Celebrity Big Brother 2007 (UK)

Big Brother endgame
seriesname = Celebrity Big Brother UK
series = Fifth series (2007)
previous = Celebrity Big Brother 2006 (UK)
next =Celebrity Big Brother UK (2009)



imagebg = #000
hm1 = Shilpa
hm1-enter = Day 1
hm1-exit = Day 26
hm1-stat = winner
hm2 = Jermaine
hm2-enter = Day 1
hm2-exit = Day 26
hm2-stat = runner
hm3 = Dirk
hm3-enter = Day 1
hm3-exit = Day 26
hm3-stat = evic
hm4 = Ian "H" Watkins">Ian
hm4-enter = Day 1
hm4-exit = Day 26
hm4-stat = evic
hm5 = Danielle
hm5-enter = Day 1
hm5-exit = Day 26
hm5-stat = evic
hm6 =Jack
hm6-enter = Day 3
hm6-exit = Day 26
hm6-stat = evic
hm7 = Cleo
hm7-enter = Day 1
hm7-exit = Day 24
hm7-stat = evic
hm8 = Jo
hm8-enter = Day 1
hm8-exit = Day 24
hm8-stat = evic
hm9 = Jade
hm9-enter = Day 3
hm9-exit = Day 17
hm9-stat = evic
hm10 = Carole
hm10-enter = Day 1
hm10-exit =Day 10
hm10-stat = evic
hm11 = Leo
hm11-enter = Day 1
hm11-exit =Day 10
hm11-stat = walk
hm12 = Jackiey
hm12-enter = Day 3
hm12-exit = Day 8
hm12-stat = evic
hm13 = Ken
hm13-enter = Day 1
hm13-exit = Day 5
hm13-stat = walk
hm14 = Donny
hm14-enter = Day 1
hm14-exit = Day 3
hm14-stat = walk


legendrunner = Runner-up
legendwalk = Walked

"Celebrity Big Brother 2007" was the highly controversial fifth series of the United Kingdom reality television series "Celebrity Big Brother", a spin-off of "Big Brother". The series was broadcast on Channel 4 in the UK (also on S4C in Wales), and involved a number of celebrities referred to as 'housemates', who live in the Big Brother House with no contact with the outside world. In recent series, the show's producers have offered celebrities money to appear on "Celebrity Big Brother".

Celebrity Big Brother 2007 started on 3 January 2007, [" [http://press.channel4.com/listings/live/C4/live/2007_1/index.htm Celebrity Big Brother Launch Night] ", "Channel 4 Press". URL last accessed on 2006-12-08.] and ran for 26 days. The launch show peaked at 8.2 million viewers, making it the second most-watched launch in Big Brother history. [ [http://thediaryroom.net/tbbs/index.php?page=ratings Viewing Figures] "The Celebrity Big Brother Show" URL last accessed 2007-01-07] It was the first "Celebrity Big Brother" series to be shown in the 16:9 widescreen format.

On 16 January 2007 this series had attracted the largest ever number of public complaints to the UK broadcasting watchdog Ofcom about a Big Brother series. [" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6265127.stm Ofcom probes Big Brother racism] ", "BBC News". URL last accessed on 2007-01-16] The complaints received detailed concerns that housemate Shilpa Shetty had been subjected to bullying, allegedly with undertones of racism. [ [http://www.channel4.com/news/content/news-storypage.jsp?id=6963256 Big Brother:thousands complain] ", "Channel 4 News". URL last accessed on 2007-01-16] As an example, Danielle Lloyd called Shilpa "a dog" and that she should "fuck off home". This sparked widespread anger and demonstrations in India, where the alleged racism was reported on the news, and led "Big Brother's" main sponsor Carphone Warehouse to suspend its sponsorship of the show. [ [http://media.guardian.co.uk/site/story/0,,1993552,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=1 Carphone axes Big Brother deal] ", "Guardian Unlimited". URL last accessed on 2007-01-20] As of 19 January 2007, a Channel 4 spokesman agreed that participants should be made aware of the controversy, probably explaining the recent explanations and apologies tendered by the housemates and their complete lack of surprise after learning about the latest eviction. [cite web
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6279363.stm
title=Are housemates aware of race row?
date=2007-01-19
publisher=BBC
accessdate=2007-01-19] cite web
url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm_headline=no-crowd-no-shock%2D%2D-no-reality%26method=full%26objectid=18505500%26siteid=94762-name_page.html
title=NO CROWD NO SHOCK.. NO REALITY
date=2007-01-20
publisher=Daily Mirror
accessdate=2007-01-20]

