Earlier this year Channel 4 decided to axe Celebrity Big Brother following the Shilpa Shetty race scandal. It has been announced that it will be replaced with Big Brother Celebrity Hijack.
Instead of celebrity housemates, the celebs will act as Big Brother.
A spokeswoman said: “Viewers will be able to see the celebrities as they act as the voice of Big Brother In addition, the stars will also help set tasks, make their own rules, and help cause havoc.”
The show will air on E4 in January, reports The Sun.
Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty was arrested and held at Mumbai airport for obscenity charges in connection with the public kiss between her and Richard Gere.
Gere kissed Shetty five months ago during an AIDS awareness charity event in India, causing outrage from strict Hindus who claimed Shetty had violated the country's obscenity laws.
The Celebrity Big Brother winner was reportedly stopped while she was travelling to Berlin to attend the opening of musical Miss Bollywood.
A court issued an arrest warrant against Chicago actor Gere and prevented Shetty from leaving the country, but the immigration department did not realise that it had been overturned by the Supreme Court.
Spokesman for Shilpa, Dale Bhagwagar, said, "She called me in the middle of the night and was in tears."
Shetty said, "I can understand something like this if I'd committed a criminal offence. But what was my offence, when I'm just an actor, going to perform a musical on foreign land?"
Shetty was later allowed to continue her journey after she had to undergo a series of questions. Source: Digital Spy
Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty has reportedly been in talks with 007 bosses to become the next Bond girl.
The star would play James Bond's love interest opposite Daniel Craig and has been described as the "perfect leading lady".
Shetty is allegedly about to "seal the deal" and the film makers have been desperate to sign the Celebrity Big Brother winner up because she is so popular with cinemas across Asia. Source: Digital Spy
Bollywood star and Celebrity Big Brother winner Shilpa Shetty is the latest celeb to campaign against animals being used in entertainment. Shilpa tells PETA that she hates cruelty to animals.
Richard Gere has apologised for the offence caused in India by his public kiss with Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, reports DigitalSpy.
The actor is facing arrest for the incident, which took place at an Aids awareness event in Delhi earlier this month. Effigies of Gere have been burnt by people throughout India.
Gere said in a statement: "What is most important to me is that my intentions as an HIV/AIDS advocate be made clear, and that my friends in India understand that it has never been, nor could it ever be, my intention to offend you. If that has happened, of course it is easy for me to offer a sincere apology."
Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty is reported to be joining the line-up for the Australian version of 'Big Brother'.
According to ITV News, Shetty, who appeared in 'Celebrity Big Brother' in the UK, is due fly to Australia next month to promote her new film and the show's producers are keen to get her into the Big Brother house.
The executive producer said that he hoped that Shetty would be able to "liven up" the house.
Shetty was at the centre of an international race row when in the UK version of 'Celebrity Big Brother' as other contestants were accused of bullying her.
It is not know how long she will spend in the house.
Actor Richard Gere has sparked protests in India after kissing Celebrity Big Brother winner Shilpa Shetty at an Aids awareness rally in New Delhi, reports BBC.
Demonstrators in India set fire to effigies of the Hollywood star, while protesters in other cities shouted "death to Shilpa Shetty".
The protesters say Gere insulted Indian culture by kissing the hand and face of the Bollywood actress. Public displays of affection and sex are still largely taboo in India.
Shetty downplayed the incident, saying "it was not so obscene."
The actress said, "This was not such a big thing for people to over-react in such a manner."
"I understand people's sentiments, but I don't want a foreigner to take bad memories from here. I understand this is his culture, not ours."
Bollywood star and Celebrity Big Brother winner Shilpa Shetty has enquired about singing lessons from Jamie Pearce - amidst rumours of a potential part in the musical Chicago.
The Celebrity Big Brother champion this year is a fan of Jamie -who is tipped to be a star in the future- even went to one of his concerts.
A source told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "Shilpa's a huge Jamie fan. They met after the show and he said he's happy to be her tutor."
Shilpa Shetty talked about her time in the Big Brother house to the Daily Mirror.
Shetty said the alleged racist bullying in the house was not a battle of race, but between "right and wrong".
She told the Daily Mirror she had no idea the bullying was so bad until she watched the complete footage of what was happening.
And she said bullies Jade Goody and Jo O'Meara must seek "professional help" to overcome their problems.
