Jade a victim of own ignorance in race row

THANK heaven for bitchy gurrrrls; they boost ratings in the most delightful way. Although, given all that’s been happening, Channel 4 bosses are probably no longer singing that tune.

As viewing figures increased by one million overnight between Monday and Tuesday, and the number of complaints to the channel over racist bullying reached 22,000, events within the Celebrity Big Brother house have so far resulted in a diplomatic incident, parliamentary condemnation, a possible police enquiry and street demonstrations in India.

From a viewer’s perspective, the racist bullying of Bollywood film star Shilpa Shetty by three of her female housemates — Jade Goody, Danielle Lloyd and Jo O’Meara — quickly escalated from uncomfortable to excruciating.

“F**k off home,” said Danielle to Shilpa, with Jade calling Shilpa a “f**king fake”.

Jo, a former singer with a pop group, wondered if “Indians were thin” because they undercooked their food. Danielle, a glamour model, remarked: “They eat with their hands in India. Or is it China? You don’t know where those hands have been.”

But most of the virulence has come from Jade, whose mother was the first to be evicted from the show. Jade’s mother was openly racist towards Shilpa, referring to her as “the Indian”.

Jade’s boyfriend called Shilpa “a c**t” and “a dog”.

In response to the furore, Celebrity Big Brother sponsors the Carphone Warehouse withdrew sponsorship in an effort to distance itself from the racism.

William Hill, the betting agents, have also waded in.

“As far as we are concerned, Jade does not deserve to win and we will not be accepting any bets on her,” said spokesman, Rupert Adams.

Jade’s perfume, Shh... , the third-biggest seller in Britain, has been dropped by Britain’s biggest perfume outlet.

While Shilpa will emerge from the house a heroine, the show which made Jade famous has just chewed her up and is about to spit her back out.

And yet one can’t help but wonder: unlike her rich, bright, successful victim, could it be that Jade (who is herself mixed-race) has been a victim of her own highly exploitable ignorance? After all, what’s lower down the food chain than a thick, chav bird?

Not Shilpa Shetty, that’s for sure.