**David Walliams Allegedly Makes Nazi Salute During BBC’s Would I Lie To You? Christmas Special**
David Walliams, best known for his career as a comedian and television presenter, has found himself at the centre of controversy after claims surfaced that he made Nazi salutes while recording an episode of the BBC’s popular panel show *Would I Lie To You?*. The incident is reported to have happened during the filming of the programme’s Christmas special earlier this week.
According to multiple accounts, the 53-year-old former *Britain’s Got Talent* judge performed the offensive gesture not once but twice as the cameras rolled in front of a live studio audience. The gestures are said to have occurred while Walliams was sitting next to his teammate for the evening, actress Helen George, as she recounted a light-hearted story involving her time on *Strictly Come Dancing*.
Helen George described injuring her wrist after what she called “waving too much” during the *Strictly* tour. The opposing panel on the show, tasked with determining the truth of her story, joked that her wave had not been exaggerated enough. In an apparent attempt to inject humour into the segment, Walliams responded with a more vigorous wave, which escalated into a gesture identified by several witnesses as a Nazi salute.
The matter reportedly did not end there. After host Rob Brydon rebuked Walliams for his behaviour, a second incident followed. In this instance, Walliams is said to have repeated the salute with an additional sexual overtone, following innuendos made during the ongoing discussion. Sources present during the taping reported that Lee Mack, the team captain, was visibly unimpressed by Walliams’ actions.
Reports of the incident first emerged in *The Times*, and were subsequently discussed on social media, where audience members expressed their surprise at witnessing such behaviour at a BBC recording. One attendee wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “I didn’t have David Walliams doing a Nazi salute at the Would I Lie To You? Christmas taping on my 2025 bingo card.”
In response to the controversy, production company Banijay UK, which oversees Zeppotron—the makers of *Would I Lie To You?*—issued a clear statement denouncing the behaviour, saying: “Any attempt at humour regarding this deeply offensive gesture, whether broadcast or not, is completely unacceptable in any context. It was immediately acknowledged during the recording that this segment would not be broadcast under any circumstances and we apologise to those who were at the recording for any offence caused.”
The BBC echoed this stance, with a spokesperson stating: “The use of such an offensive gesture is completely unacceptable and we apologise to all at the recording for the offence caused.” It has been confirmed that the relevant footage will not be included in the final broadcast of the programme.
David Walliams has not publicly commented on the reports. His representatives have been approached for a statement but have not yet responded to requests from the press.
Walliams’ television career has previously involved high-profile controversies. In 2022, he stepped down from his role as a judge on *Britain’s Got Talent* after making inappropriate comments about contestants, which were leaked and widely reported. The talent show’s production company, Fremantle, subsequently issued an apology and reached an “amicable resolution” with Walliams in a legal dispute over privacy concerns.
This latest allegation has prompted renewed scrutiny of standards of conduct on British television and the responsibilities of on-screen personalities, especially in an era where audience sensitivities and the boundaries of acceptable humour are hotly debated. The decision to remove the footage from the broadcast line-up demonstrates the heightened awareness in the industry about potentially offensive content.