Shilpa: It's not racism'
Updated on 18 January 2007
Channel Four has issued a video of Shilpa Shetty saying she doesn't believe she was racially abused in the Big Brother House.
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Channel Four's chief executive has come out fighting in the face of growing claims of racist bullying in Celebrity Big Brother.
Andy Duncan said it was "unquestionably a good thing" that the programme had provoked a public debate on the issue of racism - and the company has issued a new video of Shilpa Shetty saying she doesn't believe the attacks on her by her housemates are motivated by racism.
But the programme's sponsors, Carphone Warehouse, have suspended their backing until the issue is settled and the Culture Secretary, Tessa Jowell, has told this programme that it is "deplorable" that the Channel appeared to be promoting "racism as entertainment".
Stephanie West & Cathy Newman report on the day's events both in the House and in the outside world.
Related links
Big Brother racism row: Q&A
Join the debate
Read Jim Gray's blog
17 Jan 2006: Blair enters Big Brother row
