David Walliams, 53, leaves BBC audience gobsmacked as he performs ‘Nazi salute’ while filming new show
David Walliams is believed to have made two Nazi salutes during the recording of a BBC1 Christmas special on Tuesday, causing shock amongst the audience and fellow panellists.
The 53-year-old comedian made the offensive gestures whilst filming Would I Lie To You? at Pinewood Studios.
The incident occurred as Walliams’ teammate, Call the Midwife actress Helen George, was telling a story about spraining her wrist “from waving too much during the Strictly tour”.
When George demonstrated her wave to convince the opposing team led by David Mitchell that her story was true, Walliams is said to have joined in before extending his arm in a Nazi salute.
One audience member told The Times: “It was all very weird. There were gasps from the audience and the other panellists all looked very uncomfortable.”
Host Rob Brydon immediately reprimanded Walliams, reminding him that the programme aired before the watershed.
However, as the round continued with what The Times described as “some light-hearted but lewd jokes about George’s experience on Strictly”, Walliams made the gesture a second time, “embellishing it with a sexual twist”.
Team captain Lee Mack appeared distinctly unimpressed by his teammate’s actions. The salutes landed “awkwardly” in the room, with visible discomfort amongst those present, it’s been reported.
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Another audience member posted on X: “I didn’t have David Walliams doing a Nazi salute at the Would I Lie To You? Christmas taping on my 2025 bingo card.”
The BBC and production company Banijay UK have both issued apologies for the incident. A BBC spokesperson said: “The use of such an offensive gesture is completely unacceptable and we apologise to all at the recording for the offence caused.”
Banijay UK, which owns production company Zeppotron, stated: “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.”
Sources at both the BBC and Zeppotron confirmed there is no chance the footage will be aired. Representatives for Walliams have been approached for comment.
Walliams has not appeared regularly on television since departing ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent in 2022.
He left the show after it emerged he had made insulting comments about contestants, including calling an elderly performer a derogatory term and making sexually explicit remarks about a female contestant during auditions at the London Palladium in January 2020.
At the time, he apologised but maintained they were “private conversations and – like most conversations with friends – were never intended to be shared”. He subsequently settled a privacy case against production company Fremantle in 2023.
Earlier this year, Walliams reunited with Little Britain partner Matt Lucas to launch a podcast, their first collaboration since 2010’s Come Fly With Me.
Following his BGT exit, Bruno Tonioli was drafted in by bosses as a replacement. Rapper and YouTuber KSI also filled the fourth judge slot earlier this year when Tonioli was on work duties in the States.