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Mixed Indian reaction to race row
By Monica Chadha
BBC News, Mumbai

Shilpa Shetty
Shilpa Shetty may benefit from the row, say critics
The alleged racism experienced by Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty on the Big Brother reality TV show in the UK has not gone unnoticed in India.

The issue has attracted considerable press coverage and comment, even though the programme is not shown in India.

The country's two leading papers gave the story front-page coverage.

News channels also showed clips of the allegedly racist remarks made against the actress by other celebrity housemates appearing in the show.

They referred to her as "the Indian", made fun of her accent and accused her of wanting to be more light-skinned.

One inhabitant of the Big Brother house said that Indians were so thin because they ate undercooked food, which made them ill.

The comments provoked a small protest in the northern town of Patna and prompted the country's junior foreign minister to comment on the issue.

"Surely such racist slurs have no place in civilised society?" Anand Sharma asked.


The harsh truth is that this sort of thing does happen elsewhere
Rohan Sippy
Indian film director

Send us your comments

"India has throughout firmly rejected all forms of discrimination and racism.''

In contrast, the reaction from the Indian film industry has been lukewarm.

Here the underlying sentiment seems to be that racism exists everywhere, and this particular incident is just a reflection of that.

"It is an extremely unfortunate incident to have happened," film director Rohan Sippy said.

"But the harsh truth is that this sort of thing does happen elsewhere. For instance, ex-Seinfeld actor Michael Richards was in the news last year for his racial outburst during a show in the United States. So it is all around," he said.

'Obscene money'

Film actor Anupam Kher said that, as an Indian, he was "disgusted" by what has happened.

"It is like we're going back 100 years. I think that if you want to get back at someone, then you should use your skill in your language and not racial slurs," he said.


It has made her a talking point for the time being, but that's about it
Mayank Shekhar
Indian film critic

Shilpa Shetty is a popular actress in Bollywood who has had a couple of hits such as Dus (Ten), but her most acclaimed performance has been in the film that was inspired by Hollywood hit Philadelphia and in which she played someone with HIV.

Film-maker Prahlad Kakkar, who has worked with top Bollywood stars and various other celebrities, said that people in the Big Brother show got "down and dirty and used everything at their disposal to gain an advantage over others".

He said that she was paid "obscene amounts of money" to participate in the show and must have known what she was getting into when she agreed to appear.

"I think we are over-reacting to this whole racism issue. It is everywhere and this is a competitive show and has a format where everyone says anything about everyone else," Mr Kakkar said.

Film critic and columnist, Mayank Shekhar said that the incident showed the "underbelly of racism" that still exists in Europe and North America.

Jade Goody
Jade Goody, a late arrival in the house, repeatedly argued with Shetty

"I am not surprised at this. Big Brother is a show where people are stuck in a room and after a point, their true character is bound to come through," he said.

Mr Shekhar said the publicity would certainly not give a fillip to her career that is not doing too well at the moment.

"She did not have much work here and was therefore able to commit herself to this show for three months. It has made her a talking point for the time being, but that's about it," he said.

The article has been already posted

Switch off Big Brother - Cameron
David Cameron in India
Mr Cameron, who visited India last year, said he abhorred racism
Viewers unhappy at alleged racist content on Celebrity Big Brother should switch off their TVs, Conservative leader David Cameron has said.

Answering questions sent in to the BBC he said there was "a great regulator called the off button", adding that people had to "take responsibility".

All racism was "distasteful" and had to be opposed, Mr Cameron added.

Channel 4's show has prompted more than 20,000 complaints over the treatment of Indian actress Shilpa Shetty.

'Abhor racism'

Housemates Jade Goody, Danielle Lloyd and Jo O'Meara have been accused of bullying Miss Shetty.

In India, the story has been front page news, the government has pledged to take "appropriate measures" and protesters have burned an effigy of programme makers on the streets.

Mr Cameron, answering questions e-mailed to the BBC News website, said: "I completely abhor racism. Everyone has got a responsibility here."


I want Britain to be seen as a country of fairness and tolerance. Anything detracting from this I condemn
Tony Blair

Send us your comments

He included Channel 4 and the broadcasting regulator Ofcom in this category, adding: "There's a great regulator called the off button and I think we should use it."

