Britain:Channel 4 executives will be forced to explain their handling of the Celebrity Big Brotherrace row to its board today as it meets to discuss the programme for the first time.
Andy Duncan, the broadcaster's chief executive, has faced mounting criticism over his response to the controversy after he failed to intervene or admit racism was involved in bullying of Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty by fellow housemates.
The board is understood to be reluctant to rush to judgment on the row and, contrary to weekend reports, is not expected to make a decision about whether to drop the show after this series ends on Sunday. But the furore surrounding the programme - and executives' apparent failure to manage it - has left Channel 4 facing questions beyond the future of Big Brother.
There have been calls for the broadcaster's entire remit to be examined and the future of its public subsidy called into question.
Alan Johnson, the UK education secretary, said teenagers should be taught "British values" to combat racist and ignorant attitudes. "The current debate has highlighted the need to make sure schools focus on the core British values of justice and tolerance.
"We want the world to be talking about the respect and understanding we give all cultures, not the ignorance and bigotry shown on our TV screens."
Ofcom, the UK broadcasting regulator, has said it will write to the channel following 40,000 complaints about the alleged bullying of Shetty by housemates, and police are also looking into claims of racial abuse.
Jade Goody, who was evicted on Friday, admitted that she was racist in her treatment of Shetty, in a newspaper interview.
- (Guardian service)