Jojo
21-01-2007, 15:02
Channel 4 has denied warning Jade Goody about the reaction to her Big Brother appearance and coaching her before her eviction to minimise the damage.
There is widespread press speculation that Goody was briefed before leaving the house about the anger she caused.
But a Channel 4 spokeswoman said: "Jade was not coached by [production company] Endemol or Channel 4."
The broadcaster's board will discuss the furore on Monday amid criticism of the way it handled the racism crisis.
Goody was accused of leading alleged racist bullying against Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty.
'Shocked and disgusted'
About 40,000 people complained to media regulator Ofcom, while politicians in the UK and India were also drawn into the debate.
Goody has denied being racist but told the News of the World newspaper she did make racist comments and she was "shocked and disgusted" by her own behaviour.
Before being evicted on Friday, Goody and other housemates were questioned in the diary room by Big Brother about the disputes and whether they were racially motivated.
But there have been claims that Goody was also told about the public reaction and how to respond to it.
Goody made up with Shetty before leaving and the usual crowd was not present when Goody emerged because of security fears.
According to press reports, Goody said before she left: "I know why there's no noise." When Shilpa asked why, Jade replied: "I know but I can't tell you."
The Channel 4 spokeswoman denied that Goody had been tipped off.
"Jade's diary room conversations that were broadcast represent the conversations between Big Brother and Jade," she said.
Meanwhile, the Sunday Times has reported that the board will consider axing the show at Monday's board meeting.
'Got it wrong'
Commission for Equality and Human Rights chairman Trevor Phillips said Channel 4 chairman Luke Johnson should be censured for failing to deal properly with the crisis.
After the board meeting, they must "make clear that they got it wrong, they intervened too little too late", he told BBC One's Sunday AM programme.
"They should censure Luke Johnson, they should wash their hands of the money - Keith Vaz the MP says give it to charity and I think that's a good idea.
"And they should think about what they can do to illuminate the reality we have now seen of contemporary racism."
Mr Johnson's future in the job was "a matter for his board and for his contract", Mr Phillips continued.
Mr Johnson refused to answer questions about the issue on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Thursday.
Government intervention
After the meeting, Channel 4 should admit "Johnson was wrong not to talk about it last week, that his executives were wrong to say that there was no racism involved", Mr Phillips said.
"If the board does not take that stand then I think [Culture Secretary] Tessa Jowell has to step in and ask if this is a board that is capable of holding a public asset in trust for us.
"I think it is that serious."
The Channel 4 spokeswoman said Big Brother would be on the agenda at the board meeting.
"It was a planned meeting prior to all the Big Brother stuff kicking off so that wasn't the reason it was called," she said.
"No doubt it will be discussed but whether it's a big agenda item I don't know."
There is widespread press speculation that Goody was briefed before leaving the house about the anger she caused.
But a Channel 4 spokeswoman said: "Jade was not coached by [production company] Endemol or Channel 4."
The broadcaster's board will discuss the furore on Monday amid criticism of the way it handled the racism crisis.
Goody was accused of leading alleged racist bullying against Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty.
'Shocked and disgusted'
About 40,000 people complained to media regulator Ofcom, while politicians in the UK and India were also drawn into the debate.
Goody has denied being racist but told the News of the World newspaper she did make racist comments and she was "shocked and disgusted" by her own behaviour.
Before being evicted on Friday, Goody and other housemates were questioned in the diary room by Big Brother about the disputes and whether they were racially motivated.
But there have been claims that Goody was also told about the public reaction and how to respond to it.
Goody made up with Shetty before leaving and the usual crowd was not present when Goody emerged because of security fears.
According to press reports, Goody said before she left: "I know why there's no noise." When Shilpa asked why, Jade replied: "I know but I can't tell you."
The Channel 4 spokeswoman denied that Goody had been tipped off.
"Jade's diary room conversations that were broadcast represent the conversations between Big Brother and Jade," she said.
Meanwhile, the Sunday Times has reported that the board will consider axing the show at Monday's board meeting.
'Got it wrong'
Commission for Equality and Human Rights chairman Trevor Phillips said Channel 4 chairman Luke Johnson should be censured for failing to deal properly with the crisis.
After the board meeting, they must "make clear that they got it wrong, they intervened too little too late", he told BBC One's Sunday AM programme.
"They should censure Luke Johnson, they should wash their hands of the money - Keith Vaz the MP says give it to charity and I think that's a good idea.
"And they should think about what they can do to illuminate the reality we have now seen of contemporary racism."
Mr Johnson's future in the job was "a matter for his board and for his contract", Mr Phillips continued.
Mr Johnson refused to answer questions about the issue on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Thursday.
Government intervention
After the meeting, Channel 4 should admit "Johnson was wrong not to talk about it last week, that his executives were wrong to say that there was no racism involved", Mr Phillips said.
"If the board does not take that stand then I think [Culture Secretary] Tessa Jowell has to step in and ask if this is a board that is capable of holding a public asset in trust for us.
"I think it is that serious."
The Channel 4 spokeswoman said Big Brother would be on the agenda at the board meeting.
"It was a planned meeting prior to all the Big Brother stuff kicking off so that wasn't the reason it was called," she said.
"No doubt it will be discussed but whether it's a big agenda item I don't know."