His comments came as the furore appeared to have boosted viewing figures for the programme.

The main highlights show on Tuesday averaged 4.5 million viewers, up from 3.5 million on Monday and 3.9 million on Tuesday last week.

The Tory leader said he had not seen the incidents which prompted the complaints, but added: "From what I read it sounds very distasteful."

Earlier, Chancellor Gordon Brown, visiting India, said the UK should be "seen as a country of fairness and tolerance".

'Feel ashamed'

"I want Britain to be seen as a country of fairness and tolerance. Anything detracting from this I condemn."

Prime Minister Tony Blair told the House of Commons he had not seen the show, but said: "We should oppose racism in all its forms."

Ed Balls, the economic secretary to the Treasury, told the BBC: "The thing which I think we should stand back and think about, in the last couple of days this has been a major national news story in India, with people talking about Britain with words like 'racist' and the kind of image it projects of Britain around the world is appalling. I feel ashamed of it."

Labour MP and former Europe minister Keith Vaz has raised the issue of alleged racism on Big Brother in an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons.

He called on Channel 4 bosses to take "effective action" against "unacceptable" language.

Ms Shetty's family issued a statement saying they were "overwhelmed by the outpouring of public support for Shilpa not just in India, but from across the globe".

Big Brother crashes into politics
Analysis
By Nick Assinder
Political correspondent, BBC News website

The power of Big Brother to turn people - even individuals who wear their ignorance like a badge of honour - into overnight celebrities in the UK is legendary.

Chancellor Gordon Brown
Brown has been dragged into Big Brother racism row

It can now add causing a diplomatic incident and damaging Britain's reputation abroad to its list of achievements.

That is thanks to the uproar over the alleged bullying and racism being inflicted on one of the contestants, Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty, by the likes of Jade Goody - whose fame was built on things such as saying she thought East Anglia was a foreign country.

It has led to the Indian media branding the programme Bigot Brother. And India's junior minister for external affairs, Anand Sharma, is considering a formal approach to the UK over the programme.

Serious problem

Gordon Brown, the prime-minister-in-waiting (and currently in India), has been engulfed by the uproar during the first day of his visit and moved quickly to distance Britain from the antics on the programme.

Shilpa Shetty
Ms Shetty has been the victim of alleged bullying and racism

He is there to promote relations between Britain and India, but revealed the issue had been raised with him repeatedly. He has been briefed on it, knowing it has been the subject of well over 10,000 complaints.

He said he wanted to reassure people that Britain "prides itself on tolerance and fairness".

Back in the UK one of his closest ministerial aides, Ed Balls, told the BBC's Daily Politics the antics on the programme were projecting an appalling image of Britain across the world.

"This is not simply a piece of fun - this is a problem," he said.

And, in the Commons, Tony Blair - who once publicly rode to the defence of a fictional Coronation Street character who had been wrongfully jailed - was eager to put a million miles between himself and this programme.

Vote Shetty

"I have not seen this particular programme so I cannot comment on it," he said (perhaps someone would like to send him a recording).

Tony Blair
Mr Blair distanced himself from programme
But he agreed "entirely with the principles" outlined by Labour MP Keith Vaz who condemned racism and xenophobia in the programme.

There has been something of a feeling of despair in Westminster that this programme has erupted onto the political, and now diplomatic, stage and might even threaten to damage Britain's reputation abroad.

Former Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown has even suggested one way for the UK to salvage some of its reputation for tolerance would be to vote Miss Shetty the winner.


HAVE YOUR SAY
I agree that Shilpa is being bullied but I'm not sure about it being racism
Cat, London

Send us your comments
He also said he doubted that the current furore would do any longlasting damage to the views of Britain in India.

That seemed to be a word of common sense in what is turning into one of those slightly surreal marriages of politics and popular culture.

But the inescapable fact is that a programme which was struggling in the ratings has ended up being discussed on the floor of the Commons, has prompted widespread debate about racism and modern Britain - and most remarkably of all dominated Gordon Brown's pre-premiership tour of India.

How the Big Brother row erupted
Shilpa Shetty
Shilpa has been picked on throughout her stay in the house
As the outside world continues to debate the alleged racism in the Big Brother house, the celebrities inside remain blissfully unaware of the attention some of them are receiving.

