Police wade into Big Brother brawl

Police have become involved in a televised fight between contestants in this year's Big Brother.

16:15 17 June 2004

Police have become involved in a televised fight between contestants in this year's Big Brother.

Violence erupted in the Big Brother house last night prompting Channel 4 to pull its live video feed at around 01:30 BST this morning.

The show was off the air for over an hour, live internet broadcasts were also cut.

Violence was sparked when two housemates, Emma Greenwood and Michelle Bass, returned after five days being separated from the other contestants.

While separated, the pair had been watching the action inside the house from a specially constructed bedsit. They re-joined their colleagues with grudges and gripes from words said behind their, and other's, backs.

The other housemates were, in turn, shocked to see Emma and Michelle again - having been convinced they had left the house for good and so lost any chance of winning the prize fund.

Victor Ebuwa and Jason Cowen took their re-entry particularly badly.

After a fair amount to drink tensions reached breaking point in the early hours of this morning.

Emma explained the incident later. "He's [Victor] f*****g called me racist," she said, adding that she had seen him manipulate other housemates in the past.

"I've seen it with my own f*****g eyes," she said.

"I would not start a f*****g fight for no reason. Let me just say, he's been bad mouthing me . . . He just pushed me . . He started it - he poured wine over me. If Big Brother wants me to go, I'll stand my f*****g ground."

The fight had to be broken up by other contestants and Victor was called to speak with the show's producers.

While he was talking another fight broke out between Jason and Marco Sabba, a close ally of Emma and Michelle.

Jason, considerably larger than Marco, at one point threatened: "I'll f*****g take your head off."

Emma was taken back to bedsit where she had spent the last five days, the rest of the contestants were scattered around the house attempted relax.

Security guards were brought in to prevent other trouble.

A police spokeswoman has confirmed: "Following a number of calls from members of the public regarding an alleged incident in the Big Brother house last night, Hertfordshire Constabulary can confirm it will be obtaining a videotape of the incident later today.

"Officers are currently liaising with members of the Big Brother production team to see what further action needs to be taken."

A spokesperson from the programme commented: "Police arrived on site and spoke to the production team. They have requested a tape of the programme.

"Obviously we will co-operate with the police and help with any inquiries."

"At the end of the day, it is the health and welfare of the housemates that we are concerned about - the game show element is secondary.

"We want to talk to them individually and see how they are all feeling today. Then we will take a view on what to do next."

Tensions within the house has seen viewing figures jump.

6.3 million watched Emma and Michelle return to the house last night - where just 400,000 more tuned in to the opening of the series two weeks ago.