Russell Brand handed in his resignation as BBC Radio 2 host just hours after he was suspended for his part in prank phone calls to actor Andrew Sachs.

In a statement Brand said: "I got carried away in the moment and forgot the feelings of a well loved actor. I have not had the chance to apologise to Georgina Baillie [Sachs' granddaughter] yet as I am very embarrassed."

Sachs has said he respects Brand's decision to quit the BBC.

Brand's decision came soon after Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand were both suspended by the BBC following growing pressure from angry BBC listeners.

At the time BBC Director-General Mark Thompson said: "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".  

Today the number of complaints sent to the BBC calling for the presenters to be sacked reached 18,000.

Not only that but Gordon Brown weighed in with his condemnation of the incident and Ms Baillie stated that she is now contemplating legal action.

Following the phone calls from Brand and Ross to Sachs during their adult radio show on Saturday 18th October, just two complaints were made by angry listeners - the press got hold of it a week later and now we're into the tens-of-thousands. As a result, the BBC was forced to act.

Do you think it was the right decision for Brand to step down and should Ross also quit?