One last bit of news relating to the Brand/Ross debacle at the BBC last week. Following our wonderings on Friday as to whether Ross' twelve week suspension from the Beeb would affect his one and only ITV booking, as host of the annual British Comedy Awards, were answered over the weekend when the presenter's people announced he had decided to step down from the show this year.
As previously reported, the British Comedy Awards were not aired last year after it was revealed the phone vote on the 2005 awards had been part of that dodgy phone in scandal - viewers were encouraged to phone in on a premium line to vote for 30 minutes after voting had actually closed. With the dodgy phone in scandal fresh in everyone's minds, ITV feared it would become the subject of Ross et al's jokes on the night, so chose not to screen the event.
However, the Awards will return to ITV1 this year, though neither Ross nor the broadcaster seemingly wanted to see the returning awards show become dominated by what some are insisting on calling Sachsgate. A spokesman for the presenter said the British Comedy Awards was "a show he very much enjoys being part of" but that he wouldn't take part this year because he didn't "want his participation in this year's event to take away from the awards themselves or the many talented winners".
Peter Fincham, ITV's Director Of Television, said Ross' decision had been made "with the full support of ITV and the show's producers".
It's thought Ross commands a £100,000 fee for hosting the annual comedy awards bash.