Jade Goody, who has been at the centre of a controversy over allegations of racial abuse, was evicted Friday from the British reality TV show Celebrity Big Brother.

Goody was voted off the show in a public poll that was announced live on TV.

Jade Goody was voted off the set of Celebrity Big Brother amid controversy over whether her remarks were racially motivated.
(Associated Press)

Goody was one of two Celebrity Big Brother contestants who have come under fire for the way they treated Indian actress Shilpa Shetty.

Goody's eviction means she must leave the house. Shetty will remain.

The contestants, who live in isolation in a house on the set of Celebrity Big Brother, are largely unaware of the heated debate about the treatment of Shetty, 31.

But thousands of Britons believe Shetty's treatment on the reality TV show is racist abuse, with Britain's television regulator receiving more than 38,000 complaints about the series.

That was the most complaints ever received about any British television program.

'Outrageous' comments: equality commission chair

"What we are seeing is a noxious brew of old-fashioned class conflict, straightforward bullying, ignorance and quite vicious racial bigotry," said Trevor Phillips, chair of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights. "It is outrageous, and it is unpleasant."

Producers of the Channel 4 television program had prompted Goody and another contestant, Danielle Lloyd, to apologize to Shetty in the Thursday evening episode.

Goody, who had criticized Shetty's accent and cooking, apologized by saying: "I know that what has happened has not been nice for you … and a lot of stuff got said the other day from you and from myself.

"I didn't say it in a racial way … I do not judge people by the colour of their skin," she said.

"I know that, I don't think you're racist," Shetty said, and the two hugged.

Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, shown in a file photo from last May, accepted apologies from her housemates.
(Associated Press)

There was also a reconciliation between Shetty and Lloyd, a former beauty queen.

"I didn't agree with some of the things you said to Jade but I especially didn't agree with some of the things that Jade said to you," Lloyd said.

"I feel really disgusted at myself …. I'm following the leader, following the group — when you are a really nice girl," Lloyd said.

Shetty responded: "Give me a hug."

As viewers prepared to vote either Shetty or Goody from the game, the show's producers banned crowds from gathering outside the studio, in Elstee, north of London.

On Wednesday a sponsor pulled out of the show, a chain of perfume shops pulled Goody's fragrance, "Shh..", from its shelves, and an insurance company cancelled its contract with Lloyd.

The Indian Tourism Office placed ads referring to the show in several British newspapers on Friday.

"Dear Jade Goody," the ad said. "Once your current commitments are over, may we invite you to experience the healing nature of India.

"Being one of the world's oldest civilizations, our land is one where the ancient and the modern coexist and a multitude of religions live in harmony."