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British television's Channel 4 acted swiftly yesterday to prevent a rerun of last year's damaging racism row by removing a contestant from the Big Brother house for offensive language.
Contestant Emily Parr, a 19-year-old drama student from Bristol, was evicted within hours of calling black housemate Charley Uchea a "nigger".
Angela Jain, head of the Big Brother commissioning team at Channel 4, conceded Parr had not intended to be offensive. She said the word was used "carelessly rather than maliciously" and that while shocked, neither of the contestants she had been speaking to had been upset by her comments.
But she added: "In the wake of Celebrity Big Brother, we must consider the potential offence to viewers regardless of Emily's intentions and her housemates' response. The word nigger is clearly racially offensive and there was no justification for its use."
Shilpa Shetty, victim of last year's racist language who was attending a film festival in Leeds said: "I'm glad that Channel 4 has taken action. Well I'm really happy and I compliment them on the action they have taken."
However, after earning praise from anti-racism campaigners, Channel 4 came under fire for deciding to broadcast the exchange in an edited highlights package last night.
It had initially blocked the words during "as-live" streaming on digital Channel E4. MP Keith Vaz described the decision as "absurd". He said: "It negates all the decisive action they took in dealing with it."
The broadcaster, which draws a quarter of its advertising revenue from Big Brother, was badly damaged by the controversy last year following racist comments by Jade Goody and others targeted at eventual winner Shetty.
Chairman Luke Johnson and chief executive Andy Duncan were condemned for failing to respond effectively to the gathering crisis that prompted 44,000 complaints and protests in India. It overshadowed a visit to the sub-continent by Chancellor Gordon Brown. Channel 4 has also been at the centre of a dispute with the royal family this week after deciding to broadcast pictures of a mortally injured Diana, Princess of Wales.
The controversial exchange came at around 8.30pm on Wednesday. Parr and fellow contestants Charley Uchea, cousin of Manchester United star Kieran Richardson, and Mumbai-born Nicky Maxwell, were dancing in the living room. Parr was heard to say: "Are you pushing it out, you nigger?"
The three discussed the remark before Parr agreed to modify her language. But after being alerted senior Channel 4 executives held urgent talks, and the decision was made to end her involvement in the show immediately. She was summoned to the Big Brother diary room at 3.30am and told to leave.
The remaining contestants were told of the decision moments before Channel 4 issued its statement.
The channel said: "She understands why her involvement in Big Brother has had to come an end and she very much regrets what she said. "We have removed Emily from the house to once again make it clear to all housemates and the viewers at home that such behaviour won't be tolerated."
The Commission for Racial Equality welcomed the decision. A spokesman said: "We can see from this incident that there is no stereotype of a racist, they come from all walks of life, education and social background.
"Two series of Big Brother, two racist incidents - this just shows how prevalent racism is in Britain today."
Others joined the condemnation. A spokesman for Tony Blair said: "We totally deplored anything that could be perceived as racist", while Conservative shadow secretary of state for culture, media and sport, Hugo Swire, said: "Racism has no place in modern Britain."
Police in Hertfordshire, where the Big Brother house is situated, said they had yet to receive a complaint.
Although she has built a loyal following among some male viewers, Parr was facing eviction today and was odds on with the bookmakers to exit.
In her CV she describes herself as a Conservative voter who hopes to be a fashion journalist.
Her philosophy is: "Live life to the fullest, like it's your last (sic)" and "Enjoy what's around you and what's given to you."
Channel 4 suspended today's eviction and offered a refund on the calls from people who had already voted to remove her from the house.
- INDEPENDENT
