India is to raise allegations of racism against one of its Bollywood stars on Celebrity Big Brother as the number of complaints about the show rose to 15,000.
The treatment of Shilpa Shetty by housemates will be raised with Britain by India, adding to pressure on Channel 4 bosses to halt alleged racism on the programme.
Media watchdog Ofcom said the number of complaints it had received about Celebrity Big Brother had risen to 13,000. A further 2,000 viewers have contacted Channel 4 to voice their dismay.
The updated figure for complaints comes as Labour MP and former minister for Europe Keith Vaz called on Channel 4 bosses to take "effective action" against "unacceptable" racist language allegedly used against Shetty on the show.
He told GMTV: "The language that is being used, the way in which it is being used, the things that are being said, are just not acceptable in this day and age.
"For a broadcaster to allow these comments to go out unchecked... I know there are some bleeps here and there and goodness knows what they are saying that has been bleeped out."
Mr Vaz has tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM) in the House of Commons condemning the way that Shetty has been treated on the programme.
The chief executive of Carphone Warehouse has also added to the pressure on Channel 4 by saying that he is reviewing the firm's £3 million annual sponsorship of Celebrity Big Brother in the light of alleged racism in the house.
Charles Dunstone told The Times he was in talks with bosses at Channel 4 due to concerns about the treatment of Shetty.
Bookmaker William Hill has cut the odds of Celebrity Big Brother not lasting its scheduled run from 20/1 to 5/2 as pressure builds on the programme.
