David Walliams stuns BBC audiences by jokingly making Nazi salutes during recording of hit show
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David Walliams made two Nazi salutes during a recording of a hit BBC show, stunning fellow panel members and the audience.
The comedian jokingly made the salute while filming this year's Christmas special of Would I Lie To You? in the Pinewood studio where the long-running panel show is recorded.
Walliams's teammate, Call the Midwife actress Helen George, was telling a story from her time on Strictly Come Dancing back in 2015 when he is said to have made the two salutes.
George, 40, was trying to convince opposing team, led by David Mitchell, she had sprained her wrist 'from waving too much during the Strictly tour'.
After she demonstrated the wave, she was told that it 'too little' as Walliams, 53, joined in before holding his arm in a Nazi salute.
The host, Rob Brydon, condemned Walliams and reminded him that the show went out before the watershed.
However, as George continued to explain her Strictly story, Walliams made the gesture for a second time, this time with a sexual twist.
Walliams's team captain, Lee Mack was said to have looked unimpressed while one audience member revealed the the salutes landed 'awkwardly'.
David Walliams made two Nazi salutes during a recording of a hit BBC show Would I Lie To You?
Walliams's team captain, Lee Mack (right) was said to have looked unimpressed while the host, Rob Brydon (centre) reminded Walliams that the show went out before the watershed
Members of the audience took to X (formerly Twitter) following the recording
'It was all very weird,' they told the Times said. 'There were gasps from the audience and the other panellists all looked very uncomfortable.'
Another member of the audience took to X (formerly Twitter) following the recording.
They posted: 'I didn't have David Walliams doing a Nazi salute at the Would I Lie To You? Christmas taping on my 2025 bingo card.'
There is no chance of the footage being broadcasted, sources at the BBC and the show's production company, Zeppotron, have said.
Walliams has not been seen on television since 2022 after he caught calling an elderly contestant on Britain's Got Talent a 'c***' during a break in filming in January 2020 at the London Palladium.
He apologised, but nevertheless sued production company Fremantle for misuse of private information and breaching data laws.
The company also apologised and said the matter had been resolved as the comedian is thought to have walked away with around £5million.
Walliams reunited with his Little Britain partner Matt Lucas in January to launch a brand new podcast, their first project together since 2010, when they rounded off their sole season of Come Fly With Me - a mockumentary about a fictional airport and airlines.
Walliams reunited with his Little Britain partner Matt Lucas in January to launch a brand new podcast
While launching the first episode of the podcast, Lucas said to Walliams: 'I thought you were cancelled … you've been cancelled twice.'
Walliams replied: 'If you're cancelled twice then that means you're uncancelled, so I'm fine.'
A spokesperson for Banijay UK, which owns Zeppotron, said: '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.'
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.'
MailOnline has approached Walliams' representative to comment.
