Ross and Brand taken off air by BBC

Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand have been suspended and all their shows taken off air.

See also: Vicar's son at heart of Brand row

The BBC has launched an investigation into their lewd prank calls made to Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs on Radio 2.

The news was announced in a statement today by director general Mark Thompson, who described the stunt as a "gross lapse of taste".

Ross was due to film his Friday night chat show today with guests including Sir David Attenborough, Frank Skinner and The Killers. Filming has now been Cancelled.

The chat show and Ross's popular radio slot and Brand's Saturday night radio programme are unlikely to be broadcast.

It came hours after Georgina Baillie demanded that the two should go because of prank calls made to her grandfather, the actor Andrew Sachs.

Brand and Ross made a series of calls to Mr Sachs, aged 78, famous for his part in Fawlty Towers. The calls were broadcast on Radio 2 as part of a Russell Brand's pre-recorded Saturday night show on October 18.

During the calls, Ross revealed that Brand had slept with Mr Sachs's granddaughter.

The incident led to more than 18,000 people lodging complaints with the BBC.

In his statement confirming the suspension of Ross and Brand, BBC director-general Mark Thompson said: "I would like to add my own personal and unreserved apology to Andrew Sachs, his family and to licence fee payers for the completely unacceptable broadcast on BBC Radio 2.

"BBC audiences accept that, in comedy, performers attempt to push the line of taste. However, this is not a marginal case. It is clear from the views expressed by the public that this broadcast has caused severe offence, and I share that view.

"Since Sunday, I have been in regular contact with the senior executives I tasked with handling this issue.

"The investigation that I instructed Tim Davie (director of audio and music) to conduct is nearing completion, and I am returning to London to rejview the findings and, in the coming days, announce what action we will take.

"In the meantime, I have decided that it is not appropriate for either Russell Brand or Jonathan Ross to continue broadcasting on the BBC until I have seen the full report of the actions of all concerned. "This gross lapse of taste by the performers and the production team has angered licence payers.

"I am determined that we satisfy them that any lessons will be learnt and appropriate action taken."

It was unclear what action, if any, was being taken against Walsall-born Nic Philps, 25, who produced the Radio 2 show at the centre of the controversy.

Miss Baillie, 23, said Ross and Brand should "pay for what they've done with their jobs".

She said her grandfather was "really upset and says he wants the whole situation to end". "What's funny about humiliating a lovely old man who has never harmed anyone in his life?" she added.

Miss Baillie said the two celebrities were "beyond contempt".

Yesterday, Mr Sachs told the BBC that Ross had "personally delivered a letter of apology and some flowers" since the broadcast.

And last night he accepted written apologies from Brand. Prime Minister Gordon Brown has also criticised the pair for their "inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour" on Brand's radio show.