She told the newspaper: "I'd no idea it was so bad. They are so mean. Why didn't someone stop them? It hurts me deeply. Look at me ... I am shaking.
"This is so petty, so juvenile, so nasty. There is hatred there and that hurts deeply. Only now, this is sinking in. I am someone who has never been judgmental, but Jade's behaviour is obnoxious, very aggressive, nasty and suffocating."
She asked: "Why are they laughing? Why did no one step in to help? What had I done that was so wrong? Can you believe this is the epitome of womanhood? I can't believe women will act like that. It's totally alien to me."
Talking about the divides between the housemates, Shilpa added: "It was not a battle between brown and white. It was a battle between right and wrong. And right won.
"Jade and Jo need professional help, not condemnation. I am someone who believes in karma ... what you have sowed will be repaid.
"Danielle I'm still ok with. What she did was horrible and upsetting, but she's very young and stupid.
"It was so apparent who started the rift ... Jade. I don't think she did it consciously but it was to make sure she didn't get nominated by the girls."
Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty emerged as the winner of Celebrity Big Brother.
The runner up was Jermaine Jackson followed by A Team actor Dirk Benedict.
Shetty - who claims to be the Anjelina Jolie of Bollywood - screamed with shock and excitement as the result was announced. Speaking after her interview she said Jade "is not a racist."
Shetty handled herself elegantly as she watched footage of the abuse she received from some of the housemates saying "humans make mistakes."
Jade Goody last night issued a statement claiming that SHE is the victim of bullying now reports The Star.
What?! The 25-year-old has been left with her career in riuns after her racist abuse of Shilpa Shetty, 31.
She is desperately trying to tell anyone who will listen that she is not racist and how she feels what went on in the Big Brother house was wrong. Jade is claiming that she is the one being bullied and has even needed medical treatment to cope.
In a statement her agent said: "Jade is completely distraught and is receiving medical attention for shock and depression."She has publicly apologised to Shilpa and to the country on national television. Jade had the courage to say sorry, to face her critics and to try to make amends."What sort of message does that send out? Aren’t they doing to Jade what Jade is accused of doing to Shilpa?"
Big Brother bosses are bidding to save their show from the axe by fixing it for Shilpa Shetty to win reports The Star.
Desperate producers have devised a 10-point plan to rescue BB from the race row. An insider said: "The show has never faced so much controversy or found itself in so much trouble. "But if Shilpa wins it will send out a message that the programme hasn’t been dominated by racism."Hopefully a victory for Shilpa will calm the fury over her treatment and quiet down calls for Big Brother to become history."
The plan leaked to The Daily Star involves: *Editing highlights to show Shilpa, 31, laughing and flirting with Dirk Benedict, 61. *Ensuring Jermaine Jackson, 52, reaches the final three to counter racism claims. *Sabotaging Cleo Rocos, 44, with footage of her friendship with Jade’s pals Danielle Lloyd and Jo O’Meara.
*A double eviction, possibly this Friday, of Danielle, 23, and Jo, 27. *Jade, 25, being barred from all future shows. *Presenters Davina McCall, 39, Russell Brand, 31, and Dermot O’Leary, 33, dismissing accusations of racism.
*Producers emphasising how much they have donated to charity. *Jade’s boyfriend Jack Tweed, 19, and Danielle being encouraged to flirt. *Shilpa being briefed to say she was not racially abused. *Two new housemates being stopped from going in because they may prove more popular than Shilpa.
Recently Channel 4’s board met to discuss the crisis. Bosses hope their rescue plan will save BB.
Fans have already noticed major efforts to manipulate events in the house since Jade was booted out. Cleo was the second favourite until she was shown to have become friends with Danielle and Jo. While Jade was in the house, Cleo was seen as sitting on the fence and trying to calm tension – but now it seems she has joined their unpopular gang.
Meanwhile Shilpa seems happy and relaxed therefore sending her chances of winning rocketing. She is now the odds-on favourite to triumph, thanks to positive publicity.
TV regulator Ofcom was last night looking at launching a probe over complaints of another fix. It is also alleged Jade was coached before her eviction interview with Davina and that it was pre-recorded.
Public complaints have reached more than 42,000 but Ofcom said they were still in the process of reaching the final total.
Channel 4 have said that profits made from tonights eviction wil be donated to charity. The viewers will decide who shall be evicted from the Big Brother house.
