One MP has called for a debate over Channel 4's remit due to the ongoing row over Celebrity Big Brother.
Keith Vaz, MP for Leicester East, has called on the Leader of the House of Commons, Jack Straw, to schedule time for an "urgent" debate on the channel's financing.
"The Leader of the House might be aware that the number of people who have complained to Ofcom about the racist language used against Shilpa Shetty on 'Big Brother' has reached 20,000," Vaz said in the Commons this morning. "The situation is damaging our reputation abroad, especially in India. Later this afternoon, the chief executive of Channel 4, Andy Duncan, is making a plea in Oxford for more public subsidy. May we have an urgent debate on the remit and financing of Channel 4 and the responsibility of broadcasters not to broadcast racial prejudices?"
Straw called on Ofcom to act immediately and added: "I understand his concern that there should be a debate and I will do what I can to assist him."
MP calls for debate on Channel 4's remit
Published Thursday, Jan 18 2007, 17:09 GMT | By James Welsh
More: Reality TV, Celebrity Big Brother
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