Sachs turns down Jonathan Ross invite

Jonathan Ross's attempts to rehabilitate himself following the ‘Manuelgate’ affair has suffered a blow. For while the BBC have allowed him to return to his presenting duties in January, his hope of showing public contrition by inviting Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs onto his BBC1 chat show Friday Night with Jonathan Ross has been rebuffed.

As reported here on Monday, Sachs, a forgiving sort, said that he would be prepared to be interviewed by Ross (pictured), who was suspended for three months by the BBC after he left a message on Sachs's answersphone saying that his friend Russell Brand had "fucked" his granddaughter, Georgina Baillie. But Sachs said his appearance was dependent on his wife Melody agreeing. Well, she hasn't.

According to the Daily Mail, she says there is "no question" of Sachs, 78, going on the show (on which Ross once told the Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow that he “would fuck her").

Melody added: "I'm also tired of people referring to Andrew as an old man. He is as fit as a fiddle. Ross is the one who looks like a bent old man."