LONDON — Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty was Sunday voted winner of "Celebrity Big Brother" — and immediately defended her housemate whose alleged racist bullying of the actress landed the show's U.K. broadcaster, Channel 4, in hot water.
"Things happen, people make mistakes and we all learn from them," said Shetty, who won 63% of the public vote.
"But I can tell you one thing for sure. Jade (fellow contestant Jade Goody) didn't mean to be racist. She isn't a racist," she added.
Her victory was a foregone conclusion following the row that generated more than 40,000 complaints to U.K. media regulator, Ofcom.
In true "Big Brother" style Shetty's winning looks certain to add new luster to her career.
Paid a reputed £200,000 ($390,000) to appear on the series, several projects, believed to include presenting an ethnic minority awards show, look to be in the cards.
There have even been unconfirmed suggestions in the British press that Hollywood may be interested in the Indian thesp.
The controversy beefed up ratings for what C4 admitted had been a dull start to "Celebrity Big Brother."
But Sunday's final episode was beaten by a special edition of "Top Gear," the BBC2 show for auto enthusiasts, featuring footage of a car crash involving one of the show's presenters.
The program averaged 7.9 million compared with the reality show's 6.8 million.
Now that "Celebrity Big Brother" has run its course, Channel 4 has to clear up the mess.
It has ordered a review of the show following the complaints over Shetty's treatment while Ofcom is examining if the show breached program codes.
If the watchdog finds C4 guilty a hefty fine is likely.
C4 has apologized for any offence it has caused but despite losing the backing of "Big Brother" sponsor Carphone Warehouse, worth $5.85 million, execs at the station remain upbeat.
"It's vital that the row does not inhibit C4's core mission — to take risks, to explore difficult things, to trigger debates around complex issues of race, politics and religion, and to push the boundaries," said C4's head of factual entertainment Danny Cohen, writing in The Guardian.
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