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24/05/2007
Channel 4 to broadcast apology over 'Celebrity Big Brother'
Channel 4 will have to broadcast an apology over the race row in this year's series of 'Celebrity Big Brother' after being in breach of media regulator Ofcom's code of conduct.
Channel 4 will have to broadcast a summary of the regulator's findings on three separate occasions - once at the beginning of the new series of 'Big Brother', which begins next Wednesday, again before the first re-versioned programme the following day and before the first eviction show.
Ofcom said that Channel 4 had made "serious editorial misjudgements" in the handling of the incidents involving the alleged racist treatment of Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty by other housemates former 'Big Brother' contestant Jade Goody, model Danielle Lloyd and former S Club 7 singer Jo O'Meara.
Ofcom singled out three occasions where it felt that Channel 4 had failed. These were: an incident where Goody referred to Shetty as "Shilpa Poppadom"; an incident where Lloyd used foul language to say that Shetty should 'go home'; and the row over Shetty cooking a chicken, during which both Lloyd and O'Meara made offensive comments about Indian eating habits.
Ofcom also said that unseen footage, showing Goody's boyfriend Jack Tweed, making up an offensive limerick about the Indian actress, did exist, something which producers Endemol had denied.
Ed Richards, Ofcom Chief Executive, said: "Ofcom takes allegations of racist abuse and bullying on television extremely seriously. An unprecedented number of complaints were received.
"It is essential that broadcasters are able to air challenging and controversial material but in doing so they must have effective compliance procedures in place and must exercise their editorial duties responsibly."
Channel 4 said that it accepted that ruling and apologised again for any offence caused to viewers.
Endemol also issued a statement in which they said they accepted Ofcom's findings and "sincerely regretted" the offence caused by the events in the show.
Ofcom received nearly 45,000 complaints about the last series of 'Celebrity Big Brother', which was broadcast in January.
(KMcA/JM)
Channel 4 will have to broadcast a summary of the regulator's findings on three separate occasions - once at the beginning of the new series of 'Big Brother', which begins next Wednesday, again before the first re-versioned programme the following day and before the first eviction show.
Ofcom said that Channel 4 had made "serious editorial misjudgements" in the handling of the incidents involving the alleged racist treatment of Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty by other housemates former 'Big Brother' contestant Jade Goody, model Danielle Lloyd and former S Club 7 singer Jo O'Meara.
Ofcom singled out three occasions where it felt that Channel 4 had failed. These were: an incident where Goody referred to Shetty as "Shilpa Poppadom"; an incident where Lloyd used foul language to say that Shetty should 'go home'; and the row over Shetty cooking a chicken, during which both Lloyd and O'Meara made offensive comments about Indian eating habits.
Ofcom also said that unseen footage, showing Goody's boyfriend Jack Tweed, making up an offensive limerick about the Indian actress, did exist, something which producers Endemol had denied.
Ed Richards, Ofcom Chief Executive, said: "Ofcom takes allegations of racist abuse and bullying on television extremely seriously. An unprecedented number of complaints were received.
"It is essential that broadcasters are able to air challenging and controversial material but in doing so they must have effective compliance procedures in place and must exercise their editorial duties responsibly."
Channel 4 said that it accepted that ruling and apologised again for any offence caused to viewers.
Endemol also issued a statement in which they said they accepted Ofcom's findings and "sincerely regretted" the offence caused by the events in the show.
Ofcom received nearly 45,000 complaints about the last series of 'Celebrity Big Brother', which was broadcast in January.
(KMcA/JM)
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