Indian star wins reality show
Shilpa Shetty wins television show, in which she was subjected to racial taunts.
Housemates were periodically evicted by viewers, who voted by telephone or text message.
Among the comments that kicked up a diplomatic storm, Shetty was told to “go back to the slums” and asked whether she lives in a shack, prompting protesters in India to burn effigies of the show’s producers.
Condemnation
British ministers lined up to condemn the programme when the row was at its height, while Indian officials urged their British counterparts to intervene.
The incident overshadowed a visit to India by Gordon Brown, Britain‘s finance minister.
Show producers sought out Shetty and reportedly paid her around $686,000 to “bring some Bollywood glamour to proceedings and attract viewers with south Asian roots”.
Shetty’s main perceived tormentor, Jade Goody, was evicted by an overwhelming public vote last week, days after the controversy erupted following foul-mouthed exchanges.