U.K. politicians chime in on alleged reality TV racism

On-air drama from Celebrity Big Brother has spilled out into the real world, with British politicians the latest to weigh in on allegations of racism on the U.K. reality TV show.

Chancellor Gordon Brown, who is currently travelling in India, was drawn into the scandal on Wednesday.

"I want Britain to be seen as a country of fairness and tolerance," Brown told Indian reporters, "Anything that detracts from that, I condemn."

On Tuesday, Labour MP Keith Vaz tabled a motion calling for the producers of Celebrity Big Brother to take action on the alleged bullying of and racist statements made against one of the current contestants, Indian actress Shilpa Shetty, by others on the program.

According to Vaz and British media watchdog Ofcom, the Channel 4 program has sparked more than 10,000 complaints.

The controversy surrounds the treatment of Shetty, one of Bollywood's top actresses, by other "housemates" participating in the newest edition of Celebrity Big Brother.

In episodes of the show this season, British reality TV personality Jade Goody, former Miss U.K. Danielle Lloyd and ex-pop singer Jo O'Meara have been shown making negative comments about Shetty, mocking her name, her accent, the manner in which she eats, and making disparaging comments about Indians in general.

Channel 4 issued a statement saying that Shetty had not come forward herself to voice concerns about racial slurs or bullying, but added that it was monitoring the housemates for any sign of racism or bullying.

"Appropriate measures to reprimand individual behaviour would take place where necessary," the broadcaster said.

Though he said he had not seen the program, British Prime Minister Tony Blair told the House of Commons on Tuesday that he agreed with Vaz that "we should oppose racism in all its forms."

The scandal has also spread from the U.K. to India, where it dominates newscasts and newspapers. Fans havestaged protests against the producers and the show.

As well, British police have said they are investigating threatening e-mails that have been sent to producers of the program, in which well-known personalitieslive together in a house fitted with dozens of cameras and microphones.

An international reality franchise, Big Brother is no stranger to controversy. Past editions in other countries have also spawned scandals.

Last year, even Australian Prime Minister John Howard was drawn into the debate when allegations emerged that two male contestants on Australia's Big Brother sexually assaulted a female housemate.A Dutchedition cast a contestant late in her pregnancy, with the woman eventually giving birth while still competing on the show.