As in earlier series, Davina McCall presented the main Channel 4 show. Dermot O'Leary presented "Celebrity Big Brother's Little Brother" and "Celebrity Big Brother's Big Brain". Russell Brand presented "Celebrity Big Brother's Big Mouth". "Celebrity Big Brother Diary Room Uncut", [" [http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/B/bb7_celebrity/bbbb/index.jsp Celebrity Big Brother's Big Brain] ", "Channel 4's official Big Brother site". URL last accessed on 2007-01-04.] and live streaming also returned on the Official Channel 4 website and also on E4 at selected times.

On 28 January 2007, Shetty was voted the winner of Celebrity Big Brother 2007 with 63% of the final vote. [Channel 4 - Celebrity Big Brother, 28 January 2007]

This was the fifth series of the reality show (in the celebrity format), and after a brief pause in 2008 for (available on E4 only) which wasn't as big a success as Channel 4 bosses had hoped for, Channel 4 have confirmed that the sixth series will get underway in January 2009. Contestants will be chosen during the period when the ninth series of the ordinary show is showing in 2008

The House

The general layout of the House was largely untouched from the previous non-celebrity series. The living room and bedroom had no noticeable changes. There were several single beds in the same room, with one double bed, meaning that two housemates (Leo & Donny) had to share. The bathroom is much smaller than previous versions and the toilet and shower were no longer fitted with cameras. The dining room table was moved inside, and the kitchen fully equipped with modern conveniences. Outside the garden was a three-jet hot tub with a farmyard seating area. The bridge to Nowhere was still present, leading to a sitting area with heated seats and the topiary man. A workout area was situated just off the kitchen area. Inside the House there was also a fax machine built into the wall. On day 24 this was used to post viewers' questions to the housemates. [http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/B/bb7_celebrity/news/newsstory.jsp?id=1428&articleMask=1&housemateId= Questions, Questions] "Channel Four's Official Big Brother Website". URL last accessed on 2007-01-26.] Meanwhile, the Diary Room was identical to the previous summer's Big Brother, with an oversized gold chair and padded walls, the only change being the addition of yellow lights facing the walls. The House Next Door was used again, and its interior was re-designed to resemble a Victorian style kitchen, with uncomfortable beds in the bedroom, for use in the master-and-servant task.

Contestants

Eleven housemates entered the Celebrity Big Brother house on Day 1 followed by three more housemates on Day 3. This was more than any other celebrity series to date (the regular series in 2006 has had fourteen housemates enter on Day 1). The housemates in "Celebrity Big Brother" 2007 were (in alphabetical order by first name):

Carole Malone

Carole Malone (born 14 October 1954) is a columnist for the "Sunday Mirror". She starred in the 2006 series of "Celebrity Fit Club" on ITV. On Day 2 Carole broke Big Brother rules by discussing nominations with Shilpa and Cleo.Confirmed by Dermot O'Leary on the 5 January 2007 edition of Big Brother's Little Brother] Carole was a servant during the Master and Servant task. Carole was put up for eviction after being unanimously chosen between her and Cleo by her fellow housemates to face the public vote as punishment for discussing nominations. Carole was evicted on Day 10. Carole has revealed that her real age is in fact 52 and not 47. [" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6257907.stm Malone evicted from Big Brother] ", "BBC News". URL last accessed on 2007-01-12.]

Cleo Rocos

Cleo Rocos (born 24 July 1962 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) is a comic actress who appeared on "The Kenny Everett Television Show". Cleo has developed a maternal role in the house and tends to look after the younger housemates and do such things as cook and clean for them, which was first pointed out by Ian and Jo on Day 2. [ [http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/B/bb7_celebrity/news/newsstory.jsp?id=1058&articleMask=1 Phew! Hot Mamma] "Channel 4's official Big Brother site". URL last accessed on 2007-01-05] On Day 2, Cleo broke Big Brother rules by discussing nominations with Shilpa and Carole. As punishment, the rest of the housemates (except Carole but including Shilpa) were made to vote unanimously on who should face the public vote. Cleo was not chosen. Cleo was a servant during the Master and Servant task. In battle of the tribute bands she was in Jermaine's group as a member of the Jackson 5, the group won. She was evicted on Day 24, along with Jo.

