Wednesday, 17 January 2007

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10,000 viewers complain about BB bullies

Jade's comments spark massive outrage

TV watchdogs have received a record 10,000 complaints about Big Brother bullying.

And viewers are not the only ones outraged by Jade Goody, Danielle Lloyd, Jack Tweed and Jo O'Meara's treatment of Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty.

Goodness Gracious Me star Meera Syal has slated the way Channel 4 - who claim they will only step in if Shilpa complains - has handled the situation.

'There is a thin line between entertainment and a vile spectacle and I think we are in that area now,' she says.

'I'm sure Channel 4 are glad about the ratings now because we are all talking about it.

'They made such a bland statement about condemning racism but I wonder if on their last series the Tourette's sufferer (Pete Bennett) had been called a 'spaz' regularly whether they would have allowed them to continue?'

MP Keith Vaz was so disgusted he even tabled a motion in the Commons condemning the behaviour.

A Channel 4 spokesman said: 'Shilpa has not voiced any concerns of racial slurs or bullying against her. Matters of bullying or racial abuse in any form are taken extremely seriously.'

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