Comedian David Walliams sparks outrage with Nazi salute during BBC’s Would I Lie To You? recording

BBC issues an apology after David Walliams' Nazi salute during Would I Lie To You? recording.

Comedian David Walliams has sparked strong criticism, including from the BBC, after making Nazi salutes during a recording of the panel show Would I Lie To You? earlier this week.

Walliams, also a former judge on Britain’s Got Talent, performed the offensive gestures during a segment when another panellist joked about injuring their wrist while waving. According to The Times, Walliams mimicked the wave before raising his arm in the Nazi salute.

The incident occurred at Pinewood Studios on Tuesday, where the Christmas special of the show was being filmed. Audience members were reportedly stunned by the gesture, with one journalist, Sebastian Topan, who was present at the recording, describing the atmosphere as “uncomfortable and weird.” Topan told BBC News, "Some other panellist was talking when David Walliams started doing the Nazi salute... [There were] patches of quietened gasps and awkward half-laughs and broken clapping."

Following the initial salute, Walliams reportedly repeated the gesture and added a sexual hand movement, further unsettling the audience. Host Rob Brydon informed Walliams that the show would be aired before the 9 p.m. watershed, suggesting the segment would be edited out.

Banijay U.K., which produces Would I Lie To You?, condemned the act, stating that any attempt at humor involving such a “deeply offensive gesture” is “completely unacceptable in any context.” The company confirmed the segment would not be aired and apologized to the audience for any distress caused. The BBC also issued an apology, emphasizing that the gesture was “completely unacceptable.”

This controversy adds to Walliams' history of public backlash, as he left Britain’s Got Talent in 2022 after a recording of him insulting contestants surfaced.