The BBC has been accused of "arrogance" over the Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand prank call furore.

Sir Michael Lyons, chairman of the BBC, was in front of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee hearing at the House of Commons, where he accepted Radio 2 was wrong to announce Ross's return date.

Ross is serving a three-month suspension from the airwaves after he and Brand caused an uproar by leaving lewd messages on the Fawlty Towers' actor, Andrew Sach's, answering machine.

Brand later resigned, along with Radio 2 boss Lesley Douglas and David Barber, who was head of specialist music and compliance.

Radio 2 said last week that Ross would return on January 24.

John Whittingdale, the committee chairman, asked Sir Michael whether this announcement was premature, given that the Trust was not due to publish its final report on the scandal until Friday.

Sir Michael replied: "There are many aspects of this affair which I would like to have seen handled differently.

"I am sure in the last week the BBC has done a few things I wish it hadn't - it's a big organisation."

After it was admitted the lewd phone messages were a "very serious editorial lapse", Philip Davies, a member of the committee, accused them of presiding over "an arrogant organisation."

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