The board of Channel 4 meets on Monday to decide the future of reality TV show Big Brother after a record number of complaints were lodged against the latest show. The same day, Jade Goody, whose outspoken remarks have made her the programme's most controversial contestant, appeared on GMTV to explain her actions and attempt to salvage her career.
Channel 4 has come under fire for failing to put a stop to clashes between housemates which resulted in claims of racism. Restaurateur Luke Johnson, who chairs the board, and eight other non-executive members including Labour peer Lord Puttnam will be briefed on comments made to Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty and make a decision whether the show should be axed all together.
Jade, who was at the centre of the storm, is now trying to repair the damage caused by her treatment of Shilpa. In an interview given to The News Of The World newspaper following her eviction, she admitted she made some racist comments and that her behaviour had been the "biggest mistake" of her life. "I now know that things that I may not think are racist can actually be racist," she said. "It's my own fault for not knowing enough about other people's cultures."
The mum-of-two, whose boyfriend Jack Tweedy is still in the house, also pledged to donate her £50,000 appearance fee to charities nominated by herself and Shilpa. "I don't want to make a penny from this," she said. "I don't want money from something that is wrong. I'm going to give it all to charity."
There has been fresh debate as to whether Jade received coaching before giving her eviction interview in front of a studio audience, but the 25-year-old says she had no idea there would be no crowd to greet her. Channel 4 also denied it had helped prepare Jade before her eviction, which was watched by almost nine million viewers after she got 85 per cent of the votes. "I'm genuinely worried about how my life will be," she admits. "I've hit rock bottom and never felt as low."
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
