British TV channel to revive reality show after Shetty race row

British broadcaster Channel 4 is reviving reality television show "Celebrity Big Brother", which was taken off-air following a race row involving Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty, it said Wednesday.

Shetty, who won the 2007 series, had been referred to as "Shilpa Poppadum" by fellow contestant Jade Goody and faced derogatory comments about the eating habits of Indian people.

The show, which attracted around 45,000 complaints and sparked furious protests in India, was pulled soon afterwards as part of what Channel 4 said was a wider shake-up to make room for new programmes.

But now Channel 4 head of programming Julian Bellamy has said: "We're bringing it back because it's a brilliant programme.

"I adore it... It's still an extraordinarily powerful show. It's back by popular demand, a very welcome addition to our schedules."

A spokesman for Channel 4 said he did not immediately have details of when the new series would air or who would appear on it.

Goody signed up to appear on the Indian version of "Celebrity Big Brother", "Bigg Boss", this year but pulled out in August after being diagnosed with cervical cancer.