Big Brother "news"

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Big Brother libel case is settled

Big Brother 6 runner-up Makosi Musambasi has settled a libel action against The Sun which alleged she had conned her way onto the reality show. Ms Musambasi sued the newspaper over the article printed in August 2005. It claimed the 26-year-old was really an actress and who had been fast-tracked onto the Channel 4 show. But solicitor David Price told London's High Court she went through the usual audition process, and that the newspaper now recognised that.

It is understood she has received undisclosed damages from The Sun, but details of the settlement were not given in court. The article, which was published while Ms Musambasi was still in the Big Brother house, mentioned an invoice for a video allegedly made for her by a talent agency. But Mr Price told the High Court said the invoice was unconnected to Ms Musambasi, who eventually came third in the show. She said she had been hurt and embarrassed by the article, and complained to the newspaper, which made an offer of amends and agreed to the amicable settlement of the claim.

Ms Musambasi had been threatened with deportation to her native Zimbabwe after resigning her nursing job to go on Big Brother but an appeal decided her high profile made her a target if she returned.

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