Celebrity Arrogance
I remember meeting Johnathan Ross many years ago when he was just being launched by Channel 4. He was a cocky young presenter who was enjoying joshing with people in reception, while still being obviously new and slightly out of his depth with the old heavy-weight studio crowd. As a joke, one of our staff (who had been to the same school as Ross) put a note on the readers lectern in the voice booth saying “Mr (name of teacher) wants his English books back.” Can’t remember the name of the teacher.
Ross was not amused. It seems that he only found jokes funny when he made them. Many, many years later, nothing has changed, or at least one thing has. Ross is no longer out of his depth; indeed he is now brimming with the celebrity arrogance which I used to find so common in the studios. “I am famous, and really that is all that matters.”
Not all celebrities have this arrogance – especially the ones with any actual talent, I note. Ones I have met over the years who were simply a delight to work with were Dolph Lundgren (tall, but a gentle European, keen to help), Kate Winslett (who was still smoking rollies at the time), Barry Cryer (a complete gent who will do anything to get the show a laugh, but not himself), Tony Robinson (unless he is in his left wing armchair mode) and Andrew Sachs.
Sachs is especially important here. He is a quiet man, a skilled reader, easy to direct (as long as you are not a fool) and completely unaffected. He would turn up at the studio. Smile, do his work to perfection, ask for nothing, then quietly go.
Of all the people for the Arrogant Ross and Precocious Russel Brand to pick on! On the 18th of October, during Brand’s Radio 2 show, the pair called Sach’s phone and left vial messages on his voice mail, including references to sleeping with his grand daughter.
The BBC and Brand have appologised, but why would Ross make such comments in the first place? Apology is not enough – not doing it at the outset is what should have happened.
But Ross is now so arrogant, and so over paid, that I doubt he cares a damn. This is just publicity for him and his ego. As long as his name is up there, he has no interest in the how. He feels he is in such a position that he can do as he likes.
We had many in the studio like him – Meatloaf, Spice Girls, Robbie Williams … well the list is pretty long. But one thing I noticed. Even with the most arrogant, when they find the work is drying up, all of a sudden they cannot be nice enough!!
Well, I am sure we shall find Ross just as entertaining on the way down as on the way up.
BBC Apologises over Brand Prank (external link to BBC)
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- Did Comedy Die with Ross
- Ross and Brand suspended
- Selfish Celebs defend Selfish Celebs
- A Warm Wonderful Past – The Amnesty Sessions
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