Lawyer joins ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ review

Channel 4 has appointed a human rights lawyer to join its review of the reality show ‘Big Brother’.

Rabinder Singh QC will sit as the independent member on a three-strong panel commissioned in the wake of the race row which erupted last week.

Jade Goody and fellow housemates are accused of racist bullying towards Indian actress Shilpa Shetty.

Channel 4’s chairman Luke Johnson and chief executive Andy Duncanboard commissioned a review of the “editorial and compliance processes” of ‘Big Brother’ on Monday.

Rabinder Singh QC is joined on the review panel by Channel 4 group finance director Anne Bulford and non-executive director Tony Hall, chief executive of the Royal Opera House and a former chief executive of BBC News.

Singh is a barrister at Matrix Chambers, which he co-founded with the prime minister’s wife Cherie Booth. He was named Human Rights Lawyer of the Year in 2006.

“I hope to be able to offer a robust and independent perspective to the process,” he said.

In 2003 he became the first High Court judge to wear a turban instead of a wig.

Johnson said: “Andy and I are delighted Rabinder has agreed to assist the channel in its review.

“He is hugely respected in his field and demonstrably independent from Channel 4. I believe his help and expertise will be invaluable.”