BBC apologizes for prank call

LONDON, Nov. 8 (UPI) -- The BBC said Saturday it was sorry if anyone was offended by a questionable prank call broadcast by the British network last month.

The broadcasting group issued its public apology for the actions of comedians Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross during an Oct. 18 Radio 2 broadcast in which the pair left a verbal barrage on the answering machine of "Fawlty Towers" actor Andrew Sachs, The Times of London reported.

The on-air joke involved the radio duo alleging Brand had slept with Georgina Baillie, the 23-year-old granddaughter of Sachs.

The pair went on to leave other comments of a questionable nature on the actor's answering machine after the actor failed to follow through with a phone-in interview with the comedians.

The BBC said in its apology that Brand and Ross acted thoroughly inappropriately, The Times reported.

"It was a serious breach of editorial standards, and should never have been recorded or broadcast," the broadcaster said. "The BBC would like to apologize unreservedly to Mr. Sachs, Ms. Baillie and to our audiences as license fee payers."