Retailer pulls £3m contract
Carphone Warehouse has scrapped its£3 million-a-year sponsorship of Channel 4's Big Brother, because of alleged racism in the most recent celebrity series.

The retailer temporarily suspended its sponsorship during the show in January, following allegations that Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty was being bullied by fellow contestants. Since then, the retailer has said the 'huge publicity' forced it to look for alternative sponsorship opportunities.

Channel 4, which had been confident that Carphone Warehouse would sponsor this summer's series, is understood to be in talks with other companies about taking over the sponsorship.

In January, Carphone Warehouse chief executive Charles Dunstone said: 'Our concern has rapidly mounted about the broadcast behaviour of individuals within the Big Brother house. We are totally against all forms of racism and bullying and this behaviour is entirely at odds with the brand values of Carphone Warehouse.'

The allegations centred around housemates Jade Goody, Danielle Lloyd and Jo O'Meara, who were accused of bullying Shetty and making racist taunts.

The retailer had sponsored the Big Brother series - including Big Brother and Celebrity Big Brother - since 2003.

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