The BBC has ignited fresh controversy by choosing to broadcast a Boxing Day episode of the popular comedy panel show 'Would I Lie To You?' which featured comedian David Walliams as a guest panellist. This decision comes in the wake of serious allegations of inappropriate behaviour levelled against the children's author, which he denies.
Allegations and Industry Fallout
The 54-year-old entertainer, a prolific writer of children's books, has faced significant professional repercussions following accusations of harassing junior female staff members. His publisher, HarperCollins, has dropped him as a direct result of these claims. Furthermore, Walliams has been removed from his role as an ambassador for The Children's Trust charity and was dropped from the line-up of the Waterstones Children's Book Festival.
The BBC has stated that it has 'no future projects directly involving David Walliams'. However, the corporation defended its decision to air the pre-recorded festive special, which was filmed during the summer, stating it would not remove the episode from its schedule. The episode was broadcast on BBC One at 7pm on Friday, 26th December.
Controversial Filming Incident
The filming of the episode itself was not without incident. During the recording at Pinewood Studios in June, audience members reported that Walliams twice made a Nazi salute as part of a joke. The gesture was made during a segment in which fellow panellist Helen George, an actress from 'Call The Midwife', was recounting a story about injuring her wrist while waving.
The BBC subsequently issued an apology, describing the comedian's actions as 'completely unacceptable'. Fellow panellists and team captains, including David Mitchell and Lee Mack, alongside host Rob Brydon, were said to be visibly shocked by the incident during the recording.
Broadcast and Reaction
The broadcast went ahead with Walliams appearing alongside guests Helen George, BBC radio DJ Swarzy Shire, and musician Jools Holland. The decision to transmit the episode has placed the BBC under scrutiny, risking a significant public and media backlash for providing a platform to a figure embroiled in such serious allegations and prior conduct issues.
This situation highlights the ongoing challenges faced by broadcasters in managing pre-recorded content featuring individuals who become controversial after filming. The BBC's stance of honouring the existing schedule while cutting future ties demonstrates a delicate balancing act between editorial planning and responsive corporate responsibility.
