towers star Andrew Sachs during Brand's BBC Radio 2 show, and the segment drew widespread criticism. Brand, Radio 2 head Lesley Douglas and David Barber, the executive who cleared the stunt for broadcast, all resigned because of the incident. Ross, who has publicly apologized for his role in the joke gone too far, reportedly will be back on television Jan.

British television and radio personality Jonathan Ross is to return to his BBC shows this month, following a 90-day suspension, The Hollywood Reporter said. Ross was suspended without pay from his shows for three months after he and comedian Russell Brand left lewd messages on the voice mail of 78-year-old Fawlty Towers star Andrew Sachs during Brand's BBC Radio 2 show, and the segment drew widespread criticism. Brand, Radio 2 head Lesley Douglas and David Barber, the executive who cleared the stunt for broadcast, all resigned because of the incident. The Hollywood Reporter said Ross, who has publicly apologized for his role in the silly prank, will be back on television Jan.

BBC Trust Chairman Michael Lyons says no further action should be taken against British radio and TV presenter Jonathan Ross for a prank that went too far. Ross was suspended from his shows for three months after he and comedian Russell Brand left lewd messages on the voice mail of 78-year-old Fawlty Towers star Andrew Sachs during Brand's BBC Radio 2 show last month and the segment drew widespread criticism. Brand, Radio 2 head Lesley Douglas and David Barber, the executive who cleared the stunt for broadcast, resigned. It is not the job of the trust to make decisions about the terms and conditions of performers or the sanctions that are applied to them, BBC News quoted Lyons as saying.

British radio and TV personality Jonathan Ross, suspended after a sexually explicit radio prank drew criticism, could face further penalties.