London (ANI): English actress Wendy Richard claims that the Big Brother race row she started is making her feel ill. Richard, who had sparked outrage with her Chinese comments directed at Thai housemate Kat Kasisopa, says that she is devastated by the hue and cry because of her remarks.

The actress went on to claim that she had been influenced by outdated portrayals of the Chinese from books of her childhood. Her appearance on the E4 programme caused an outcry from fans and TV watchdog Ofcom has also received complaints, and the comments have also gone global on websites and were debated as far away as Thailand.

"I'm so upset, I'm so close to tears. I feel ill. I can't believe such a brouhaha has started up. What I was trying to convey is that Kat did not betray her thoughts about what was going on in the house all of the time," the Daily Mirror quoted the 65-year-old as telling London radio station LBC.

"I have just been told by an American friend that Oriental is considered offensive in the US and I did not know that. I didn't mean to cause offence. Its a long time since I was at school but I was thinking of those Arthur Conan Doyle books with Sherlock Holmes when it was the inscrutable Chinese. My agent rang to say there was a small problem. With live television, you have to get your words out and you only have a certain amount of time. It has upset me a lot," she added.