It's eviction night

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The nation will tonight deliver its verdict on the Celebrity Big Brother race row – as Chancellor Gordon Brown called on people to vote against Jade Goody.

Worried Channel 4 bosses today backtracked by promising to donate the proceeds of the eviction phone vote, estimated at £3 million, to charity.

However, the public have been barred from tonight's eviction, it was announced this afternoon.

The move follows fears that - if evicted - Jade Goody could be attacked by a hostile crowd following her alleged racist bullying of Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty.

8 million viewers?

The Chancellor again waded into the controversy. Brown, concerned Britain’s standing has been compromised by the furore, this morning used a visit to a film studio in Mumbai to make his views clear.

Showing something of a lack of understanding for how the eviction process works, he said: “A vote for Shilpa is a vote for Britain and British tolerance.” In fact, viewers have to vote for the  celebrity they want to leave the house.

More than 8 million viewers are expected to tune in for the showdown between Shilpa Shetty and Jade Goody.

Shilpa has been the target of alleged racism and bullying from Goody and her CBB housemates Danielle Lloyd and Jo O’Meara.

Goody, the former darling of reality TV, is expected to be booted out of the house tonight and face the public’s wrath.

Yesterday, Shetty and Goody had an unexpected reconciliation. The pair then hugged and made up after giggling over how trivial the argument was. Today Channel 4 denied it had stage managed the kiss-and-make-up.

In a charm offensive following Carphone Warehouse’s decision to pull a £3 million sponsorship deal, a CBB spokeswoman said the vote money would be distributed between charities nominated by the contestants.

Last night, government chief whip Jacqui Smith became the most outspoken CBB critic among ministers after calling for a boycott of the programme. “I wish people would stop watching it,” she told BBC1’s Question Time. “I think it’s shameful to make money and publicity out of that sort of thing.”

Complaints to Ofcom today had rocketed to 38,000. Hertfordshire Police have also launched an investigation into the allegations of racism. As the row rumbled on the station was still to make a decision on allowing the public into Elstree Studios tonight to “welcome” the evicted celeb.

This afternoon leading Bollywood film director Shaghilal Nair, who is a friend of Shilpa’s, led a protest outside the house.

He said: “We always thought that Britain was a forward country and this behaviour is backward and pre-historic. It’s very sad.”

Reports suggested if Goody was evicted she would be taken away by police for her own safety. Leading psychologist Prof Cary Cooper also warned the star faced a mental breakdown. “Jade has bought all the media hype about herself that she is a star – I think it is unlikely she will be able to cope with the downside.” Goody’s and Lloyd’s careers appear to be crumbling as a result of their alleged racism but they both apologised to Shetty last night. The actress also said she didn’t now believe the attacks against her were racist.

While Goody is not expected to receive a friendly reception when she leaves the CBB house, she has been promised a warm welcome in India. The India Tourism Office has published ads reading: “Dear Jade Goody. Once your current commitments are over, may we invite you to experience the healing nature of India.”

5.9 million viewers watched the show last night.