[Red Moon]

Davina may be facing eviction from the Big Brother house after this series

Davina McCall is expected to be axed as presenter of Big Brother in the aftermath of the race row which has tarnished the show’s image.

Makers Endemol and Channel 4 are not thought to be renewing her contract for next year’s series.

Miss McCall, 39, said to earn £1 million from each run of the show, was widely criticised for her role in the flare-up between Jade Goody and Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty in the Celebrity Big Brother series in January.

Critics claimed she failed to properly interrogate Miss Goody about her behaviour when she was interviewed after her eviction.

Questions were asked about how much influence Miss McCall’s agent, John Noel, had over the affair.

Noel was also acting for Miss Goody – and Big Brother co-host Russell Brand – at the time.

Channel 4 sources said last night that Miss McCall’s rolling contract would not be renewed for the next series. A new host would replace her.

Channel 4 itself, however, issued a rather vague statement about Miss McCall’s future, saying: "Big Brother would not be Big Brother without Davina.

"Davina is a fantastic front-person for the show and long may that continue."

Asked whether Miss McCall would be the presenter of next year’s show, the spokesman pointedly refused to answer.

The television watchdog Ofcom has found Channel 4 guilty of serious editorial misjudgment over the handling of the race row.

Producers are said to want to put the controversy behind them and win viewers’ hearts again.

By the time Ofcom produced its damning report last week, Miss McCall had already been signed up for another year.

A show insider said: "Davina will not be returning after this series. We just want to make a new start with a new presenter."

A spokesman for Miss McCall and John Noel did not wish to comment last night.

Source:Daily Mail