[Arneldo]

Channel 4 has become embroiled in a new race row after complaints about racist comments on reality show Shipwrecked.

A contestant made offensive remarks about black people, as well as gay and fat people.

Media watchdog Ofcom said it received 46 complaints about the programme, in which young people compete on two desert islands in the South Pacific.

Public schoolgirl Lucy Buchanan, 18, from York, praised slavery and said she would get a black person to do her "slave work".

It follows 45,000 complaints over alleged racist bullying on C4's other reality show Celebrity Big Brother.

The channel's board is meeting to consider the abuse suffered by Indian contestant Shilpa Shetty after her fellow housemates appeared to gang up on her.

Since the race row erupted, Celebrity Big Brother's ratings have soared.

Shipwrecked drew 1.2 million viewers at 6.25pm on Sunday.

A C4 spokeswoman said the comments - which were filmed five months ago - came from a "very young woman" who had led a "closeted existence".

After interacting with the other contestants, Lucy changes her view, the spokeswoman continued.

She added: "Other contestants reprimand her and say they disagree with her.

"Over the course of the series it becomes clear that her views change. It is quite a justified portrayal."

Sky News