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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
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| Politicians enter Big Brother row | Politicians enter Big Brother row |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Chancellor Gordon Brown has become involved in the row over alleged racist bullying on Celebrity Big Brother during a visit to India. | Chancellor Gordon Brown has become involved in the row over alleged racist bullying 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". | 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". |
| TV regulator Ofcom is looking into a record 14,500 complaints about treatment of Indian star Shilpa Shetty. | TV regulator Ofcom is looking into a record 14,500 complaints about treatment of Indian star Shilpa Shetty. |
| The issue was also raised during Prime Minister's Questions in Parliament. | The issue was also raised during Prime Minister's Questions in Parliament. |
| Tony Blair told the House of Commons that he could not comment on the Channel 4 reality show because he had not seen it. | Tony Blair told the House of Commons that he could not comment on the Channel 4 reality show because he had not seen it. |
| 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". | 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". |
| HAVE YOUR SAY I think the whole thing has been blown completely out of proportion Donna, Essex 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. | |
| "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. | 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. |
| 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." |
| 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". | 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 boost | Audience boost |
| The approximately 14,500 complaints received by Ofcom is a record for a television broadcast. | The approximately 14,500 complaints received by Ofcom is a record for a television broadcast. |
| A further 2,000 complaints have been made directly to Channel 4. | 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 Read Nick's thoughts in full Celebrity Big Brother drew its third-largest audience of the series on Tuesday evening. | Diplomats here in India say the row is damaging Britain's reputation BBC political editor Nick Robinson Read Nick's thoughts in full Celebrity Big Brother 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. | The main highlights show averaged 4.5 million viewers, up from 3.5 million on Monday and 3.9 million on Tuesday last week. |
| Retailer Carphone Warehouse, which sponsors Big Brother, has denied reports that it is reviewing the deal. | Retailer Carphone Warehouse, which sponsors Big Brother, has denied reports that it is reviewing the deal. |
| "We are against racism in any shape or form and have full faith in Channel 4 and that they will deal with any serious allegations such as this in the appropriate way," a spokesman said. | "We are against racism in any shape or form and have full faith in Channel 4 and that they will deal with any serious allegations such as this in the appropriate way," a spokesman said. |
| 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. |
| Mr Vaz, MP for Leicester East, tabled an Early Day Motion on Tuesday to raise the issue in the House of Commons after being contacted by constituents. | |
| 'Absolutely absurd' | 'Absolutely absurd' |
| Housemates Jade Goody, Danielle Lloyd and Jo O'Meara have been seen making fun of Bollywood star Shetty's accent. | Housemates Jade Goody, Danielle Lloyd and Jo O'Meara have been seen making fun of Bollywood star 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. | 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. |
| Former beauty queen Lloyd said: "You don't know where those hands have been." | Former beauty queen Lloyd said: "You don't know where those hands have been." |
| Goody, a late arrival in the house, has repeatedly argued with ShettyBut a 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 ShettyBut a 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." | "This is balanced with our duty not to broadcast material that may cause unjustifiable offence." |