Sir, The bullying of Shilpa Shetty on Celebrity Big Brother (report, Jan 17) is, in my opinion, not motivated by race but the age-old issue of class, culture and jealousy.

Anyone deemed to be posh, privileged or rich on Big Brother has always been given a hard time, regardless of his or her colour.

VIRGINIA SELBY
Havant, Hants

Sir, It would seem that racial intolerance still possesses such insidious and venomous omnipotence that even in front of an audience of millions, social decency is lost.

It is very sad that a few individuals within a week can leave one with a profound sense of disappointment about the fragility of our supposedly multicultural society. Perhaps the true lesson about such behaviour is that it remains as covert and cowardly as ever.

R. DHAR
Consultant Psychiatrist
London

Sir, If you walk into any public house in the South of England you will hear far worse than the abhorrent but comparatively mild racism expressed in the Big Brother house.

GREGORY TOPALIAN
Melbourn, Herts

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