THE row over claims of racism in television show Celebrity Big Brother reached the Commons today during Prime Minister's Question Time.

Tony Blair spoke out against racism "in all forms" after it was disclosed the programme had provoked 14,500 complaints to media regulator Ofcom and that India was to raise allegations of racism against a Bollywood star on the show.

The treatment of Shilpa Shetty by housemates will be raised with Britain by India, adding to pressure on Channel 4 bosses to halt alleged racism on the programme.

Complaints began to flood in after Jade Goody, her mother Jackiey Budden, Jack Tweed, Danielle Lloyd and Jo O'Meara allegedly began bullying the Indian actress, who has been repeatedly in tears.

In one outburst Lloyd asked Shetty: "Do you get stubble?" and in another Budden, who constantly called her "the Indian" asked: "Do you live in a house or a shack?"

Mr Blair said he had not seen the reality show and could not comment directly on it, but he agreed with a question from Labour MP Keith Vaz that "we should oppose racism in all its forms".

Chancellor Gordon Brown was also drawn into the row.

He is on a visit to India, where the controversy has made front page news. Scenes from the programme have sparked protests, with demonstrators filmed burning effigies of "Big Brother organisers" in the street.

Mr Brown said people were right to regard the claims as "offensive" and added: "I want Britain to be seen as a country of fairness and tolerance. Anything detracting from this I condemn."

Hertfordshire Police has also revealed two e-mails have been sent to Channel 4 containing threats against Celebrity Big Brother housemates.

Meanwhile, in a controversial 24 hours for the show, the chief executive of Carphone Warehouse said he was reviewing the firm's £3million a year sponsorship of the programme because of the alleged racism.

Charles Dunstone said he was in talks with Channel 4 due to concerns about Shetty's treatment.

Mr Dunstone said: "The sponsorship is constantly under review. We are against racism."

His comments are the latest blow for the show, which has already seen three celebrities walk out and suffered disappointing viewing figures.

However, although the show attracted only 3.5m viewers on Monday, the racism row boosted last night's average to 4.5m.

Bookmakers William Hill have cut the odds of Celebrity Big Brother not lasting its scheduled run from 20/1 to 5/2.

No Big Brother spokesman was available for comment. Tensions continued to run high in the house last night, with Goody branding Shetty "pathetic, fake and a liar" in a row over stock cubes.