NOEL GALLAGHER - GALLAGHER ATTACKS MEDIA FURORE OVER BRAND AND ROSS' PRANK

GALLAGHER ATTACKS MEDIA FURORE OVER BRAND AND ROSS' PRANK

Noel Gallagher has criticised the British media for blowing the row concerning Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross' radio prank out of all proportion.

Brand quit his BBC Radio 2 show on Wednesday after he and Ross were suspended over prank voicemails they left on the answerphone of veteran actor Andrew Sachs.

More than 30,000 complaints have been received and the BBC and Ofcom are investigating the incident, which occurred on October 18th but only hit the headlines last weekend, after the Mail on Sunday newspaper claimed the calls could result in a prosecution.

Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster's Across the Line show, Oasis guitarist Gallagher attacked the media's handling of the incident, which he described as "at worst a juvenile prank".

"I spoke to Russell, he told me he was going to fall on his sword," Gallagher said.

"Personally, I'm outraged that, yet again, the joyless f*****s who write the columns in the Daily Mail, the Telegraph or the Observer have dictated the tone and are telling people how to behave.

"I've seen the Daily Mail, they said that Russell should be arrested and charged. Arrested for what? For taking the p***? It's so typical of the English in general. 10,000 people get outraged, but only days after it has happened."

The songwriter added: "At worst it was a juvenile prank that wasn't unfunny but it's hardly offensive. I feel bad for Russ, 'cause he really loved doing the show. I loved being on it as well."

The BBC's governing body, the BBC Trust, is to investigate the incident, in which the presenters joked about Brand having slept with Sachs' granddaughter.