Danielle Lloyd

Danielle Lloyd (born Liverpool, 16 December 1983) is an English model and former Miss Great Britain (2006), stripped of her title for dating a panel judge, footballer Teddy Sheringham, and posing for Playboy. Danielle was a servant during the Master and Servant task. She was accused of racist bullying of her fellow house mate Shilpa Shetty, along with Jade Goody and Jo O'Meara. On one occasion Lloyd said that Shetty should "fuck off home", something that Big Brother questioned her about at a later date. Danielle eventually finished 5th on final night. Upon leaving the show, it generally seems that the public have been more forgiving of Lloyd than Goody or O'Meara, and she still regularly gets modelling work.

Dirk Benedict

Dirk Benedict (born 1 March 1945) is an American actor who played Face in "The A-Team" and Starbuck in the original "Battlestar Galactica". Dirk made a unique entrance to the house by arriving via (a replica of) "The A-Team" van, smoking a cigar and with the theme tune playing in the background. A memorable moment occurred a few minutes after he arrived in the house, when a drunk Donny said "It's Dirk fucking Benedict", to which Dirk responded "I seldom use my middle name". Dirk made no secret of his attraction to Shilpa, even saying that he would marry her in a moment, although his attention and flirting with her was light hearted and not excessive. On Day 2 a comic feel surrounded Dirk as Shilpa learned to pronounce his name. [cite web |url=http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/B/bb7_celebrity/news/newsstory.jsp?id=1054&articleMask=1 |title=Lost In Translation |publisher=Channel 4 |work=Official Big Brother site |date=2007-01-04 |accessdate=2007-04-08] Dirk finished third.

Despite his obvious affection for Shilpa, Dirk Benedict has been accused of racism and will be interviewed by the police. Newspaper reports have quoted him as saying, "There are millions of Indians. Millions. And they’re breeding fast. They are having four or five kids when the Brits are having one. The average British woman has 1.3 children and the Indians are having 3.5. The Brits, the natural-born, are already in a minority. There will be a Nehru as Prime Minister soon.” [cite news |url=http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news_detail.html?sku=1152 |title=Jermaine in frame: NEW Big Bro race row |work=Daily Star |publisher=Northern and Shell Media Publications |date=2007-02-03 |accessdate=2007-04-08]

Donny Tourette

Donny Tourette is the lead singer of Towers of London, a punk rock band from London. He staggered into the house in a drunken state and instantly breached Big Brother rules when his stash of alcohol was removed from his suitcase. [" [http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/B/bb7_celebrity/news/newsstory.jsp?id=1043&articleMask=1&housemateId= Donny argues with Big Brother when his alcohol is confiscated from his suitcase] ..", "Channel 4's official Big Brother site". URL last accessed on 2007-01-04.] Donny escaped from the Big Brother House on 5 January 2007 by climbing over the garden wall in the House Next Door with the help of 'H' from Steps, [" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6236471.stm Singer escapes from Big Brother] ", "BBC News". URL last accessed on 2007-01-07.] saying "I'm not waiting hand on foot on some fucking moron and her family", referring to Jade Goody, as he climbed over. His clothes and belongings were left in the diary room by a fellow contestant.

Ian "H" Watkins

Ian "H" Watkins (born 8 May 1976) is a Welsh actor and was previously a member of the pop group Steps. He came out as gay to "The Sun" on the same day as he entered the house. [cite web|url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,11049-2007000401,00.html|title=Housemate 9: Ian H Watkins|publisher=The Sun|date=2007-01-04|accessdate=2007-01-05] [cite web|url=http://www.ian-h-watkins.com/interview_38.html|title=I Was The Only Gay In The Village|publisher=Ian Watkins Official website|date=2007-01-03|accessdate=2007-01-05] Although he was known as the fence-sitter and, along with Jermaine, the peace maker, he could see that Shilpa was being bullied by Jade, Danielle and Jo and at one point locked himself in the toilet in tears over the divide in the House. He finished fourth.

