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| Big Brother sponsor suspends deal | Big Brother sponsor suspends deal |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Carphone Warehouse has suspended sponsorship of Celebrity Big Brother following allegations of racism towards actress Shilpa Shetty on the C4 show. | Carphone Warehouse has suspended sponsorship of Celebrity Big Brother following allegations of racism towards actress Shilpa Shetty on the C4 show. |
| The company said its sponsorship would be removed from the current series "with immediate effect". | The company said its sponsorship would be removed from the current series "with immediate effect". |
| But Channel 4 chief executive Andy Duncan said at a press conference it would not be pulling the series. | |
| "We cannot with certainty say that the comments directed at Shilpa have been racially motivated," he said. | "We cannot with certainty say that the comments directed at Shilpa have been racially motivated," he said. |
| "This morning we have clarified with Shilpa, and unequivocally, she does not believe the treatment she has received is racially motivated. | "This morning we have clarified with Shilpa, and unequivocally, she does not believe the treatment she has received is racially motivated. |
| "She thinks it is socially and culturally motivated," he added. | "She thinks it is socially and culturally motivated," he added. |
| He said "it is unquestionably a good thing that the programme has raised these issues and provoked such a debate. These attitudes, however distasteful, do persist - we need to confront that truth." | He said "it is unquestionably a good thing that the programme has raised these issues and provoked such a debate. These attitudes, however distasteful, do persist - we need to confront that truth." |
| Goody joined the house with her mother and boyfriend Jack Tweed | Goody joined the house with her mother and boyfriend Jack Tweed |
| Mr Duncan said they were constantly monitoring the show and that contestants Danielle Lloyd and Jade Goody had been spoken to in the Big Brother diary room about how their comments might be perceived. | Mr Duncan said they were constantly monitoring the show and that contestants Danielle Lloyd and Jade Goody had been spoken to in the Big Brother diary room about how their comments might be perceived. |
| A record 30,000 complaints have been made over alleged racist remarks towards Shetty. | A record 30,000 complaints have been made over alleged racist remarks towards Shetty. |
| Three of Shetty's fellow housemates have been accused of racist behaviour, with Goody, 25, receiving the brunt of public criticism. | Three of Shetty's fellow housemates have been accused of racist behaviour, with Goody, 25, receiving the brunt of public criticism. |
| Eviction | Eviction |
| Shetty and Goody are to go head-to-head in the forthcoming Celebrity Big Brother evictions on Friday, with Goody 1-5 favourite to be evicted. | Shetty and Goody are to go head-to-head in the forthcoming Celebrity Big Brother evictions on Friday, with Goody 1-5 favourite to be evicted. |
| An explosive row between Goody, who first found fame on the non-celebrity version of Big Brother, and the Bollywood actress was broadcast on Wednesday. | |
| Goody told fellow contestants Lloyd and Jo O'Meara that "fake" Shetty needed "a day in the slums". She added: "Go in your community and go to all those people who look up to you and be real." | Goody told fellow contestants Lloyd and Jo O'Meara that "fake" Shetty needed "a day in the slums". She added: "Go in your community and go to all those people who look up to you and be real." |
| Former beauty queen Lloyd has also hit out at the Bollywood star, saying Shetty should just "go home" , adding that "she can't even speak English properly". | Former beauty queen Lloyd has also hit out at the Bollywood star, saying Shetty should just "go home" , adding that "she can't even speak English properly". |
| Carphone Warehouse chief executive Charles Dunstone said in a statement: "Our concern has rapidly mounted about the broadcast behaviour of individuals within the Big Brother house." | Carphone Warehouse chief executive Charles Dunstone said in a statement: "Our concern has rapidly mounted about the broadcast behaviour of individuals within the Big Brother house." |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Shilpa Shetty is being victimised for being different, be it by colour, class or culture Urmisha Rathod, Barkingside Send us your comments How politicians got involved | HAVE YOUR SAY Shilpa Shetty is being victimised for being different, be it by colour, class or culture Urmisha Rathod, Barkingside Send us your comments How politicians got involved |
