Yakking for Argyll

Look - Jonathan Ross is the senior broadcaster, the iconic boundary-pusher, pretty much a cult hero to those newer to the industry. Russell Brand - and who, including himself, ever thought good judgment was an arrow in his quiver - was performing for an audience of one - Jonathan.

Watch the clip - you cannot get away from it these days whatever channel you’re on. Russell is focused only on impressing Jonathan, in bonding with the master. Jonathan - who will have known well that this was Russell’s driver, egged Brand on in this tribute to his own significance.

Brand resigned - and in doing so worked hard to excuse Ross, describing him as the most generous spirited man and the least malicious you could find. He blamed only himself for not thinking before he opened his mouth.

Ross is still hanging on in there, the catchlight in his eye reflecting the glint of the Beeb’s lucre. Ross did know better. His stellar presence, his actions and his contributions drove Brand well beyond the point of defensibility. But he’s busy saving himself. Brand made his resignation statement personally to the cameras. Ross has issued an apology through his lawyers.

Personally I’ve always liked both of these highly original comedians. Now Jonathan Ross is finished for me. Anyone can get into heady circumstances and go over the top - although few would lose it so totally as these two did this time. Few of us would save our own skins at the expense of our friends. How can Brand have been wrong and Ross not wrong?

In his own way Brand is an innocent. There’s nothing innocent about Jonathan Ross.