Good has prevailed over evil! Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty has been crowned the winner in the most controversial 'Big Brother' series to date.

The 31-year old star received immense support from the public after becoming a victim of bullying in the hit Channel 4 series.

Race allegations involving fellow housemates Jade Goody, Danielle Lloyd and Jo O'Meara erupted into a huge row internationally.

In the final tonight, Shilpa was up against singer Jermaine Jackson. She burst into tears on hearing she had won the public vote. A record 67% of the voting public helped crown her the winner.

A window-smashing scream welcomed the news, along with disbelief from the shocked actress. "Are you kidding me?" she bawled, accompanied by the compulsory waterworks.

Unlike earlier sobbing sessions, these were definitely tears of joy. Following her farewell to Jermaine she dashed to the toilet to gain some composure.

Former beauty queen Danielle, one of the contestants implicated in the alleged racist abuse, earlier apologised for her remarks to Shetty.

Lloyd, 23, and fellow evictee Jack Tweed were greeted with heavy booing as they left the house in the first round of evictions.

Extracts from Channel 4