Complaints made over Big Brother eviction

Channel 4 received 922 complaints about last night's episode of Big Brother - all complaining that Emily Parr should not have been thrown out of the house.

The show became embroiled in a second race row after the posh drama student was evicted for using a racially offensive word to a fellow contestant.

Tonight's planned eviction was cancelled after the 19-year-old called black contestant Charley Uchea a n***er.

Thanks to the controversy, last night's show got the second highest audience for this series so far, after the launch night.

The evening highlights show was watched by an average of 4.6 million viewers, peaking at five million. Parr apologised after she was told by Big Brother that she was being thrown out of the house. In scenes broadcast last night, her jaw dropped as she was told the news in the early hours of the morning in the Diary Room.

She said: "Oh my gosh. I am so shocked, I didn't realise that, oh my gosh. I am so sorry - I really didn't mean it offensively."

"I never meant it like that, not in a million years would I want to offend someone. It's such a shame."

The broadcaster also received 68 messages from viewers who said the broadcaster had responded correctly to what had been said. Media watchdog Ofcom also received 140 complaints, but it is not disclosing the nature of the calls.

Channel 4 bosses took immediate action after being damaged by the last series of Celebrity Big Brother, when they were accused of not taking allegations of racist abuse seriously enough.

Instead of tonight's eviction, two more men will go into the house to join the only male housemate, Ziggy Lichman, who moved in last Friday.