Russell Brand has resigned from his Radio 2 show over lewd phone calls made to actor Andrew Sachs.
He and fellow presenter Jonathan Ross were suspended by the BBC after they left a phone message for the Fawlty Towers star featured boasts from Brand about his sexual relationship with Sachs' granddaughter Georgina Baillie.
Brand said in a statement: "I have apologised to Andrew Sachs for the rude messages I left on October 18 and he has graciously accepted.
"As I only do the radio show to make people laugh I've decided that given the subsequent coverage I will stop doing the show.
"I got a bit caught up in the moment and forgot that at the core of the rude comments and silly songs were the real feelings of a beloved and brilliant comic actor and a very sweet and big-hearted young woman."
Jonathan Ross also apologised for his part in the prank calls made to the 78-year-old, saying: "I am deeply sorry and greatly regret the upset and distress that my juvenile and thoughtless remarks on the Russell Brand Show have caused."
And BBC Director General Mark Thompson said: "I would like to add my own personal and unreserved apology to Andrew Sachs, his family and to licence fee payers for the completely unacceptable broadcast on BBC Radio 2."
Speaking at the door of his home in Kilburn, northwest London, Sachs said he respected Brand's decision, adding: "I hope he moves forward, I really hope he does.
"It might be a big turning point in his life."
Both the BBC and regulator Ofcom are investigating the broadcast, which also featured Brand and Ross joking about the actor killing himself, but Sachs has said he will not be making a complaint to the police.
