Following more than 30,000 complaints to Ofcom regarding alleged racist comments in the Celebrity Big Brother house, government chief whip Jacqui Smith entered the debate last night, calling the programme "shameful."

Smith urged people not to watch Big Brother because of what she described as "racist bullying" and said the behaviour had been totally "unacceptable". Smith also attacked the programme-makers, saying that the editing had been wrong and that it was "shameful to make money and publicity out of that sort of thing."

Jade Goody, the women at the centre of the Celebrity Big Brother racism row, apologised on screen last night if she had offended anyone, and stated her comments were not "racial."

Yesterday afternoon, culture secretary Tessa Jowell added to her previous comments saying she was disappointed things had got to this position, but said she didn't think "anyone wanted to live in a country where the politicians decide what is shown on television."

But added: "I think this is racism being presented as entertainment and I think it's disgusting. The decisions about what they show is a matter for Ofcom. Channel 4 have a remit which they have an obligation to broadcast to."