Celebrity Big Brother contestants Saira Khan and James Whale have clashed after the Loose Women panellist asked him if he was racist.

Khan said she had researched Whale before entering the house and had seen the claims online.

The broadcaster and talk show host, 65, responded: "I've never heard so much rubbish in my entire life."

He added: "I don't think I am known for that. Am I known for that? I don't know. I really don't know. I've been one of the judges of the British curry awards for 10 years."

As the contestants settled in for their first evening in the house, Whale reignited the subject, telling other housemates that Khan thought he was a racist.

She hit back: "No I did not think that. I did not say that. OK excuse me sir ... I didn't say that, so don't twist it."

Whale laughed off the remark and explained he had a "strange sense of humour", saying: "I'm winding you up."

But Khan said: "If that's a wind-up, some people could take that seriously."

She added: "I said 'When you type your name, it's tagged with you, and why?' And you said, 'It's unfair,' so I said, 'OK'.

"You say that and people go, 'Oh my goodness why's she said that?' All of a sudden you've created a perception."

She accepted his apology, but warned: "Don't wind me up. Because they're quite serious allegations."

Later in the evening Khan was unwittingly saved from eviction by "secret boss" Christopher Biggins.

After 15 celebrities entered the house on Thursday evening, members of the public were asked to vote for a "secret boss" who would be given "special powers" including the chance to nominate a fellow contestant for eviction.

Pantomime veteran Biggins won Thursday's vote, but what he did not realise was that all the other contestants, including former EastEnders star Ricky Norwood, reality star Marnie Simpson and X Factor reject Katie Waissel, were in on the joke.

Big Brother told everyone else that whoever Biggins picked would, in fact, be immune from eviction.

Khan was the most successful at persuading the actor to nominate her, telling him that she did not think she could last in the house and that she was missing her two children.

He went on to nominate her with a kiss on the lips, as instructed by Big Brother - not knowing that he was earning her immunity.

Other celebrities to enter the house on Thursday included Broadway star and Ariana Grande's brother Frankie Grande, Anthea Turner's ex-husband Grant Bovey, Mob Wives star Renee Graziano and former Danity Kane singer Aubrey O'Day.

They were joined by The Only Way Is Essex's Lewis Bloor, Ex On The Beach star Stephen Bear, X Factor reject Chloe Khan, and former glamour model Samantha Fox.