BIG BROTHER CONTESTANT ALLEGEDLY ASSAULTED BY HOUSEMATES

Last updated: Monday, July 3, 2006

BIG BROTHER CONTESTANT ALLEGEDLY ASSAULTED BY HOUSEMATES

Police have questioned a female contestant from Australian reality TV show BIG BROTHER after she was allegedly sexually assaulted by two male housemembers.

In the early hours of Saturday (01JUL06) morning MICHAEL COX allegedly rubbed his crotch in housemate CAMILLA HALLIWELL's face while fellow contestant MICHAEL BRIC lay next to her and held her hands from behind.

Both men were escorted from the Big Brother house by security later that day after producers from the show consulted rape crisis experts.

The 22-year-old female contestant was interviewed by police in Queensland, Australia, where the show is taped and footage of the incident was handed over to authorities.

The alleged assault was not broadcast on television, but it may have broken rules for screening footage live on the Internet.

The male housemates could face charges of sexual assault if Halliwell decides to file a formal complaint with police.

Federal Opposition Leader KIM BEAZLEY has called for Australia's Ten Network to pull the show from the air, while Communications Minister HELEN COONAN has announced a formal investigation is being launched to determine whether Network Ten breached broadcasting laws.

Network Ten and Big Brother producers Endemol Southern Star say the show will not be axed and has adhered to all guidelines.

They have no plans to air the footage from the controversial incident on television.

| Monday, July 3, 2006

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