Channel 4 scraps Big Brother vote

A message on Wednesday's show directed viewers to vote "to save Shilpa", when it should have read "to evict Shilpa".

The broadcaster apologised to viewers for the error and is offering a refund to all those who have voted so far.

Meanwhile, the race row surrounding the show continues with the announcement that the paperback release of Jade Goody's autobiography has been shelved.

Jade: My Autobiography, released in hardback last year, was due to be reprinted by HarperCollins on 5 February.

"In light of recent events, HarperCollins has decided it wouldn't be appropriate to proceed with the paperback publication of Jade: My Autobiography," said the publishing giant in a statement.

"The author and agent support this decision."

Dirk Benedict, Jo O'Meara, Ian Watkins, Shilpa Shetty and Cleo Rocos all face eviction this Friday, with voting lines set to re-open at the end of Thursday's Channel 4 show.

Goody's book, out in hardback (l), will not now be reprinted (r)

Race row 'saved programme'

The broadcaster has pledged to donate the profits from the re-opened eviction voting to the candidates' charities.

The announcement that five housemates would face the public vote was met with shock in the Celebrity Big Brother house, with former model Danielle Lloyd bursting into tears.

Two contestants will be booted out in a live programme on Friday.

A tabloid campaign is already underway to evict pop singer O'Meara, who was involved with Goody in the alleged racist bullying of Bollywood star Shetty.

Media watchdog Ofcom has received more than 40,000 complaints over the racism claims surrounding the Channel 4 show.

Shetty is now favourite to win the show, which concludes on Sunday.

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