[Red Moon]

Big Brother spitting row: Dennis: I'm so ashamed

Disgraced Big Brother contestant Dennis McHugh last night told of his shame after he was booted out for spitting at housemate Mohamed.

Close to tears, Dennis, 23, said: "I'm ashamed of what I did and I totally regret it. I am sorry for what happened."

Wearing a T-shirt with the slogan, "Nobody listens, nobody cares but me, me, me," he added: "I'm bitterly disappointed. I am just looking forward to getting back home to my family now.

"It's been a tough few days, but I need time to rest before I can move on from this. I need to get my head around everything that has happened."

Loudmouth Dennis, a dance teacher, was thrown out of the BB house after he spat in the face of Somaliborn Mohamed Mohamed, 23.

But Dennis has insisted he made a spitting motion although nothing came out of his mouth.

The incident, witnessed by millions of TV viewers, was deemed to be so serious that Dennis was quizzed by police under caution yesterday.

And anti-bullying charities last night called for the show to be pulled.

Liz Carnell from Bullying UK said: "The bullying on Big Brother sets a terrible example to children and it's time this sort of rubbish was taken off our screens. It's the type of behaviour children shouldn't have to see on TV.

"We've had quite a few complaints about it and that shows the public are fed up with watching these nobodies."

Hertfordshire Police are now set to review the footage and are likely to question

Mohamed about the incident when he leaves the house.

Tempers flared in the early hours of Friday as a celebration turned sour.

The housemates took sides after Rex Newmark played a practical joke on Jennifer Clark - smearing pizza on a picture she had painted.

Big Brother producers banished contestants to the bedrooms in a bid to calm tensions.
After executives examined footage of the row, Dennis was told to leave.

Following the police questioning he returned to his home in Edinburgh.

Last night he was set for a heart-to-heart with his mother about the fallout from

Thursday's "fight night". The latest row - witnessed by 4.8 million viewers - has once again thrown Big Brother into disrepute.

Almost 2,000 complaints about the show have been made to TV watchdog Ofcom.

And unaired Channel 4 footage shows the build-up and aftermath of Thursday night's row was worse than the public were led to believe.

Housemates made comments about Mohamed behind his back, calling him homophobic and mocking his Islamic beliefs.

Bookies have now halved the odds to 6/1 that the show will be scrapped before its scheduled finishing date of September 5. A Big Brother source said: "We have always had rows, but this year it has gone too far."

The Sunday Mirror can also reveal that Dennis has a history of bullying.

Ashley Brown, who was in the same dance school as Dennis and claims she was picked on by him, said: "Dennis is nasty and selfcentred.

He picks on people and always thinks he's right.

If anyone suggests otherwise, he goes mental."

Yesterday evicted Sylvia Barrie said tensions were so high during fight night that she feared violence would erupt in the house.

Sylvia, 21, said: "I am going to stand by Dennis because he's one of my closest friends.

"I understand why he was removed from the house for spitting, but it's not going to change how I feel about him because he's genuinely a nice guy. He's been a shoulder to cry on and he's been very caring towards me.

"I was really upset that my best friend was taken out of the house. I was devastated."
Housemate Darnell Swallow was left swearing uncontrollably as producers stepped in to separate the housemates.

Sylvia said: "When Darnell came in the room, with his gestures and everything, I actually did think there was going to be a fight. That's why I got in the middle and got myself involved.

"But I don't think anyone would have hit anyone, because no one wants to be removed from the house."

A Hertfordshire police spokeswoman said yesterday: "Officers have now spoken with a 23-year-old man from Edinburgh in connection with an alleged incident. He was spoken to under caution, and at this stage no further action has been taken.

Officers will speak with the potential complainant as and when he leaves the house at some point in the future."

Dennis was not arrested and did not go to a police station, she said.

source: Sundat Mirror