Jack Tweed

Jack Andrew Tweed (born 7 July 1987 in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire) is Jade Goody's boyfriend. He entered the House on 2007-01-05 as a member of Jade's family. He was a master during the Master and Servant task. Jack left school at the age of 16, to become an electrician like his father, however, he soon changed career to male modelling. He is currently training to be a footballers' agent. He has courted controversy over his "fucking cunt" comment (which was bleeped and then subsequently reported as "f**king paki") and suggested that Shilpa remove objects from the toilet with her teeth. When Jade apologised to Shilpa (on day 16), Jack confessed that he was very disappointed with Jade for apologising to her and called Shilpa a “dick”. He also previously described Shilpa as a "wanker". Following Jade's eviction he has spent more time with former Miss Great Britain Danielle Lloyd, who is said to be flirting with Jack and told him "I love you" when she was drunk. [ [http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,11049-2007030466,00.html Celebrity Big Brother: Danielle enjoys a Jack-uzzi] "The Sun Online", accessed 2007-01-22] . It was alleged that before either of them were famous, Tweed had a relationship with Big Brother 7 star Nikki Grahame; however this ended before Tweed dated Goody or Grahame entered the house. [cite web|url=http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=17288324&method=full&siteid=62484&headline=jade-s-jack-swept-she-had-a-massive--name_page.html|title=JADE'S JACK SWEPT SHE HAD A MASSIVE|author=Grant Hodgson|publisher=The Sunday Mirror|date=2006-06-25|accessdate=2007-02-04] In May 2007, Endemol released previously withheld material in which O'Meara, Tweed and Goody constructed a limerick which was based around, although it did not directly use, the word "paki", instead replacing the racist slur for the word "tacky".

On 1 September 2008, Tweed was sentenced to 18 months in prison for attacking a 16 year old boy with a golf club in December 2006, one month before entering the house.

Jackiey Budden

Jackiey Budden (born April 1958) is Jade Goody's mother and entered the house on Friday 5 January as part of Jade's family. Jackiey was a master during the Master and Servant task. Jackiey caused a slight stir in the house, and upset both her daughter Jade and fellow housemates Shilpa and Ken with her demanding attitude and garrulous personality. [ [http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/B/bb7_celebrity/news/newsstory.jsp?id=1093&articleMask=1&housemateId= Mum's the Word] "Channel 4's official Big Brother site" URL last accessed 2007-01-06] She was unable to correctly pronounce Shilpa's name, so instead referred to her as "Princess" and "The Indian". On Day 8, Jackiey became the first housemate to be evicted from the Big Brother house in a surprise eviction; Jackiey left the house via the diary room and was unable to say goodbye to her fellow housemates. There was no crowd present at Jackiey's eviction and she left the house without any shoes.

Jade Goody

Jade Goody (born 5 June 1981) entered the house on Friday 5 January. Jade first rose to fame when she appeared in the third UK series of Big Brother and since then has gone on to have a career in the media industry. Jade was at the centre of a racist bullying controversy against fellow housemate Shilpa Shetty.The "Act Against Bullying" charity branded her behaviour as "unforgivable". [cite web | work=entertainment.timesonline.co.uk | title=Big Brother 'racism' complaints flood in to watchdog | url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,23569-2549464,00.html | accessdaymonth=17 January | accessyear=2007] Among Jade's comments were: "I've seen how she goes in and out of people's arseholes", [cite web|url=http://www.ibnlive.com/news/row-on-but-shilpa-still-suffers/31466-8.html|title=Row on, but Shilpa still suffers|publisher=CNN-IBN News|date=2007-01-17|accessdate=2007-01-28] as well as suggesting Shetty "makes [her] skin crawl". [cite web|url=http://showbiz.sky.com/showbiz/article/0,,50001-1247791,00.html|title=Has Jade Lost It?|publisher=Sky Showbiz|date=2007-01-18|accessdate=2007-01-28] She also referred to Shetty as 'Shilpa Poppadom'. [ cite web|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/entertainment/filmandtv/s/233/233670_celeb_bb_jade_calls_housemate_shilpa_poppadom.html|title=Celeb BB: Jade calls housemate 'Shilpa Poppadom'|publisher=Manchester Evening News|date=2007-01-18|accessdate=2007-01-28] She was evicted on Day 17, Big Brother producers and Endemol had decided not to have a live crowd present nor the usual press conference to enable them to brief Jade Goody on the recent racism allegations. Jade was a master during the Master and Servant task. It is widely suspected she was evicted due to her alleged racist comments made towards fellow contestant Shilpa Shetty. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6281223.stm|title=I'm not racist, says TV's Goody|publisher=BBC|date=2007-01-20|accessdate=2007-01-20] Shilpa Shetty has said at various times that she has forgiven Jade.Fact|date=February 2007

