Big Brother controversy knocks over Ofcom web site

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A deluge of complaints about the latest incarnation of Celebrity Big Brother has not only caused problems for communications regulator Ofcom, but its web site too.

After reportedly receiving another 20,000 complaints about the Channel 4 show, the Office of Communications posted a warning on its site: "Ofcom is currently receiving very high volumes of complaints alleging racism in Celebrity Big Brother 7. Visitors may experience delays or intermittent problems when trying to submit complaints."

Haran Sold, vice president and managing director for Europe, Middle East, and Africa of online consultancy Keynote Systems, said Ofcom's problems are typical with flash crowds, where such a controversy leads to spikes in the numbers of users trying to access a website.

"This level of objection to a reality programme is obviously unusually high even for a controversial show like Big Brother," he said. "However, a site that was created to be a public forum for objection on a national scale needs to be able to cope with the high levels of traffic the new wave of 'risqué' television may bring with it, including flash crowds."

The racism allegations stem from the on-air treatment of cast member Shilpa Shetty, a Bollywood actress, by other show participants, including Jade Goody and Danielle Lloyd. Tomorrow night, viewers will have to choose to evict either Shetty or Goody from the reality-TV house.

Earlier today, the controversy forced mobile phone retailer Carphone Warehouse to suspend its sponsorship of the show.

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