RUSSELL Brand and Jonathan Ross, take heart.

The duo may be paying for their gross stupidity in making the so-called prank calls to actor Andrew Sachs, but TV time is not like real-life.

It only seems like yesterday that sardonic presenter Angus Deayton was the merciless butt of jokes from Paul Merton and Ian Hislop on Have I Got News For You after seedy revelations in the media about his private life. He had to leave the job.

Now, ironically, Deayton is hosting this year’s Comedy Awards after Ross stood down in the wake of general outrage over his and Brand’s radio broadcast.

On that basis, expect the current “naughty boys” to be back on TV and radio within the next couple of months.