[Stu]

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The new series of Big Brother was in chaos last night after repeated bust-ups between the show's makers and scandal-hit Channel 4.


The new series of Big Brother was in chaos last night after repeated bust-ups between the show's makers and scandal-hit Channel 4.

The bitter dispute emerged as C4 bosses were yesterday ordered to make three grovelling on-screen apologies over the Celebrity Big Brother race row.

TV watchdog Ofcom slammed the broadcaster for "serious errors of judgment" and said it had covered up more disgusting racist attacks on Shilpa Shetty by Jade Goody and her brainless cohorts.

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The damning ruling has thrown preparations for the start of next week's Big Brother 8 into disarray.

Desperate to keep the show - hosted by Davina McCall - scandal free, C4 bosses have rejected three contestants put forward by makers Endemol. They have also thrown out plans to encourage class warfare in the house by recruiting extreme individuals from different social groups.

One source said last night: "Channel 4 are trying to wrestle back control of the show and make sure there are no more scandals, but Endemol insists the programme will flop if there aren't any clashes or tension."

One contestant - described as the best housemate selected this year - was rejected because he had been arrested after a fight.

The source added: "He was a brilliant, cocky bloke - easily the best man we had. We booked him straight away but then had to drop him because he got into a fight.

"He may have to go to court and we couldn't risk him getting into a row in the house and then it emerging that we'd allowed him in as a contestant knowing that he'd been arrested in a bar brawl.

"Last year we'd have put him in. This year we don't dare. Other great would-be housemates have also been thrown out because of the extra psychology tests. Endemol wanted them in, but Channel 4 said no. Things are getting very heated."

BB8 begins next Wednesday, when Channel 4 will make the first of its apologies over January's Celebrity Big Brother. The race row sparked an international outcry and attracted a record 45,000 complaints from viewers.


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Source : Big Brother Site

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This sounds bad. Really bad.