Shilpa Shetty Wins BB

LONDON (AFP) - Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty was named the winner of British reality television show "Celebrity Big Brother", following a diplomatic storm over the racist bullying to which she was allegedly subjected.

Shetty was the favourite to win the programme, in which the activities of a group of celebrities living in a specially constructed house are televised round the clock by British broadcaster Channel Four.

Housemates were periodically evicted by viewers, who voted by telephone or text message. Shetty beat out five other finalists.

Among the comments made in last week's storm, Shetty was called a "dog" and asked whether she lives in a shack, prompting protestors in India to burn effigies of the show's producers.

British lawmakers lined up to condemn the programme when the row was at its height, while Indian officials urged their British counterparts to intervene.

The incident overshadowed a visit to India by Britain's finance minister and likely future prime minister, Gordon Brown.

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