While I admire Charles Moore’s willingness to inherit the mantle of Mary Whitehouse, I don’t think he has quite put his finger on the essence of the Brand-Ross business. The large public outcry provoked by the call to Andrew Sachs can’t be channelled into a general war on smut at the BBC. I don’t think there’s a public appetite to see Ross as the personification of BBC smut, who must never be re-employed by the corporation. Though Ross was involved in the incident, it wasn’t really about him. And it isn’t quite right to see it as an acute example of a general smut problem.
It was really about Russell Brand. Russell Brand is a very unusual comedian. He makes his own life central to his act. He is the Tracey Emin of comedy. And of course it’s his sex life that provides the material. Of course lots of other comics make sex jokes, but no one makes his own sex life into the main plot like this.
Britain’s best politics newsletters
You get two free articles each week when you sign up to The Spectator’s emails.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in