Jermaine Jackson

Jermaine Jackson (born 11 December 1954, also known as Muhammed Abdul Aziz) is an American R&B singer, former member of The Jackson 5 and brother of pop stars Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson. On the launch show, Davina revealed that Jermaine's favourite tube line was the Central Line. In the house several of the housemates have commented that Jermaine was very shy and they therefore found it difficult to converse with him. [ [http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/B/bb7_celebrity/news/newsstory.jsp?id=1070&articleMask=1&housemateId= No Action Jackson] "Channel 4's official Big Brother site". URL last accessed on 2007-01-05] Towards the end he proved to be a calming influence in the house and came to be highly regarded by his housemates. Jermaine finished second. [cite web|url=http://entertainment.aol.co.uk/jades-not-white-trash-jermaine/article/20070204144209990009|title=Jade's 'not white trash' - Jermaine|publisher=AOL UK|date=2007-02-06|accessdate=2007-02-06]

Jo O'Meara

Jo O'Meara (born 29 April 1979) was previously a member of the pop group S Club 7 and a former contestant on "Just the Two of Us". She also had a brief solo career before pursuing a career in dog breeding. She has come in for criticism for her ganging up, with Jade Goody, Danielle Lloyd, on fellow housemate Shilpa Shetty, who was subjected to racist bullying in the house, despite maintaining that she and Shetty are friends. She was a servant during the 'Master and Servant' task. She was evicted on Day 24 (with only 48% of the vote, despite the accusations of racism and bullying), along with Cleo Rocos to a crowd of many cheers and some boos with many S Club fans supporting her.

Since leaving the house Jo has apparently slipped into depression and thought about suicide. [ [http://news.sky.com/skynews/video/videoplayer/0,,30100-omeara_040207,00.html Interview with Jo O'Meara] SkyNews Video] However, in 2008 Jo has had a baby and is planning on releasing new music later in the year. She is also considering doing a charity gig with Denise Van Outen in November 2008.

Ken Russell

Ken Russell (born 3 July 1927) is an English director of such films as "The Music Lovers", "The Devils", "The Boy Friend", "Lisztomania", and "Tommy", and at age 79 was the oldest male contestant in the programme's history. Since entering the house Ken prevented many of the other housemates from sleeping due to his excessive snoring. Danielle informed Ken of his snoring on Day 3 which led to many of the housemates pondering over a solution. [ [http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/B/bb7_celebrity/news/newsstory.jsp?id=1065&articleMask=1 Shut That Snore!] "Channel 4's official Big Brother site". URL last accessed on 2007-01-05] On Day 5 at 14:55, he voluntarily left the house after arguing with new housemate Jade Goody and her family.

Leo Sayer

Leo Sayer (born 21 May 1948) is a singer who had success in the 1970s with hits such as "When I Need You", "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing", "Moonlighting" and "Thunder In My Heart". Leo found it difficult to sleep on his first night in the house as he was forced to share a bed with Donny who was naked, a prospect that Leo found uncomfortable. [" [http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/B/bb7_celebrity/news/newsstory.jsp?id=1044&articleMask=1&housemateId= Leo struggles to sleep] ", "Channel 4's official Big Brother site". URL last accessed on 2007-01-04.] Leo was a servant during the Master and Servant task. He reverted to mime communication and decided to take a vow of silence, much to the confusion and annoyance of the other housemates. [ [http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/B/bb7_celebrity/news/newsstory.jsp?id=1085&articleMask=1&housemateId=7 You Make Me Feel Like Miming] "Channel 4's official Big Brother site" URL last accessed 2007-01-07] Leo escaped from the house by breaking open a fire door with a broom after hitting a two-way mirror on Day 10 when Big Brother refused to provide him with clean underwear." [http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/B/bb7_celebrity/news/newsstory.jsp?id=1191&articleMask=1 Leo's Dash for Freedom] ", "Channel 4's official Big Brother site". URL last accessed on 2007-01-12.] It was revealed later that he had overlooked clean underwear in his suitcase. He was up for eviction at the time and, though he did not know it, leading the poll.

