TV Racism Complaints Soar

TV Racism Complaints Soar

Television watchdog Ofcom has received a record 27,000 complaints against the Celebrity Big Brother show after alleged racist abuse.

The programme has been airing footage of contestants rowing, which some consider to be bigoted abuse.

Channel 4 has seen a large jump in viewing figures this week, with 5.7 million people watching it last night.

Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty has admitted on the show that she fears other housemates are being racist.

Unaware the race row has developed into an international incident, the housemates had an argument about Oxo cubes.

Following the row, Cleo Rocos told Shilpa: "I don't think there's anything racist in it."

Shilpa replied: "It is, I'm telling you."

Complaints about the show have flooded in since housemate Jade Goody, her mother Jackiey Budden and boyfriend Jack Tweed; model Danielle Lloyd and former S Club singer Jo O'Meara allegedly began bullying the 31-year-old Indian star.

Following the Oxo cube spat, Jade told the actress: "You need a day in the slums. (Swearing) go in your community and go to all those people who look up to you and be real. You (swearing) fake."

A show source has revealed that Shilpa and Jade will face each other in the next eviction vote.

Former Big Brother contestant Derek Laud told Sky News the response to the 'abuse' was "completely disproportionate" to the offence caused.

He said: "I think there is a growing irritation in this country that everything that appears offensive to another person can be described as racist in order to close down people's right to express their views.

"It's a matter of taste and nothing to do with racism."

Protesters in India burned effigies of the show's organisers and Chancellor Gordon Brown, on a trip to the country, said the alleged racist remarks were "offensive".

Tony Blair and David Cameron also found themselves commenting on the show and condemning all forms of racism.

Shetty's mother Sunanda told Sky News it was painful watching her daughter cry on TV.

It said there had been "no overt racial abuse or racist behaviour" directed against Shilpa, and said the star had not voiced any concerns of racial abuse directly to Big Brother.