The BBC has this morning broadcast the first of two apologies on Radio 2 to licence fee payers for the “grossly offensive” phone call made by Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross.
The apology was run just after 10am when Ross, who has been suspended without pay for three months for the incident, would normally be hosting his weekly show.
It will then be repeated just after 9pm, when Brand, who resigned as a result of the fallout from the broadcast, made on his own Saturday night show, would usually be on the airwaves.
The apology, which was sanctioned by the BBC Trust, stated: "On 18 October, the BBC broadcast an exchange between Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross on the Russell Brand show on Radio 2.
"This concerned the actor Andrew Sachs and his granddaughter, Georgina Baillie.
"Some of this exchange was left on the voicemail of Mr Sachs.
"The conversation was grossly offensive and an unacceptable intrusion into the private lives of both Mr Sachs and Ms Baillie.
"It was a serious breach of editorial standards, and should never have been recorded or broadcast.
"The BBC would like to apologise unreservedly to Mr Sachs, Ms Baillie and to our audiences as licence fee payers."
Yesterday, it was revealed a second BBC Radio 2 executive has resigned in the wake of the controversy, which sparked more than 40,000 complaints.
The resignation of David Barber, the Radio 2 head of specialist music and compliance, follows the earlier resignation of Radio 2 boss Lesley Douglas, who stood down on October 30th.
An internal inquiry is being carried out into the events which led to the call being broadcast.
This week, Baillie (23) called for Brand and Ross to be reinstated, saying the resignation and three-month suspension without pay was “out of proportion”.
PA