'Stop moral decay' says Russell

Bollywood looking for Welsh star

Filmmaker Ken Russell has criticised the "moral decay" of Britain following his Big Brother experience.

Russell, in Cardiff to promote south Wales as a Bollywood film location, left the house soon after Jade Goody, her mother and boyfriend arrived.

He said the country was "pretty pathetic" for its celebration of people like Goody.

She has been criticised for apparent racist remarks to fellow housemate and Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty.

Mr Russell, visiting professor at the International Film School at Newport University, made the comments at a meeting held between Asian filmmakers and the Welsh Assembly Government to promote Wales as a location for Bollywood films.

He explained that after meeting Shetty in the Big Brother house, he had grown curious about Bollywood films.

"They are extraordinary," he told BBC Wales' Good Evening Wales programme. "I had expected them to be rather primitive but the reverse is true. They are extremely sophisticated and their musical numbers are mind blowing."

When asked about his experience inside the house, he said: "My adventures in the Big Brother have been noted by millions it seems.

Those girls take pride in their filthy language, they wallow in filth and yet they pretend to have a high moral tone which is all ridiculous Ken Russell on Jade Goody and others

"Even in the university this morning, where as people would pass me by, they all now stop and stare and say, 'may I touch you Mr Russell?' and it's not because of my work, it's because of my appearance with a Bollywood star I think.

"All publicity is good publicity," he added.

But what about Jade Goody who has been the attention of many headlines over recent days following the heated exchanges with Shilpa Shetty?

"She's the one exception," he said.

And he described reports that she has planned a trip to India to try to make amends, as "another one of her gimmicks".

"She's getting another freebie and she'll continue to promote ill will by just speaking in this ghastly sort of language," he said.

"She's cultivated bad taste, bad behaviour and the racist remarks."

He criticised the treatment of Shilpa Shetty by Jade Goody

And he is convinced her remarks to Shetty were racially motivated.

"Yes. I've studied the programme and there's no doubt about it, Jade led the other two girls, who were just rather pretty, mindless ladies and until she came in doing no harm, into absolute bullies, like herself.

"And their language was absolutely... well, they are just guttersnipes.

"I don't think Shilpa was expecting such treatment. She stood up well to it.

"I chickened out, I got out of this maelstrom of madness generated from the Goody family, so bully for her, I hope she wins.

"Those girls take pride in their filthy language... and yet they pretend to have a high moral tone which is all ridiculous.

"But I hope they are in for a rude awakening. We may put a stop to this avalanche of moral decay."

He also criticised the decline of standards in television.

"We just have one reality show after another and the standard of television has taken a nose dive and I'm saddened by it."