Big Brother is still a big deal in the Commonwealth

This is just bizarre, but it's a huge story across the pond. From Reuters:

LONDON (Reuters) - Two reality TV contestants at the center of an international row over racism and bullying face off in a public vote on Friday that the British media are casting as a battle between beauty and the beast.

Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty and Jade Goody have been shortlisted for eviction by fellow housemates on "Celebrity Big Brother." Goody is hot favorite to be kicked out after a public telephone ballot.

Shetty's treatment at the hands of the 25-year-old, her mother and three other contestants in the Big Brother house has triggered a storm of protest in Britain and India.

A major sponsor of the show has pulled out, two contestants have had commercial deals suspended or canceled and Britain's media watchdog received nearly 40,000 complaints from viewers.

Even senior politicians have weighed into the row, which has overshadowed a visit to Shetty's homeland India by British finance minister Gordon Brown.

"There is a lot of support for Shilpa," Brown told reporters on Friday after visiting Bollywood producer Yash Raj Chopra and film stars at a studio in a northern Mumbai suburb.

"It is pretty clear we are getting the message across. Britain is a nation of tolerance and fairness."

Because the house is cut off from the outside world the contestants are oblivious to the controversy.

Either Shetty or Goody, who became famous in Britain only for her performance in an earlier Big Brother show, is in for a big surprise on Friday evening when they leave the show.

"Celebrity Big Brother" has prompted intense debate in Britain about whether Shetty's treatment constitutes racism, and to what extent the unseemly scenes that have reduced the 31-year-old to tears are a reflection of British society.

Some commentators argue that the issue is more one of class than race, while others consider events in the house as little more than bickering prompted by female jealousy.

Hmm. I'm going to go with "female jealousy."

Shetty herself has rowed back from earlier comments suggesting she was a victim of racism, and she and Goody hugged and made up late on Thursday.

Goody, challenged on the show to explain her behavior toward Shetty, said: "It's not in me to be racial about somebody. If it offends any Indians out there I apologize."

Channel 4, under increasing pressure to act, said on Thursday said it would not stop airing the show.

Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said: "I think this is racism being presented as entertainment and I think it's disgusting."

Carphone Warehouse, Europe's biggest mobile phone retailer which paid around 3 million pounds ($5.9 million) for a year's sponsorship of this series and another in the summer, said it was pulling out because it did not want to be associated with allegations of racist bullying.

A perfume store withdrew Goody's scent from its shelves while she was on the show, and a motor insurance company has dumped [Danielle] Lloyd as its model.

But audience figures have soared as a result of the publicity, hitting 5.2 million for Wednesday's highlights programme compared with 3.5 million two days earlier.

Channel 4 said it would donate profits from the telephone eviction vote to charity.

In a full-page open letter to Goody in the Independent newspaper, the Indian Tourism Office outlined the ancient and modern delights India had to offer.

"Once your current commitments are over may we invite you to experience the healing nature of India," it said.