Apollo comic show to replace Ross

By Colin Paterson
BBC News entertainment reporter

Michael McIntyre will host Live at the Apollo

Jonathan Ross' BBC One chat show is to be replaced by stand-up comedy series Live at the Apollo until the presenter's suspension ends in January.

The first episode, hosted by Michael McIntyre, will be recorded next week at London's Hammersmith Apollo and broadcast the following week.

Ross was suspended from the BBC for 12 weeks, following lewd phone calls he made on Russell Brand's Radio 2 show.

Brand and two BBC executives resigned over the incident.

Criticism

The pair made several phone calls to veteran actor Andrew Sachs during the show, making obscene comments about his 23-year-old granddaughter, which led to thousands of complaints.

Comedian Frankie Boyle, who will feature as a special guest on Live at the Apollo, was also criticised during the row.

On the day Ross' suspension was announced, the BBC's director general Mark Thompson was asked about the appropriateness of a royal joke told by Boyle on BBC Two show Mock the Week.

Mr Thompson refused to be drawn on the joke, saying "he would only judge any remark on any programme by watching the programme".

This is the fourth series of Live at the Apollo, which was previously shown on Monday nights.