Inexperience and a series of misjudgments

THE BBC management report today reveals a catalogue of failures and misjudgments primarily by two men - the show's producer Nic Philps, 25, and Radio 2's then head of compliance Dave Barber.

Mr Philps, employed by Russell Brand's Vanity Productions, was described by Sir Michael Lyons as too inexperienced to be in the position where he was able to clear the show for broadcast. It says Mr Philps failed adequately to obtain "proper consent" from Andrew Sachs. He also failed to obtain any form of consent from Georgina Baillie.

Mr Philps also wrote to Mr Barber, failing to mention that Sachs had asked for the content to be toned down, and described the calls as "brilliantly funny radio" emphasising that Ross and Brand were "VERY keen" for it to go out.

Mr Barber listened only to the "identified section" of the show twice and rang Mr Philps, who told him he was content for it to be broadcast. Mr Barber subsequently emailed Lesley Douglas for clearance, describing the show as "very funny" twice.

Mr Barber had felt it was not his responsibility to read a compliance form or listen to the show (as it was an independent programme) and sign it off before it went out - so nobody at Radio 2 did.

Mr Philps finished editing the show on 18 October -the day it was broadcast - but did not fill in a compliance form as he knew there was no one at the BBC to receive it on the day.