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Big Brother in 'torture' row

Big Brother producers in Germany have been accused of finally going too far after distressing scenes involving a young woman having her nipple pierced without anaesthetic led to accusations by politicians of "torture".
With blood shooting from her wound and her cries, filling living rooms at prime time - endured in a bid to win the top prize of £650,000 - MPs are saying the "torture" scenes are proof that Big Brother has finally gone too far.

The contestant, called Daniella, was seen on TV on Thursday lying on a hard table with a man bending over her pulling at one of her nipples with a pair of pliers. Then a steel needle was pushed through the nipple and blood spurted across the room as she cried out in pain.

An estimated 2 million viewers of the Premiere cable channel saw the scene that the RTL2 network showed in its re-broadcast last night.

Conservative politician Andreas Scheuer is among those calling for the end of voyeur TV.

He said: "This goes far too far. It is human suffering and indignity just to drive ratings. It is nothing short of torture and the cameras must be turned off immediately."

A spokeswoman for Claudia Roth, leader of Germany's Green party, said: "For such boundlessly shameless voyeurism there can be only one answer - switch off immediately."

Professor Bruno Nikles, a child psychology professor said: "Such mutilations should never be screened to young children. It is horrific."

In Germany Big Brother contestants have been seen having sex on screen and nearly having nervous breakdowns.

Article from Media Guardian