London: Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty today said for the first time that she was facing racist abuse 'which she does not deserve' on a British reality TV show, while the channel broadcasting the series denied the charge.

When fellow participant Cleo Rocos told Shilpa on the show that the sniping she suffered from the other participants in 'Celebrity Big Brother' was not racist, the Indian actress replied "It is, I'm telling you.I don't deserve this."

However, broadcaster Channel 4 denied that the actress suffered any racist bullying on the show but said it will not tolerate any such controversial incidents during the rest of the series.

Channel 4 has given guarantees to the show's sponsor Carphone Warehouse that any such behaviour during the rest of the series could result in removal of the offending housemate.

The show has triggered a major controversy in Britain with Prime Minister Tony Blair saying in the House of Commons yesterday that he was opposed to racism in all its forms when NRI MP Keith Vaz raised the issue.

However, a rattled-but-determined Shilpa told a housemate that she would not trade insults and 'dignify' some of the abusive comments and advised one participant to "learn some manners".

Viewers believe that Shilpa is being victimized on the reality show and has been called a 'dog'.

 Contestants have taunted her about her skin colour and accent. Participant Jade Goody allegedly told Shilpa to go back to the slums.

 Channel 4 pledged to 'take necessary steps' to avoid further escalation of the situation, after it and media regulator Ofcom received at least 21,000 complaints over the past 48 hours about alleged racism in the show.