| "We had already made it clear to Channel 4 that were this to continue, we would have to consider our position." | "We had already made it clear to Channel 4 that were this to continue, we would have to consider our position." |
| "Nothing we saw last night gave us any comfort," he added. | "Nothing we saw last night gave us any comfort," he added. |
| The Perfume Shop chain has also decided to withdraw sales of Jade's perfume from its shelves following the controversy. | |
| However, a spokeswoman for Goody has denied she is a racist. | However, a spokeswoman for Goody has denied she is a racist. |
| "I would urge anyone who says that Jade is a racist to produce the evidence to support the claim," she said on Thursday. | "I would urge anyone who says that Jade is a racist to produce the evidence to support the claim," she said on Thursday. |
| "I have not heard Jade say anything that could be interpreted as a racist remark." | "I have not heard Jade say anything that could be interpreted as a racist remark." |
| Protesters burned effigies at a small demonstration in India | Protesters burned effigies at a small demonstration in India |
| The Carphone Warehouse decision follows media watchdog Ofcom's demand that Channel 4 must respond to complaints about "racist" comments. | |
| "Clearly what is happening is very serious," said Ofcom's chief executive Ed Richards. | "Clearly what is happening is very serious," said Ofcom's chief executive Ed Richards. |
| He said Ofcom will write to Channel 4 shortly but "in the meantime, it is Channel 4's responsibility to respond to very significant viewer concerns". | |
| He added that the watchdog was "taking the matter very seriously and monitoring the situation very, very carefully". | He added that the watchdog was "taking the matter very seriously and monitoring the situation very, very carefully". |
| 'Victim' | 'Victim' |
| On Wednesday's show, Shetty told housemate Cleo Rocos she feared she was being targeted because of her race. | On Wednesday's show, Shetty told housemate Cleo Rocos she feared she was being targeted because of her race. |
| Rocos, comforting the Bollywood actress following the row which began over stock cubes, told Shetty: "I don't think there's anything racist in it." | Rocos, comforting the Bollywood actress following the row which began over stock cubes, told Shetty: "I don't think there's anything racist in it." |
| But Shetty said: "It is, I'm telling you." | But Shetty said: "It is, I'm telling you." |
| Lloyd, 23, was briefly Miss Great Britain last year | Lloyd, 23, was briefly Miss Great Britain last year |
| More than 27,000 complaints have been made so far to media regulator Ofcom and 3,000 directly to the Channel 4. | More than 27,000 complaints have been made so far to media regulator Ofcom and 3,000 directly to the Channel 4. |
| However, the explosion of media coverage has seen audience figures rise, with 3.5 million viewers tuning in on Monday, 4.5 million on Tuesday and 5.2 million on Wednesday - equalling the highest figure for this series since the live launch. | However, the explosion of media coverage has seen audience figures rise, with 3.5 million viewers tuning in on Monday, 4.5 million on Tuesday and 5.2 million on Wednesday - equalling the highest figure for this series since the live launch. |
| The story has made the headlines in India, and a small-scale protest in the eastern Indian city of Patna saw the burning of an effigy of the show's organisers. | The story has made the headlines in India, and a small-scale protest in the eastern Indian city of Patna saw the burning of an effigy of the show's organisers. |
| Politicians have entered the row, with Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and Jack Straw among those commenting on the programme. | Politicians have entered the row, with Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and Jack Straw among those commenting on the programme. |
| The leader of Unison, the UK's biggest trade union, has attacked Channel 4 over the Big Brother controversy, accusing the station of promoting a "circus of racism" and giving publicity to "louts". | The leader of Unison, the UK's biggest trade union, has attacked Channel 4 over the Big Brother controversy, accusing the station of promoting a "circus of racism" and giving publicity to "louts". |