The treatment of Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty on the Channel 4 show has led to thousands of complaints being made to the broadcasting watchdog, Ofcom.

The housemates in the spotlight are Jade Goody, famous for appearing in Big Brother 3; Danielle Lloyd, a former Miss Great Britain; and Jo O'Meara, former singer with pop act S Club 7.


Danielle Lloyd
You don't know where those hands have been
Danielle Lloyd talking about Shilpa Shetty
But the first sign of trouble came when Jackiey Budden, Goody's mother, was introduced to the show.

She failed to pronounce Shetty's name properly and began calling her "the Indian" or "Princess".

House conflict

Since then, things have gone from bad to worse for the 31-year-old actress.

Goody, O'Meara, Lloyd and Jack Tweedy - Goody's boyfriend - have formed a small group who appear to spend a lot of time complaining about her and mimicking her voice.

Jackiey Budden, Jade Goody and Jack Tweedy
Jackiey, Jade and Jack have made it clear they do not like Shilpa
Other housemates have so far avoided getting involved in the conflict. However, one housemate - former Steps singer Ian "H" Watkins - has recognised there is a problem.

He has been seen crying, and admitted to Big Brother he did not like the behaviour in the house.

"There's a lot of name calling and petty things," he said. "It's clearly school ground behaviour. It's almost like bullying. It's really, really unfair."

Cooking complaint

Following a discussion the group had with Shetty about how long it took to cook a chicken, Goody, O'Meara amd Lloyd decided she had made them all ill.

"No wonder I keep getting the s***s," commented O'Meara.

Others complained that Shetty had touched housemates' food with her hands after she picked up morsels from people's plates.

Lloyd said: "You don't know where those hands have been."

Following another meal, Shetty poured left-over chicken soup down the Big Brother toilet - much to the disgust of the others, who felt chicken bones could cause a blockage.

"Why didn't it just go down the sink?" asked O'Meara. "She grates me so badly when she does things like that. What a stupid thing to do."

Tweedy suggested Shetty should pick the bones out with her teeth, receiving the reply: "There's a lot more I want to do with my teeth."

Bad atmosphere

During a separate conversation, while Shetty was applying facial hair bleach, Lloyd asked whether the Bollywood star had stubble.

Later, Goody offered the opinion that skin lightening is common in India, where paler skin is considered desirable.

"She's a dog," said Lloyd.

Jo O'Meara
Jo claims Shilpa's cooking has made her ill
Some fans have claimed Tweedy referred to Shetty using a four-letter racial insult, which was bleeped out. However, Channel 4 has denied the word bleeped out was a racist term.

Shetty has been reduced to tears several times by the bad atmosphere.

In one late night conversation she sobbed after Goody told her she did not appear "genuine".

"I feel like I'm losing my dignity," she confided to Watkins on Sunday.

But, on Tuesday's show, the actress was seen telling Big Brother she was happy to have entered the house.

"This has really been like a learning curve for me," she said. "To actually be in the same house with people from a different culture altogether has been really, really hard.

"But it's cool now, once you get to know the mindset, once you get to know where the other person is coming from.

"It's like a rollercoaster ride really."

Govt steps in for Shilpa Shetty
ibnlive.com


COMMON AGENDA: The official British media watchdog is probing the allegations of racism. New Delhi: Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty made big news when she joined the league of nine international celebs on UK's Channel 4 reality TV show Celebrity Big Brother.


However, Shilpa - who is reportedly getting Rs 3 crore for her appearance on the show - is now at the receiving end of racist abuse.


On Tuesday, complaints started pouring in from viewers about the racist remarks against the actor to the UK independent media regulator, Ofcom.


And that's not all. The Indian Government has taken note of the racist attacks and Information and Broadcasting Minister, Priyaranjan Dasmunsi, is writing to the Indian Foreign Minister - Pranab Mukherjee - to urge the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to look into the matter.


He says that the MEA should take up the issue with the UK government and has asked Mukherjee to speak to Indian High Commission in UK and ascertain facts.


He said, "The Indian Government is not accountable on the Shilpa Shetty issue as it is an arrangement with an individual, but the Government is committed against racism."


Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma also said, "We are seized of the matter and we are looking into all the aspects. We will take appropriate action as required."


