[Red Moon]

Some how this got missed before the show started:

Big Brother's school for scandal

SINCE its first show in July 2000, Big Brother has spread around the world.

And wherever BB goes, controversy is bound to follow.

From race rows to allegations of sexual assault, the show"s format has led to outrage and arguments in every country it has been adopted by.

While we wait to see whether Big Brother 8 will bring scandal and intrigue, here"s our round up of the most controversial moments from around the world.

The CBB race row

Channel Four found themselves in hot water over the housemates" treatment of Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty in the 2006 Celebrity Big Brother.

Danielle Lloyd, Jade Goody and Jo O"Meara were accused of bullying Shilpa and using racist language. Their behaviour caused protests in India and Gordon Brown was left to smooth things over during an official visit to the country.

The row damaged the careers of Danielle, Jade and Jo and led to an Ofcom ruling that Channel 4 was guilty of "serious editorial misjudgements."

The Australian "turkey slap" incident

In 2006, two housemates were removed from the Australian BB house amid accusations of serious sexual abuse. Michael "John" Bric allegedly held Camilla Halliwell down while another housemate, Michael "Ashley" Cox, rubbed his genitals in her face.

Although it was never broadcast, footage of it appeared on the web and the incident caused uproar.

Prime Minister John Howard called for the show to be cancelled and said "Here's a great opportunity for Channel 10 to do a bit of self-regulation and get this stupid program off the air".

The two housemates involved were investigated by Queensland police but no action was taken. Camilla went on to come second in the votes after winning fans with her dignified approach to the incident.

The bereavement

Australian BB bosses came under fire this month when they decided not to tell contestant Emma Cornell that her father had died.

Raymond, 53, was seriously ill with cancer when the show began and died when she had been in the Queensland house for a month.

Channel 10 defended the decision, saying that the family had asked that Emma was not informed.

A spokesman for the show's producers said: "We're abiding by her family's wishes in not informing her. We're just respecting their wishes."

But the decision horrified experts in grief counselling.

"Will they break the news on air to her, for ratings"" asked Tim Costello, head of the charity, World Vision. "This is patent ethical irresponsibility."

The knife wielding housemate

The second series of the US version, broadcast in 2001, saw housemate Justin Sebik expelled from the house after he attempted to woo an attractive housemate by threatening her with a knife.

Justin was kissing Krista Stegall when he picked up a knife and held it to her throat, asking: "Would you get mad if I just killed you""

Stegall, a single mother, later sued TV network CBS, who broadcasts the show in the US, after it was discovered that Sebik had had been charged with assault and theft in 1997.

No sex please, we're Portuguese

In the 2001 Big Brother in Portugal, an amorous couple were given their marching orders after having sex on the programme. They later married.

The first series in the country also saw contestant Marco expelled for kicking a female housemate in the stomach and throwing her to the floor.

Danish revolt

The tables were turned on Big Brother in Denmark, in 2001, when the seven remaining contestants walked out saying they had to "vote out Big Brother". Four of them agreed to return after they were allowed to have visitors.

The Danish show also provided the first Big Brother baby conceived in the house. Housemates Sissel, 20 and Robert, 21, got together on the show but news of Sissel's pregnancy was not announced until she had been voted out of the house.

Arab protest

In 2004, the Arabic version of Big Brother, filmed in Bahrain, was axed following religious protests.

Although the producers provided segregated sleeping areas and separate prayer rooms for male and female, it was branded an insult to Islam and 1,000 protesters stormed the house.

MPs also made a stand against the programme and the satellite channel MBC was forced to pull the show.

Source: The Sun