Duncan Defends Big Brother

Andy Duncan, Channel 4 chief executive, has said that there have only been two incidents of possible racial abuse on Celebrity Big Brother, and that he has no intention of taking the show off air.

Duncan said: “The latest series of Celebrity Big Brother has strayed into particularly controversial territory – the issue of racism and whether or not it remains ingrained in British attitudes despite all the progress we have apparently made towards becoming a truly multi-cultural society.

“The debate has been heated, the viewing has at times been uncomfortable but, in my view, 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.

“We have already intervened with Danielle and, as viewers will see tonight, again with Jade where we felt their comments might be construed to have racist overtones. Producers also spoke to Shilpa today who said she did not feel that behaviour towards her was racist.”

Jade Goody, one of the housemates most under fire in the current controversy, is up for eviction tonight, going head to head with Shilpa Shetty, who she has been accused of racially abusing (see Big Brother Racism Complaints Reach An Estimated 20,000).

The Carphone Warehouse yesterday pulled out of its sponsorship of the latest series of Celebrity Big Brother, as it was unhappy with the furore surrounding alleged racism and bullying (see Carphone Warehouse Suspends Celeb Big Bro Sponsorship).

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