Russell Brand quits BBC after prank calls

London – Every entertainer knows there’s a fine line between offbeat and offensive. Russell Brand has built a career walking it – but now he may have stumbled.

The wild-haired, motor-mouthed British comedian is renowned for risque routines, wrote a memoir recounting his drug and sex addiction and called President Bush “that retarded cowboy fellow” while hosting MTV’s Video Music Awards.

On Wednesday, Brand quit his BBC radio show after he and fellow performer Jonathan Ross were suspended indefinitely for leaving lewd messages on the voicemail of a 78-year-old actor. Also under threat is the reputation of Britain’s state-funded national broadcaster, which allowed Brand’s routine to make it to air.

The calls by Brand and Ross to actor Andrew Sachs – best known for playing Spanish waiter Manuel in the 1970s Britcom “Fawlty Towers” – have drawn more than 18,000 complaints. Prime Minister Gordon Brown called the comments “inappropriate and unacceptable.”

Both Brand and Ross apologized.

Led Zeppelin singer may not remain the same

London – Led Zeppelin may yet reunite and tour – and they’d consider doing it without Robert Plant.

John Paul Jones, the group’s founding bassist, told the BBC that he and his fellow band members would consider looking for someone to replace their lead singer.

“We want to do it. It’s sounding great and we want to get and get out there,” he told the British radio program in an interview broadcast Monday. “It’s got to be right. There’s no point in just finding another Robert.”

Led Zeppelin’s spokesman Chris Goodman declined to comment Wednesday on plans for a possible reunion.

Plant joined the rest of the band for a one-time concert in London’s cavernous O2 arena last December. It was the group’s first full set since 1980, the year the band broke up after drummer John Bonham died.

The O2 concert generated rave reviews and calls for the band to reunite.

Plant recently toured with bluegrass artist Alison Krauss. However, Plant said in a statement on his Web site that he has no intention of touring with anyone for at least the next two years.

Words of Steel: Author starting blog

New York – After dozens of best-selling novels, Danielle Steel still has words to spare: She’s starting a blog.

“It’s like a letter to a friend, and fun to be able share something and say, ‘Gee I did this,'” says Steel, 61, whose run of hits includes three this year alone: “Honor Thyself,” “Rogue” and “A Good Woman.”

“I’ve remained very remote and very private, partly because of all my kids (nine). They’re bigger now and I would like to communicate with my readers in a more informal way, not just through the list of my accomplishments on my publisher’s Web site.”

In a recent telephone interview from her home in San Francisco, Steel said she expects to launch her blog, daniellesteel.net, today, to post entries once a week, or more often “if I get excited about something.”

An acknowledged technophobe who writes on a 1946 typewriter, Steel says her children dragged her into the computer age, teaching her how to e-mail and inspiring her to take a closer look at what is written on the Internet.

Rapper T.I. votes despite being a convicted felon

McDonough, Ga. – T.I. originally thought his voting privileges were revoked as a convicted felon, until he researched and learned that under a Georgia law felons are eligible if they’re not currently serving probation or a prison sentence.

“It’s a relief,” said the best-selling rapper, who stood in line for no more than 10 minutes on Wednesday before entering a polling center in suburban Atlanta to vote for the first time in his life.

“This what it is all about, not staying up late and waking up early to vote,” he added. “Now rather than just talking about it, I’m being about it. I’m leading by example, and it makes me feel a lot better.”

T.I., 28, who already has two No. 1 hits off his new album “Paper Trail” (“Whatever You Like” and “Live Your Life” with Rihanna), does have several federal firearms offenses and ongoing community service endeavors, stemming from his arrest last October for trying to buy automatic weapons. But his lawyer, Steve Sadow, confirmed that he can still cast a ballot because his sentence doesn’t start until late March next year.

Bono: World has a stake in upcoming US election

New Orleans – U2 frontman and activist Bono said Wednesday that next week’s presidential election provides a great opportunity to “relaunch Brand USA” amid worldwide scrutiny.

“The whole world has a stake in how things turn out,” the Ireland native told thousands of Starbucks Corp. employees in New Orleans for a leadership conference. The coffee company and Bono’s (RED) label, which helps raise money for AIDS awareness in Africa, also announced a partnership Wednesday.

The way the U.S. is perceived – “Brand USA” – also means something, he said. And it’s never been so closely watched, said Bono, who didn’t endorse either candidate for president.