Big Brother vote scrapped after blunder

LONDON, Jan 26 (Reuters) ''Celebrity Big Brother'' producers scrapped all the votes cast for today's eviction after an on-screen caption gave the wrong information, Channel 4 said.

A message flashed up during Wednesday's show mistakenly asked viewers to vote to keep Indian actress Shilpa Shetty in the reality TV show. It should have said people were voting to evict her.

''This was a genuine mistake which was due to human error,'' programme maker Endemol said in a statement released by Channel 4. ''We apologise to viewers.'' Votes, which cost 50 pence plus network charges, were cancelled and the ballot was reopened yesterday evening. People were offered a refund.

Shetty and four others -- actor Dirk Benedict, actress Cleo Rocos and singers Jo O'Meara and Ian Watkins -- have been nominated for eviction.

Bookmakers are convinced O'Meara, from the band S Club 7, will be one of two contestants to leave the house today. William Hill slashed her price from 1-6 to 1-25. Rocos is favourite to join her.

After weathering a storm over claims she was bullied and racially abused, Shetty is tipped to win the show on Sunday.

She is the 4-11 favourite, ahead of US singer Jermaine Jackson and Benedict, who starred in the 1980s television series ''The A-Team''.

REUTERS SSC PM1609