Shilpa Shetty

Shilpa Shetty (born 8 June 1975) is an award winning Indian actress and an active AIDS and PETA campaigner. Though her native language is Tulu, she is a fluent English speaker. [" [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6303805.stm Will Big Brother boost Shilpa?] ", "BBC News". URL last accessed 2007-02-08.] Tens of thousands of complaints about the show suggested that Shilpa had been the victim of racist abuse from the other housemates. Police proceedings have concluded with no further action being taken. On Day 26, Shilpa was declared the winner of the series.

Daily summary and highlights

Racism and bullying

"Celebrity Big Brother" criticism focused around the treatment of housemate Shilpa Shetty by contestants Jade Goody, Jo O'Meara and Danielle Lloyd.

UK media regulator Ofcom received more than 44,500 complaints [cite web | title=Jade: I'm so f***ing scared | publisher=Daily Star | date=20 January 2007 | url=http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news_detail.html?sku=1079 | accessdaymonth=20 January | accessyear=2007] [cite web | work=stuff.co.nz | title=UK Big Brother contestants face vote | url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/3934622a1860.html | accessdaymonth=20 January | accessyear=2007] [cite web | work=24dash.com | title=Big Brother sponsors pull out over 'racism' row | url=http://www.24dash.com/showbiz_slapdash/15447.htm | accessdaymonth=18 January | accessyear=2007] - a record number for a British television programme after transmission. Channel 4 received an additional 3,000 complaints, [cite web | work=politics.guardian.co.uk | title=Racism, ratings and reality TV: now Big Brother creates a diplomatic incident | url=http://politics.guardian.co.uk/foreignaffairs/story/0,,1992924,00.html | accessdaymonth=18 January | accessyear=2007] " [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6272585.stm Channel 4 denies Brother 'racism'] ", "BBC News". URL last accessed on 2007-01-17.] about racism and bullying by housemates against Shetty. The Eastern Eye newspaper launched an online petition that registered over 30,000 signatures. [" [http://politics.guardian.co.uk/foreignaffairs/story/0,,1992924,00.html Racism, ratings and reality TV] ", "Guardian Unlimited", URL last accessed on 2007-01-18] Channel 4 , who had initially described the situation as "girly rivalry", later admitted there had "undoubtedly been a cultural clash between her and three of the British females in the house".cite web|publisher=BBC News| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6273677.stm|title=Shetty fears Big Brother 'racism'|date=2007-01-18|accessdate=2007-01-28]

Viewership

"Celebrity Big Brother"'s launch show (aired on 3 January 2007) averaged 7.1 million viewers, [Donna Watson, " [http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/tm_headline=bb-ratings-continue-slide&method=full&objectid=18424299&siteid=66633-name_page.html BB RATINGS CONTINUE SLIDE] ", "The Daily Record", 2007-01-09. Retrieved on 2007-01-09.] and ratings fell to 3.9 million by 2007-01-07. [The Association Press Limited, " [http://www.tiscali.co.uk/events/2007/celebrity-big-brother-5/news/01/jade-blamed-for-tumbling-celeb-bb-ratings.html Jade blamed for tumbling Celeb BB ratings] ", "Tiscali", 2007-01-08. Retrieved on 2007-01-09.] Ratings quickly rose as media coverage reported alleged racism towards Shilpa Shetty from fellow female contestants; the episode that aired on 2007-01-16 saw a ratings boost with the show sharing 18% of the available audience and ratings of 4.5 million viewers, [cite web|url=http://media.guardian.co.uk/site/story/0,,1992388,00.html|title=Race row boosts Big Brother ratings|author=Chris Tryhorn|publisher=Guardian Unlimited|date=2007-01-17|accessdate=2007-01-22] as the episode aired on the 2007-01-17 is predicted to be Celebrity Big Brother's top ratings grabber. The episode the following night also rose in ratings, as 5.2 million people viewed the episode. The ratings once again rose on Jade's eviction night to an average of 7.8 million viewers [cite web | url=http://media.guardian.co.uk/overnights/story/0,,1993323,00.html | title=Row fuels Big Brother ratings rise | publisher=The Guardian ] and a peak of 8.8 million viewers, which were the highest viewing figures in Celebrity Big Brother's history [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6282327.stm|title=Jade 'donating TV fee to charity'|publisher=BBC News|date=2007-01-21|accessdate=2007-01-28] and second for any Big Brother show after the Big Brother 3 finale, which landed a record 10 million viewers. [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0257295/trivia Trivia for "Big Brother".] Internet Movie Database.] The Big Brother 3 final night was the same night that Jade left the house for the first time back in 2002.

