The BBC said on Wednesday it has suspended Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross as the row grows 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 she felt the presenters were "beyond contempt". "What's funny about humiliating a lovely old man who has never harmed anyone in his life," she said. "They should at least pay for what they've done with their jobs."

Politicians have voiced their disapproval and media watchdog Ofcom is to investigate 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.