BRITAIN:Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty clinched a public vote last night to win Celebrity Big Brother after her treatment on the British television show sparked an international row amid fears of racist bullying.
Shetty, whose victory will be seen as a triumph for racial equality, beat 13 other contestants, including those who were accused of tormenting her.
"Are you kidding me? Oh my god," said the 31-year-old Indian actress when she heard of her victory after 26 days cooped up in a special house under 24-hour surveillance.
US singer Jermaine Jackson, older brother of Michael Jackson, came second followed by actor Dirk Benedict, who starred in the 1980s television series The A-Team.
Earlier, model Danielle Lloyd - one of the personalities at the heart of the racism row - exited the set as well as two other people who were also in the final. The 23-year-old Liverpudlian later made amends with Shetty and became popular with the other housemates.
She never admitted to significant wrongdoing, however, saying yesterday: "I wasn't really involved in that, to be honest. But I was there, I was there.
"I never, ever, ever said anything bad about Shilpa," she said, but acknowledged that her behaviour changed when she had been drinking. "That was when I was being silly. But that was half Shilpa's fault as well, 'cause I didn't do anything wrong to Shilpa."
A Big Brother spokesman said Shetty won 63 per cent of the public vote. As she left the house she mouthed "thank you" to the crowd outside.
She told presenter Davina McCall immediately afterwards: "I don't want to sound cliched but it's truly been quite a rollercoaster . . . the highs, the lows, and each one has taught me so much." She initially played down the rows, saying her biggest shock in the house was "to cook".
She looked shocked initially when McCall told her the fighting had caused a furore but admitted: "I kind of had an inkling but I'd love to hear about some news." She then watched footage from the house, including Jade Goody's diary room entries.
In a short speech, she said she didn't want Goody to be branded a racist.
She said: "Things happen, people make mistakes and we all learn from them.
"But I can say one thing for sure. Jade didn't mean to be racist. She isn't a racist. I really don't want to leave England putting anyone in trouble. This country has given me so much.
"I just want to thank all of Great Britain for giving me this fantastic opportunity to make my country proud."
Her response drew cheers and clapping from the studio audience. Asked what it would take for US television star Dirk Benedict to win her over, she said: "He would need to be at least 38 years younger and start eating chicken curry."