The Ross Ultimatum

Speculation surrounds the departure of Jonathan Ross from the BBC after 13 years – did he jump or was he pushed?

The question that should be being asked, however, is who will come out of his departure with dignity intact? Ross has not been able to operate in his usual cheeky, risk-taking manner since surviving Sachsgate but, by taking the plunge and leaving the beeb before Aunty can ditch him, he has pulled off something of a PR coup and managed to stay ahead of the game. Like Jimmy Tarbuck before him, Ross has a coterie of celebrity friends to cushion his fall – out of the BBC and his multi-million pound contract, he is more likely to bounce back without the weight of the Mail’s opprobrium pressing on his shoulders.

Essentially, Ross is no longer the whipping boy of the BBC haters and his departure will more than likely lead to new and exciting pastures for him. He’s a potent personality. Without him, however, what big names does the BBC have? And what big names are they likely to be able to get?

The pressure of a public service agenda in a commercial world is likely to weigh heavy on the shoulders of the corporation – if they cannot nurture talent like Ross in competition with the commercial sector, they’re in serious trouble. If the BBC can’t set the agenda, they will be running around like headless chickens whilst the Mail gloats and the Murdochs rub their hands together gleefully.