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Politicians enter Big Brother row Politicians enter Big Brother row
(about 2 hours later)
Chancellor Gordon Brown has become involved in the row over alleged racist bullying on Celebrity Big Brother during a visit to India. Gordon Brown has become involved in the row over alleged racism on Celebrity Big Brother during a visit to India.
Mr Brown said the issue had been raised repeatedly during his trip, adding that Britain should be "seen as a country of fairness and tolerance". The chancellor said the issue had been raised repeatedly during his trip, adding that Britain should be "seen as a country of fairness and tolerance".
TV regulator Ofcom is looking into a record 14,500 complaints about treatment of Indian star Shilpa Shetty. Prime Minister Tony Blair said: "We should oppose racism in all its forms."
The issue was also raised during prime minister's questions in Parliament. The programme drew its third-largest audience of the series amid more than 21,000 complaints about housemates' treatment of Indian star Shilpa Shetty.
Tony Blair told the House of Commons that he could not comment on the Channel 4 reality show because he had not seen it. In other developments:
But he added: "We should oppose racism in all its forms."
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  • A small-scale protest in the eastern Indian city of Patna saw the burning of an effigy
Mr Blair was responding to a question from Keith Vaz MP, who said "broadcasters need to take great care before they publish any such prejudices to millions of people throughout the country".
  • Bollywood actress Shetty's family issued a statement saying they were "overwhelmed by the outpouring of public support"
    • HAVE YOUR SAY I think the whole thing has been blown completely out of proportion Donna, Essex class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=5271&edition=1&ttl=20070116110801">Send us your comments class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6270825.stm">How politicians got involved During his visit to India, Mr Brown said he had heard about the volume of complaints regarding Celebrity Big Brother.
  • TV regulator Ofcom said it had received a record number of complaints for a television broadcast - over 19,300
  • Bookmaker William Hill made Shetty favourite to win Celebrity Big Brother
    • Condemnation
    During his visit to India, Mr Brown said he had heard about the volume of complaints regarding the reality show.
    "I want Britain to be seen as a country of fairness and tolerance. Anything detracting from this I condemn.""I want Britain to be seen as a country of fairness and tolerance. Anything detracting from this I condemn."
    Treasury Minister Ed Balls earlier told BBC Two's Daily Politics programme that the suggestion of racism in the UK projected an "appalling" image around the world. HAVE YOUR SAY I think the whole thing has been blown completely out of proportion Donna, Essex class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=5271&edition=1&ttl=20070116110801">Send us your comments class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6270825.stm">How politicians got involved Asked about the issue during prime minister's questions, Mr Blair said he could not comment on the Channel 4 reality show because he had not seen it.
    A Downing Street spokesman later said that the UK response to the programme showed "there is no level of toleration in this country for anything which, rightly or wrongly, is perceived to be racist".
    The Indian government is awaiting a report on the programme and could raise the matter with the UK.The Indian government is awaiting a report on the programme and could raise the matter with the UK.
    Anand Sharma, India's junior minister for external affairs, said: "The government will take appropriate measures once it gets to know the full details. Racism has no place in civilised society."Anand Sharma, India's junior minister for external affairs, said: "The government will take appropriate measures once it gets to know the full details. Racism has no place in civilised society."
    Diplomats here in India say the row is damaging Britain's reputation BBC political editor Nick Robinson Read Nick's thoughts in full India reacts to UK TV row The story featured on the front pages of several Indian newspapers on Wednesday, while fans of the actress staged a small-scale protest in the eastern city of Patna.
    Shilpa 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".
    Audience boostAudience boost
    The approximately 14,500 complaints received by Ofcom is a record for a television broadcast. The story featured on the front pages of several Indian newspapers on Wednesday.
    A further 2,000 complaints have been made directly to Channel 4. Diplomats here in India say the row is damaging Britain's reputation BBC political editor Nick Robinson class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/">Read Nick's thoughts in full class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/6271139.stm">India reacts to UK TV row Shilpa 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".
    Goody, a late arrival in the house, has repeatedly argued with ShettyBookmaker William Hill on Wednesday made Bollywood actress Shetty favourite to win Celebrity Big Brother, at odds of 6/4. As well as approximately 19,300 complaints to Ofcom, a further 2,000 have been made directly to Channel 4.
    "She has stuck in there and if she now picks up the public sympathy vote, punters certainly believe she will be very hard to beat," said William Hill spokesman Rupert Adams.
    The programme drew its third-largest audience of the series on Tuesday evening.
    The main highlights show averaged 4.5 million viewers, up from 3.5 million on Monday and 3.9 million on Tuesday last week.
    'Absolutely absurd'
    Hertfordshire Police said two e-mail threats against housemates had been sent to Channel 4, but would not say if they related to the alleged racism.Hertfordshire Police said two e-mail threats against housemates had been sent to Channel 4, but would not say if they related to the alleged racism.
    Housemates Jade Goody, Danielle Lloyd and Jo O'Meara have been seen making fun of Bollywood star Shetty's accent. Celebrity Big Brother's main highlights show averaged 4.5 million viewers on Tuesday evening, up from 3.5 million on Monday and 3.9 million on Tuesday last week.
    The only way there is going to be peace in the house is for everybody to show each other some respect Leo Sayer On Monday night's episode, former S Club 7 star O'Meara reportedly suggested that Indians were thin because they were always ill as a result of undercooking their food. Bookmaker William Hill, offering odds of 6/4 on Shetty to win the series, said: "She has stuck in there and if she now picks up the public sympathy vote, punters certainly believe she will be very hard to beat."
    The only way there is going to be peace in the house is for everybody to show each other some respect Leo Sayer Housemates Jade Goody, Danielle Lloyd and Jo O'Meara have been seen making fun of Shetty's accent.
    On Monday night's episode, former S Club 7 star O'Meara reportedly suggested that Indians were thin because they were always ill as a result of undercooking their food.
    The trio also complained that Shetty had touched other housemates' food with her hands.The trio also complained that Shetty had touched other housemates' food with her hands.
    "You don't know where those hands have been," said former beauty queen Lloyd."You don't know where those hands have been," said former beauty queen Lloyd.
    'Absolutely absurd'
    Leo Sayer, who left the house last week, said the alleged bullies were "all being very stupid, but I think basically they are good people".Leo Sayer, who left the house last week, said the alleged bullies were "all being very stupid, but I think basically they are good people".
    "I wouldn't put them down as nasty people," he told Capital Radio. "I wouldn't put them down as nasty people," the singer told Capital Radio.
    He added: "The only way there is going to be peace in the house is for everybody at least to show each other some respect."He added: "The only way there is going to be peace in the house is for everybody at least to show each other some respect."
    Lloyd, 23, was briefly Miss Great Britain last yearA friend of Lloyd, Leeandra Anderson, said that the suggestion the housemate was racist was "absolutely absurd". Goody, a late arrival in the house, has repeatedly argued with ShettyA friend of Lloyd, Leeandra Anderson, said that the suggestion the housemate was racist was "absolutely absurd".
    "I've known Danielle for five years now and not once has she had a racist undertone in her voice ever," she told BBC Radio Five Live."I've known Danielle for five years now and not once has she had a racist undertone in her voice ever," she told BBC Radio Five Live.
    A programme spokesman previously defended the decision to show the offending footage.A programme spokesman previously defended the decision to show the offending footage.
    "The social interactions of the group are part of the Big Brother story and viewers have a right to see these portrayed accurately. "The social interactions of the group are part of the Big Brother story and viewers have a right to see these portrayed accurately."
    "This is balanced with our duty not to broadcast material that may cause unjustifiable offence."