Sir Terry Wogan has reportedly been defending Jonathan Ross, saying that the presenter can’t be blamed for his large salary. Wogan pointed out that we would all accept £18 million if it was offered to us.

Ross - who’s been suspended for three months without pay following the calls he and Russell Brand made to Andrew Sachs about his granddaughter - has apparently signed an £18 million three year deal, meaning that he may lose around £1.5 million during his suspension.

Both Russell Brand and Radio 2 controller Lesley Douglas resigned following thousands of complaints by listeners over Manuelgate.

Sir Terry, one of Britain’s most popular radio presenters, made the comments at the launch of ‘Bandaged’, an album sung by BBC Radio 2 presenters and friends in aid of Children in Need.

When he was asked about the incident, he said, “Most of the resentment seemed to focus in the end, not on Russell Brand, not on this judgment they made, but on Jonathan Ross’s salary.

“Come on - if your agent negotiates £18 million… are you going to turn round and say: ‘I’m not going to take that’? It’s not his fault he’s paid that money. Don’t criticise him for taking the money, because all of us would.”

But Sir Terry added that the incident was “unforgivable, of course, absolutely unforgivable”. He added, “I just hope it’s not going to affect the public’s attitude to Radio 2.”

Asked about the resignation of Ms Douglas, Sir Terry said, “It’s a shame that our controller of programmes, a brilliant controller had to leave. Obviously the buck had to stop with her. It will be interesting to see what will happen when the suspension ends.”

He described Jonathan Ross as a popular broadcaster, and said, “We’re not that well off for popular broadcasters. He will always have a career.”