"The world knows that India has throughout firmly rejected all forms of discrimination and racism," he added.


Shilpa Shetty was called 'Paki', 'dog' and 'that Indian' on the show - comments that drove her to tears.


The producers of the show are probing the matter and the echoes of the row also spilled over in the British House of Commons - Britain's lower chamber of parliament - where Labour MP Keith Vaz tabled an early day motion demanding a probe into the alleged comments.


Vaz said members of his Leicester East constituency had contacted him about alleged racism on the Channel 4 show.


The Big Brothers of Indian politics will now keep a watchful eye on the plight of Shilpa. If things got out of hand, they would even launch a freedom struggle on behalf of Shilpa.


(With inputs from PTI)

Big Brother's history of bother
The furore over alleged racism on Big Brother has put reality TV under scrutiny.

But the Channel 4 show has become used to disputes during its seven-year history in the UK.

DRUNKEN FIGHT

Big Brother fight
Ofcom upheld complaints after a fight in the house in 2004
The Big Brother house erupted into a late-night drunken brawl during the fifth non-celebrity series in 2004.

When housemates Victor and Emma squared up, live coverage was cut, security guards entered the house, police were called and an eviction was postponed.

Ofcom upheld 55 complaints about the live coverage, saying the fight was too violent and not stopped soon enough.

But the regulator rejected 190 more complaints about edited footage of the dispute that aired the following night.

C4 rebuked for Big Brother brawl

EXPLOITATION FEARS

Pete Bennett
Pete Bennett became the winner of the seventh series in August
Last year's Big Brother 7 was accused by fans and health groups of exploiting housemates and neglecting their welfare.

Concerns were raised over Pete, who has Tourette syndrome and went on to win, and Shahbaz, who threatened to kill himself after five days in the house.

The Mental Health Foundation said Channel 4 appeared to be "exploiting vulnerable individuals to make a TV show".

But Ofcom said the show stayed within the bounds of acceptability and did not breach the broadcasting code.

Channel 4 cleared of BB concerns

PHONE VOTE ANGER

Nikki Graham
Nikki was among four contestants allowed back after being evicted
When four evicted housemates were reintroduced to Big Brother 7, more than 2,600 people complained to premium rate phone line watchdog Icstis.

They claimed to have been misled after paying to evict Grace, Lea, Mikey and Nikki once - only to see them return.

Icstis upheld the complaints, saying there was an "unprecedented number" and "undoubted strength of feeling".

Channel 4 admitted the oversight. It escaped a fine but was ordered to pay almost 50,000 in administrative costs.

Big Brother 'misled' phone voters

BAD LANGUAGE

Future finals will be broadcast with a delay after housemates were heard swearing before the watershed during the Big Brother 7 climax.

Ofcom upheld two complaints over three separate incidents of bad language from Nikki and Aisleyne during the finale.

About 900,000 children were watching at the time, Ofcom said. They ruled that evictions raised "tension and the possibility of extreme reactions".

Channel 4 undertook "a serious review" and decided to implement the delay.

C4 cancels live Big Brother final

RACY ANTICS

Kinga
Contestant Kinga's conduct drew several complaints from viewers
In 2005, Ofcom said Big Brother 6 operated "at the limits of acceptability".

Some 887 complaints were received about the series - with 259 relating to Kinga simulating sex with a wine bottle.

Others objected to Makosi and Anthony getting intimate in a hot tub. Ofcom raised "serious" concerns - but said the scenes did not break its code.

And presenter Davina McCall was cleared of racial discrimination over what some viewers called a hostile interview with Zimbabwean Makosi.

Big Brother crudity 'at limits'

GALLING GALLOWAY

George Galloway with Rula Lenska
MP George Galloway famously impersonated a cat on the show
The last series of Celebrity Big Brother was marked by bitter exchanges between entertainer Michael Barrymore and politician George Galloway.

During an argument, Mr Galloway taunted Barrymore, a recovering alcoholic, with the phrase: "Poor me, poor me, pour me a drink."

The MP was also heavily criticised by constituents who felt he abandoned them and should have been in Westminster.

But that was all overshadowed by his infamous impression of a cat.

