08/01/2007

Ken Russell leaves 'Celebrity Big Brother'

A second contestant has left the 'Celebrity Big Brother' house, less than a week after the programme started.

Film director Ken Russell walked out of the Channel 4 reality show following a disagreement with fellow contestant, former 'Big Brother' star Jade Goody.

The row was sparked by Russell's refusal to participate in a task set by the show on Sunday. The contestants were split into two groups two days after arriving at the Big Brother House, with Russell, Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty and former Jackson 5 singer Jermaine Jackson remaining in the main house, while the other contestants, including former 'A-Team' star Dirk Benedict, Seventies singer Leo Sayer and former Miss Great Britain Danielle Lloyd were transferred to servant quarters.

On Friday night, Jade arrived along with her mother Jackiey and her boyfriend Jeff Tweedy and the other contestants were told that they would have to act as 'servants' to Jade, her family and the remaining three contestants in the Big Brother house.

Jade and Ken rowed when Ken helped himself to a plate of cheese and crackers, instead of getting a servant to hand it to him, breaking the rules of the task. Earlier on Sunday, the veteran director of controversial films such as 'The Devils' and 'Women In Love' had clashed with Jade's mother Jackiey and also threatened to quit the show.

Explaining his decision to quit the show in the house's Diary Room, the 79-year-old filmmaker said that some of the surprises on the show had been "a little too much to take" and described himself as a "fuddy duddy".

Mr Russell's departure follows that of Towers of London singer Donny Tourette who escaped from the house on Friday night after refusing to act as a servant to Jade and her family.

(KMcA)

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