Channel 4′s newest reality show, Shipwrecked sparked another race row on Sunday night when 18-year-old contestant Lucy Buchanan told fellow contestants she supported slavery and described blacks as “really bad”.

She said: “I’m for the British Empire and things. I’m for slavery, but that’s never going to come back,” and added that she didn’t know many black people but “from what I have seen they are really bad”.

When another contestant said she did not like racists, Buchanan replied: “I’m afraid you have one here.”

Lucy’s remarks have come hot on the heels of a huge race row involving Channel 4′s Celebrity Big Brother, a row which hit the global stage with a bang last week.

A spokeswoman for Channel 4 has defended Buchanan’s remarks, saying: “When Lucy airs her opinions they are immediately criticised [by the other contestants]. Those who continue to watch ‘Shipwrecked’ will see Lucy’s views change.”

Ofcom has confirmed it is now looking into complaints made about Sunday night’s ‘Shipwrecked’, which was the first episode of the new series.