Ross shortlisted for BAFTA after scandal

LONDON, March 25 (UPI) -- British TV and radio personality Jonathan Ross, who was suspended for a widely criticized on-air prank, has been shortlisted for a BAFTA award.

The Times of London said the BBC submitted the television chat show "Friday Night with Jonathan Ross" for BAFTA consideration in the best entertainment performance category just weeks after suspending Ross for three months because a bawdy joke he played with comedian Russell Brand on "Fawlty Towers" actor Andrew Sachs on the radio garnered 40,000 complaints. Several top bosses at the BBC's radio division, as well as radio host Brand, ended up resigning due to the scandal.

"Many thanks to all those who offered congratulations on BAFTA nomination," The Times quoted Ross as saying on the Twitter Web site Tuesday. "Certainly wasn't a foregone conclusion."

"Blimey, that is a bit of a surprise," Sachs told the newspaper after hearing of Ross's nomination.

"Jonathan's BAFTA nomination is for his television series. His name was submitted in the entertainment category, along with many others, by the BBC to BAFTA, whose members -- all industry professionals -- then voted on this long list of names along with all other submissions in the category," the BBC said in a statement. "From this vote the top six are then put to the BAFTA jury who narrow it down to the four nominations."

The BAFTA awards for television are to be handed out a ceremony in London April 26.