Galloway 'not ashamed' by antics

BIG BROTHER 'BULLY'

Germaine Greer
Greer tried to persuade housemates to stage a naked rebellion
After walking out of the celebrity show in 2005, Germaine Greer accused Big Brother of acting like a playground bully.

She said producers' "superior" tactics like making housemates cold and hungry could encourage school bullying.

"It was demonstrating the role of taunting in the playground," she said, charging Big Brother with behaving "like a child rather than a parent".

Greer left the show after failing to persuade other contestants to stage a naked protest against Big Brother.

Greer attacks 'bully' Big Brother

'NASTY' NICK

"Nasty" Nick Bateman
"Nasty" Nick Bateman was booted out through the back door
After Big Brother landed in the UK in 2000, it did not take long for controversy to rear its head.

"Nasty" Nick tried to influence the nominations by writing notes and showing them to fellow contestants.

But his housemates confronted him in a moment of high drama that gripped the nation. Eventual winner Craig told Nick: "I just thought you were genuine.

"I was misled and you made me look a fool." Channel 4 threw Nick out for "persistent infringement" of the rules.

Profile: Shilpa Shetty
By Monica Chadha
BBC News, Mumbai

Shilpa Shetty
Shilpa has not been having a good time of it in the Big Brother house
Shilpa Shetty is one of Bollywood's glamorous actresses who enjoys quite a fan base amongst Indian film viewers.

The 31-year-old does not have the kind of audience pull a top actress such as Aishwarya Rai, Rani Mukherjee or Preity Zinta possesses. But she certainly adds value to a high-profile star cast.

Shetty was first noticed in 1993 when she starred in a supporting actress role opposite actor Shah Rukh Khan in the hit film Baazigar (Player).

She then went on to play lead roles in hits such as Main Khiladi Tu Anari (Me Player, You Buffoon) and Dhadkan (Heartbeat).

Later, she got tremendous recognition for her portrayal of a lawyer with HIV in the 2004 film Phir Milenge (Will Meet Again).

Inspired by Hollywood hit Philadelphia, it also won her nominations in several Indian film awards, such as the International Indian Film Academy Awards.

Her last hit was 2005's Dus (Ten), in which she starred with other top-notch actors such as Sanjay Dutt and Abhishek Bachchan.

She has judged various television competitions and has also starred in the BBC World Service Trust's campaign against Aids.

Last year, she received hundreds of marriage proposals on the e-mail address she made public to interact with her fans.

Shilpa Shetty
Shilpa has been making films since she was a teenager
"I really don't know when I will get married and to be honest, I haven't found the perfect man yet, " she told the BBC at the time.

She was romantically linked to actor Akshay Kumar in the past, but since then she has reportedly been single.

In 2000, Shetty successfully sued Stardust India magazine after it ran a piece about her relationship with Kumar. She took legal action as she thought it was damaging.

When it was revealed she would be taking part in Celebrity Big Brother, there was tremendous curiosity in India.

Not just because of the format of the programme and its reputation, but also for the huge amount of money she was paid for her appearance. In India, it is rumoured the actress will pocket $680,456 (345,145).

Shetty stays in Mumbai with her parents and younger sister, Shamita, who is also a Bollywood actress.

Her mother, Sunanda Shetty, claims her daughter's trip to the UK to appear in Big Brother is the first time she has ever travelled anywhere without her.

Frozen Eggs Anyone?

Wednesday 17 January
Day 15, 21:46
Eggs in the freezer? What an outrage...
Several housemates have been expressing bemusement after discovering that someone has an unusual storing place for eggs.

"Who keeps putting the f****** eggs in the freezer?" asked an irate Jack, who proceeded to shake one, before putting it up to his ear.


Those humming eggs again, ay?

"Oh you are joking?!" squealed Jade about the travesty. "Not again!"

"What! Froze (sic)?" shouted a shocked Jo from across the room.

"They're frozen cold," confirmed Jade as she inspected the items.

Danielle quickly scrambled over and suggested an immediate inquiry: "We have to speak to someone and ask who it is," proposed the Miss Marple of the modelling world.

But Jade replied that her previous investigative efforts were egg-nored (sorry.)
Jermaine soon got a whiff of the kitchen conspiracy and was on hand with a great solution - sort of: "We gotta get a chicken!" suggested the singer, excitedly.

Oh yes, bring back the chickens!