Hot favourite Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty has won the grand finale of the British reality TV show Celebrity Big Brother on which she faced alleged racist bullying that sparked off an international race row.
Shilpa was elected the winner last night by 63 per cent of voters ahead of runner up singer Jermaine Jackson, brother of Michael Jackson.
The 31-year-old elegant actress won the public’s affection during an extraordinary four weeks in which she was the victim of alleged racist bullying by fellow housemates Jade Goody, Jo O’meara and Danielle Lloyd.
She was crowned the winner after finalists Jermaine Jackson, Dirk Benedict, ian H Watkins, Danielle Lloyd and Jack Tweed were all evicted during the show’s final last night.
A show spokesman said Jack Tweed had received 3.2 per cent of the votes cast, Danielle Lloyd got 3.3 per cent and ian Watkins received 5.3 per cent.
Screaming with surprise, Shilpa burst into tears as Davina Mccall, the host of the show, announced the news.
“Chicken curry rules”, “thank you so much” she yelled as she was led out of the house by Davina.
“i just want to thank the people of Great Britain for giving me the opportunity of making my country proud”, Shilpa said.
With this victory, Shilpa would earn several bounties, besides getting 350,000 pounds paid to her to participate in the show. She has been offered a Hollywood film by Fox Pictures, a book deal, endorsements for clothes, cosmetics and jewellery, a television documentary, hosting a cricket reality show and an awards ceremony and an exclusive interview with the tabloid The Sun fetching her 100,000 pounds.
Lloyd immediately apologised for her behaviour towards Shilpa in an interview with host Davina Mccall.
Lloyd said her remarks had been made “in the heat of the moment”.
“i wasn’t laughing at Shilpa… it was just nerves”, said Lloyd. “i hate confrontation”.
Asked what she had learned on the show, Lloyd said “not to be such a bitch”.
The contestants had been locked up in a house since January 2 and were filmed on how well they handle the frictions of daily life and get their fellow housemates’ votes of confidence.
On Friday, former S Club 7 star Jo O’meara, after her eviction, denied that she was racist. “it’s not because i’m racist at all. i think she’s a very beautiful, very elegant woman. i can’t say i am sorry for something i am not guilty of”.
Singer ian ‘H’ Watkins, the third person to be evicted in the final show, told Mccall that he felt “completely out of my depth” when fighting in the house was at its most intense.
“i just think i’ve led a very sheltered life and i just back away from things like that”.
“i don’t want to sound cliched but it’s truly been quite a roller-coaster… The highs, the lows, and each one has taught me so much”, Shilpa said.
She initially played down the rows, saying her biggest shock in the house was “to cook”.
Shilpa looked shocked when Davina told her the fighting had caused a furore. But then she said “i kind of had an inkling but i’d love to hear about some news”. She then watched footage from the house, including Jade’s diary room entries.
But in a short speech, she said she didn’t want Jade to be branded a racist.
“Things happen, people make mistakes and we all learn from them”, Shilpa said.