Police are investigating threats against Celebrity Big Brother housemates after an outburst of public concern over alleged racist bullying of Indian Bollywood siren Shilpa Shetty on the British show. Almost 10,000 viewers have complained about the treatment of Shetty, 31, who has been called a “dog” since the reality television series started barely two weeks ago. The controversy made headlines in British and Indian newspapers yesterday and has even spilled on to the floor of the House of Commons, Britain’s lower chamber of parliament. Police in Hertfordshire, north of London, said two emailed threats had been sent to the show’s broadcaster Channel 4. “(They) contain unspecified threats against a number of the housemates. Police are currently looking in to the e-mails,” a spokesman said late on Tuesday. Detectives also received a telephone call complaining about “alleged racist behaviour” on the programme, he said. The caller was referred to the media watchdog Ofcom. Shetty, an A-list Bollywood actress, has been reduced to tears in the “Big Brother” house, a purpose-built complex of rooms and a garden where the nine remaining housemates are living.