[Redderst]

BIG Brother is at the centre of a new bullying row with claims that political wannabe John Loughton was taunted during a task.


Critics claim producers deliberately set up the roly-poly, ginger Scot because he is an easy target.



And they said the show’s first celebrity hijacker Matt Lucas, 33, had crossed the line into bullying territory with a series of cruel pranks.



Ofcom received calls from viewers complaining of John’s treatment on Celebrity Hijack – hot on the heels of last year’s race row involving Jade Goody, 26, and Shilpa Shetty, 32.



But the stunts appear to have backfired after unfancied John became to bookies’ favourite for the £50,000 prize after completing his task.



During the show opener on Thursday, Lucas made John, 21, wear an earpiece under a tartan hat so he could whisper a string of secret commands to him while other housemates entered the house.



They included making him fondle boxer Anthony Agogo, 19, and walk round uttering the word “cake”.



He was also ordered to go up to fashionista Jay Wilson, 19 and demand to try on his clothes and ask if he had a “stuck-on” beard. After his task was unmasked, John said: “I’m not an absolute Scottish numpty and that’s not my hat.”



But fans flooded internet chatrooms to vent their anger. One said: “I can’t watch this bullying of poor John any more.”



Another said: “It was getting to the edge of unwatchable.”



Simon Cheetham, of Red and Proud, a UK website for redheads, blasted: “It’s just lazy of Big Brother.”



John’s odds have been slashed from 10-1 to 5-2 favourite by William Hill. Singer-songwriter Nathan Fagan-Gayle, 21, is second at 7-1.

By daily star

Well the star seem to have something agenst big brother for some reason.
And if it was not for the race row last year they wouldnt bring it up.
They make storys like this becuse they know pepole will buy there paper to red.
A load of rubbish. In bb5 emma gave victor a cold shower, they didnt say then it was about race becuse a race row didnt kick off but if that happened in bb9 they would say it raceist becuse of the race row.
i wish pepole would get over it the star THE STAR IS MAKING IT UP!

[XxShortyxX]

Is this for real?

[Redderst]

Plus usally ofcom make a statement and they havent and we would have heard about this on friday not two days after

[Arneldo]

Oh, I wish the Daily Star would just ssssshhh!

He took it well and e is up for a laugh. It's the DS that are describing his as "roly-poly, ginger Scot"

[Redderst]

Go to the star homepage and type big brother celebrity hijack

[Arkadina]

I don't think it warrants a compaint, but that was pretty much my opinion of the first night. After a few introductions I had to turn the sound off, I felt so bad for him. I hope the other celebs are bit kinder.

[JOSHUAH!]

This is pathetic. You could tell he was just laughing aswell at having to do it, the other housemates have forgotten it!!
Daily Star is sooo daft, I mean just read it, there saying BB is in the centre of another bullying row over John, then a sentence down they say "Over roly-poly, ginger scot" there just scraping the barrell now!

[Redmond]

The Daily Star have really sunken to a new low this series, and I thought that was impossible after BB8. They just completely make a fuss about nothing.

How was it bullying, John could've said no if he wanted. But he enjoyed it and got a free pass to the final. It also helped him break the ice with people which otherwise he may have found it hard to do.

[andybigbro]

OMG is this for real. Gosh i hate the Daily Star

[molecular]

lol makin a guy do some tasks to win immunity! thats bullying?! lol idiots!

theyre only saying thast because hes fat and ginger, if it was someone good looking they wouldnt care.

[*BleedingHearts.]

ahaa gotta be joking.

[Jackie]

How can they say thats bullying.

[Captain.Remy]

They are just pathetic, they just want to sell papers !

[Verloren]

What a load of crap. This complaining culture is doing my head in!