R2 confirms Ross' return

Jonathan Ross

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The BBC has named the date for Jonathan Ross' return - before publishing the findings of its Sachsgate review.

BBC Radio 2 confirmed today that The Jonathan Ross Show will be back on air from 24 January 2009, and that the disgraced comedian "definitely will be back for the show" alongside his long-term sidekick Andy Davies.

However, the corporation still hasn't released the findings of the enquiry by director of audio and music Tim Davie into how the offending prank call to actor Andrew Sachs on R2's Russell Brand Show was allowed to air.

It is not due to submit its report to the BBC Trust until next Thursday (20 November) and the Trust has said it will make a statement after that.

Both BBC director general Mark Thompson and BBC Trust chairman Sir Michael Lyons will also face a panel of MPs on Tuesday (18 November). The remit of a Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee enquiry into the commercial activities of the BBC has been expanded to include the BBC's "editorial control over offensive content" following the Ross-Brand scandal.

Meanwhile, the BBC has also announced that Zoe Ball and Danny Baker are to take over Jonathan Ross' R2 slot while he sits out his 12-week suspension.

The pair will co-present four Saturday morning shows between 10am and 1pm from 22 November to 13 December, offering "three hours of music, chatter and listener participation".

Richard Allinson will present the show this Saturday (15 November) and Alex Lester will continue to host the 9-11pm slot formerly hosted by Brand.

The BBC said it will make a further announcement about the slot "in due course".

The Ross and Brand row was sparked by a series of phone calls they made to actor Andrew Sachs, telling him that Brand had slept with his granddaughter.

Brand, R2 controller Lesley Douglas and R2 head of compliance Dave Barber all quit the BBC because of the incident and Ross was suspended without pay for 12 weeks.