Post event

Shilpa Shetty

On 14 February 2007 Shilpa Shetty said "Jade did apologise. And I've forgiven her. Anyone, who knows me, knows I forgive and forget easily." [" [http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1927322,001100030003.htm I'm totally apolitical: Shilpa Shetty] ", "Hindustan Times". URL last accessed 2007-02-18.]

On 17 February 2007, Shilpa said that she wanted to forgive Jo O'Meara, but she and other Celebrity Big Brother contestants had difficulty contacting her. [" [http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news_detail.html?sku=1235 SHILPA BANNED FROM SEEING SICK JO] ", "Daily Star". URL last accessed 2007-02-18.]

On 11 May 2007 Shilpa Shetty released her new Bollywood film, "Life in a...Metro". The film had a Leicester Square premier (the first for a Bollywood film). In the UK, Shilpa continues to work on projects, including a West End musical and perfume.

Jo O'Meara

Unlike fellow housemate Jade Goody, Jo O'Meara did not donate her fees for appearing on the show (and for an interview with the "Sunday Mirror") to charity, stating that her intention in taking part in the show was to pay off her mortgage debt. [cite news |url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/video/videoplayer/0,,30100-omeara_040207,00.html |title=Jo O'Meara Says Axe Big Brother |publisher=Sky News ]

O'Meara has also stated that she never bullied Shilpa Shetty, and that the program showed her as a much different person than in reality and that the producers of the program exploited her. She has claimed that the media frenzy surrounding the racist depiction of the S Club 7 star has left her on the verge of a nervous breakdown. She is in an unstable mental state, and has even considered physically harming herself.

In an interview with Sky News, Jo explained that she has been left feeling paranoid and that she has been prescribed drugs to return her to 'normal'. [cite news |url=http://www.gm.tv/index.cfm?articleid=24381 |title=Big Brother bonus - Jo's anguish |publisher=GMTV |date=2007-02-07 |first=Fiona |last=Phillips ] In an interview with UK breakfast television show GMTV, O'Meara stated she needed to be in a safe house as she has received death threats. In the interview, she stated how she received very little in the way of support from Big Brother.

However, Jo's life has finally turned around and her life is getting back on track. 6 months after leaving Celebrity Big Brother, Jo became pregnant by her long-term boyfriend. She will become a mother in April 2008.

Ofcom Report

On 24 May 2007, it was reported that TV watchdog Ofcom had adjudicated on the race row during the Celebrity Big Brother series following the record number of complaints. Channel 4 was found to have breached the Ofcom code of conduct. Statutory sanctions were imposed on Channel 4, obliging them to broadcast statements of Ofcom's findings on three separate occasions at the start of the new series of Big Brother in May. It was also reported that footage of an alleged racist limerick about Shilpa, devised by her antagonisers, did exist, despite previous denials by Endemol. [" [http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-1267212,00.html CBB Ordered To Make Race Row Apology] ", "Sky News", URL last accessed 2007-05-24] However, the report made clear that the phrase "fucking paki" was not used by Jack Tweed as previously believed. [" [http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/obb/ocsc_adjud/channel4_cbb/channel4_rtf.rtf Ofcom Content Sanctions Committee] ", "Ofcom Report", URL last accessed on 2006-05-25] A transcript of untransmitted footage was also released where Big Brother clearly warns some housemates that what they were saying could be regarded as racially offensive. [" [http://www1.sky.com/news/transcript.pdf CBB5 Transcript on untransmittd material] " URL last accessed on 2006-05-24]

References

External links

* [http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/B/bb7_celebrity/ "Celebrity Big Brother"] at Channel4.com
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