There have been complaints of racism against Shilpa Shetty, with Jade Goody among the accused. Goody has apologised to Shetty and said that she does not judge people "by the colour of their skin." The pair who are up for eviction giggled and hugged each other, with Shilpa telling Jade: "I don't think you're racist."
Meanwhile Teletext reports that Chancellor Gordon Brown has given his support to the Shetty. His visit to India has been overshadowed by the claims that the Bollywood actress is the victim of racism in the Big Brother house. Brown told reporters that a vote for Shilpa was "a vote for tolerance." Ofcom have confirmed that they have received 38,000 complaints. However viewing figures continued to rise with last nights show peaking with 5.9 million people tuning in.
Also, there will be no crowds outside the Celebrity Big Brother house for the eviction show, Channel 4 has confirmed.
Channel 4 said in a statement : "Over the past few days, Celebrity Big Brother has generated an intense and, at times, heated public debate which the evicted housemate will be unaware of, as a result, Channel 4 and Endemol have taken the decision to conduct tonight's eviction in front of a studio audience and without a crowd."
Complaints about the show have flooded in since housemate Goody, her mother Jackiey Budden and boyfriend Jack Tweed; model Danielle Lloyd and former S Club singer Jo O’Meara allegedly began bullying the 31-year-old Bollywood star.
The latest row erupted when the Shilpa and Jade clashed over Oxo cubes. Goody told the actress: “Go back to the slums”.
Lloyd also had her say, but out of earshot from Shilpa, saying: “I think she should f*** off home.”
Channel 4 revealed figures showing the row has boosted the number of viewers for Celebrity Big Brother, which had been on the decline since its opening night.
The main highlights programme averaged 4.5 million viewers yesterday, up from 3.5million on Monday.
According to reports it will be Jade Vs Shilpa on eviction night.
Over 20,000 complaints have been sent to Ofcom and Channel 4 over allegations of racism and bullying; a record for the most-complained about show in UK television history.
Channel 4 has issued a statement regarding the ongoing allegations of racism and bullying in the Big Brother house.
The statement in full: "To date there has been no overt racial abuse or racist behaviour directed against Shilpa Shetty within the Big Brother house. However there has undoubtedly been a cultural and class clash between her and three of the British females in the house."
Unambiguous racist behaviour and language is not tolerated under any circumstances in the Big Brother house. Housemates are constantly monitored and Channel 4 would intervene if a clear instance of this arose.
"It is in the nature of Big Brother that conflicts arise and housemates are encouraged to resolve issues among themselves."Shilpa has not voiced any concerns of racial abuse to Big Brother.
Housemates have access to support from Big Brother at all times."The issue of whether there is racism in the CBB House has been discussed on Channel 4's companion programmes CBBLB and BB's BM and a range of views has been aired, including those of BB viewers."
Janet Street-Porter arrested Janet Street-Porter has been arrested following claims that she racially abused one of her neighbours.
A former newspaper editor and TV personality; Street-Porter, was questioned after attending a North London police station by appointment.
A spokeswoman at Scotland Yard told the BBC: "On 16 January, a 59-year-old woman attended a north London police station by appointment and was arrested in connection with an alleged racially aggravated public order offence."She was later bailed to return in February pending further inquiries"
Noel Gallagher speaks his mind Noel Gallagher has lashed out at Robbie Williams, branding his music "f***ing dog s**t".
The Oasis star told The Mirror: "As he tends to refer to himself in the third person, Robbie Williams is obviously a character that he's invented, and the music he makes is f***ing dog s**t. And I think even Robbie would probably agree with that."
Celeb BB: Jade wants to headbutt Shilpa Digital Spy reports that Jade is so angry with Shilpa, that she now wishes to attack her.
"I look at her and I wanna headbutt her," said Jade Goody.
"I wanna wipe that smug look off her face."
She then went on to accuse Shilpa of turning Dirk and Jermaine against her. "I don't care if you're Jermaine Jackson, Shilpa whoever you are, or Dirk whatever your name is," she said defiantly. "If you wanna be short with me, fine!"
Why does she hate Shilpa: "I think it's nasty and she's very very manipulative. Very. In my eyes she's a nasty piece of work."
Earlier this year Channel 4 decided to axe Celebrity Big Brother following the Shilpa Shetty race scandal. It has been announced that it will be replaced with Big Brother Celebrity Hijack.
