LONDON The BBC said on Wednesday it had suspended Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross for their `gross lapse of taste` as the row escalates over crude messages they left on the answerphone of actor Andrew Sachs during a radio show.

The Radio 2 presenters had joked on air that Brand had slept with the granddaughter of 78-year-old Sachs, who played Spanish waiter Manuel in the classic comedy series `Fawlty Towers`, and said he might kill himself after hearing their messages.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has joined the voices condemning the presenters actions while Georgina Baillie, Sachs 23-year-old granddaughter, said they should be sacked.

In the light of the furore, with more than 18,000 complaints received from the public, BBC Director-General Mark Thompson said he had decided to take action.

`This gross lapse of taste by the performers and the production team has angered licence payers. I am determined that we satisfy them that any lessons will be learnt and appropriate action taken,` he said in a statement.

`I have decided that it is not appropriate for either Russell Brand or Jonathan Ross to continue broadcasting on the BBC until I have seen the full report of the actions of all concerned.`

Thompson said he wanted to add his own `personal and unreserved apology` to Sachs, his family and to licence fee payers for the `completely unacceptable broadcast`.

`It is clear from the views expressed by the public that this broadcast has caused severe offence and I share that view,` he said.

Baillie told the Sun she had been a past lover of Brand but said what the presenters had done was `beyond contempt`.

`Whats funny about humiliating a lovely old man who has never harmed anyone in his life,` she said. `They should at least pay for what theyve done with their jobs.`

Politicians have voiced their disapproval, with a parliamentary motion condemning the presenters and calling for their sacking signed by 13 MPs, while media watchdog Ofcom said it was investigating the broadcast.

`This is clearly inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour, as is now widely recognised,` Brown said. `Ofcom have said they will investigate the matter and it is for the BBC, the BBC Trust and Ofcom to take any appropriate action.`

Sachs himself said the presenters had sent him apologies but they had not expressed their remorse to Baillie.

`I am very glad that people are taking a stand and putting it far more eloquently than I can,` he told the Daily Mail.

`It seems that things go too far on TV and radio, so I would certainly say that something needs to be done before the world goes to the dogs.`

Ross, who also presents a television chat show, and Brand are among the best known names on BBC radio.

Ross current BBC contract is widely reported to be worth 18 million pounds over three years.