08/03/2007

Carphone Warehouse Drops 'Big Brother' Sponsorship

Carphone Warehouse has announced that it will end its £3 million sponsorship of Channel 4's 'Big Brother' show following the controversial row over alleged racist bullying in the celebrity version of the show earlier this year.

The company had temporarily suspended sponsorship of 'Celebrity Big Brother' in January following allegations that Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty was being bullied by other housemates, former 'Big Brother' contestant Jade Goody, ex-S Club 7 singer Jo O'Meara and model Danielle Lloyd.

In a statement, Carphone Warehouse said that it regularly reviewed sponsorship relationships and concluded that the "huge publicity" around 'Big Brother' meant that it was time to look at alternative sponsorship opportunities.

Channel 4 said that it was now in talks with other companies in a bid to find another sponsor for the show.

(KMcA/SP)

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