The Russell Brand Show prank telephone calls row



The Russell Brand Show hoax (aka "prank") telephone calls row, sometimes referred to as "Sachsgate", followed a series of voice messages left by comedian Russell Brand and TV presenter Jonathan Ross on the answering machine of actor Andrew Sachs. It followed a BBC Radio 2 decision to allow an episode of The Russell Brand Show, recorded earlier in the week due to Brand's other work commitments, to be broadcast on Saturday 18 October 2008. On the episode, Brand and Ross called Sachs as a guest to interview on-air; when Sachs failed to answer the telephone, they are heard leaving a series of lewd messages on his answering machine, including comments about Brand's relationship with Sachs' granddaughter, Georgina Baillie—at the time a performer with the group Satanic Sluts.