[smeagol]

Big Brother has drawn nearly 1,000 complaints over an episode that saw one of the contestants swearing and abusing a female housemate.

The incident took place on the Channel 5 reality show on Monday (25 June) and media watchdog Ofcom had received 356 complaints by midnight . Since then the the complaints are understood to have risen to almost 1,000.

The housemates were set a confusing cuisine task in which Deana Uppal, a Miss India UK winner, was revealed as the only housemate to fail.

Following the task, Conor McIntyre and some other housemates were joking about Uppal’s epilator. He said: “Get your epilator and stick it up your a**e. We don’t give a ******! Stick it up her ******ing m**ge, stupid b**tard.”

He continued: “I’m gonna play loads of pranks on her. ******ing piece of s**t, I don’t give a ****** if I’m pulled up to the Diary Room.”

Later he said he would punch her if she threw water over him.

McIntyre was warned by “Big Brother” for aggressive behaviour after Uppal complained about feeling bullied.

The incident has provoked a debate on the C5 website, attracting 376 comments.

Over the last 24 hours viewers have expressed their disgust at the treatment of Uppal.

A statement from C5 said: “Housemates are closely monitored at all times in the Big Brother house and following Conor’s reaction to Deana failing the food-based task he was immediately called into the diary room, warned and reprimanded in accordance with the programme’s procedures.

“He has fully acknowledged that this was unacceptable. We felt it was important to show that Conor’s behaviour was not condoned by Big Brother or any of the housemates, and that this kind of conduct will not be tolerated in the house.

“Having spoken to Conor, and bearing in mind our duty of care to the other housemates, we are satisfied that he should continue to participate in the programme.”

The Endemol-produced programme airs nightly on C5.