Tommy Sheridan has found himself embroiled in a sectarianism row after he sang the controversial Irish ballad Fields of Athenry on Celebrity Big Brother.

The sound on his rendition of what is seen by some as an Irish rebel ballad was cut by Channel Four when broadcast as live on E4.

Channel Four also cut away from his explanation that there was controversy in Scotland recently over the song.

Programme makers are known to be extra sensitive over the conduct of Celebrity Big Brother contestants after the racism row involving Jade Goody and Shilpa Shetty meant the reality show was dropped last year.

While the notorious racism incident two years ago garnered 45,000 complaints to media watchdog Ofcom, the show producers insisted it is not being toned down for 2009, although the stars are understood to have been coached about the race row and warned not to repeat such behaviour.

Rev Stuart MacQuarrie, the Glasgow University chaplain, who says Fields of Athenry is "anti-British" and therefore "racist" due to the song's reference about rebelling against the Crown said the 44-year-old Solidarity leader should not have sung it on national TV.

"This is an Irish rebel song and so the song should not be sung on television, or indeed anywhere," said Rev MacQuarrie, who revealed he had a death threat after airing the view previously.

Versions of the song with different words are said to have been sung by supporters of the Provisional IRA, Sinn Fein, and various extremist republican offshoots.

The invitation from presenter Terry Christian to sing the song came as Sheridan appeared to be attempting to get another contestant, rapper Coolio, to sing while cleaning.

Initially Sheridan showed enthusiasm, but after beginning a few words with arms outstretched, he interrupted himself, saying: "Oh I cannot remember it to be honest."

But he eventually relented and started a rendition with Christian. But producers cut the sound on their voices.

Sheridan stopped singing after quoting the controversial "Against the Famine and the Crown" section of the second verse.

When sound was restored by programme makers immediately after the singing ended, Sheridan said: "It's basically a song about freedom, the potato famine and how people in Ireland fight against the famine."

Sheridan added: "You know it's caused real ructions up the road in Scotland. Because the Rangers fans sing it.

"But it's not like a really old Irish rebel song," Christian replies.

The show director then cut to another room after Sheridan said: "I know, I know, but the Rangers fans sing it . . ."

But Dr Joseph Bradley, a lecturer in sports studies at Stirling University and author of several books on sport and culture in Scotland, said the furore over the Fields of Athenry, which is still played and sung at Celtic Park despite past speculation that it would be banned, is unfounded and was an example of how sectarianism is being misinterpreted.

"To say it has become a Republican song is like saying that Flower of Scotland is an SNP anthem. It's just not."

Previous flashpoints

Big Brother 5, 2004 Day 43 was dubbed Fight Night after viewers watching online alerted the police when a brawl broke out among housemates.

Celebrity Big Brother 4, 2006 A coat belonging to 1980s pop star Pete Burns was seized by police after he alleged it was made from gorilla skin, which is illegal in the UK. Tests found it to be made from the skin of colubus monkeys, also endangered.

The case was dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service after investigations found the coat had been imported before 1975.

Celebrity Big Brother 5, 2007 Allegations of racism towards Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty climaxed when Danielle Lloyd told Shetty to "go home"

and Jade Goody referred to her as "Shilpa poppadom".

Some 45,000 complaints were recorded and the incident sparked protests in India.

Big Brother 9, 2008 Infighting between housemates ended in Dennis McHugh spitting in the face of Mohamed Mohamed.

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