The mother of the latest reality TV contestant accused of racism today leapt to her daughter’s defence. Lucy was seen on the launch of Channel 4′s shipwrecked making comments such as:

“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�.

But her mother Nicola, 46, from the smart New Town area of Edinburgh said: “Lucy is definitely not a racist. She’s a well-mannered girl from a decent family.

“But she’s only 18. She does have a big mouth and sometimes speaks without thinking. She says things she doesn’t mean.â€?

This is exactly what Channel 4 doesn’t need right now, another racism row! I hope they handle this better than the last one.