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The BBC has risked a fresh backlash by broadcasting a Boxing Day episode of a long-running comedy panel show featuring David Walliams.

BBC One aired a festive edition of Would I Lie To You? on which Walliams appeared as a panellist, in the wake of allegations of inappropriate behaviour levelled against him.

The comedian and prolific children’s book author, 54, has been dropped by publisher Harper Collins after being accused of harassing junior female members of staff.

Walliams, who denies the allegations, appeared on the episode which was broadcast at 7pm on Friday but filmed over the summer.

Last week the BBC said that it would not remove the episode from its schedule.

It did say that it had ‘no future projects directly involving David Walliams’, who has also been removed as an ambassador of charity The Children’s Trust, and dropped from the line-up of Waterstones’ Children’s Book Festival.

Walliams appeared as a guest on the show alongside Call The Midwife actress Helen George, BBC radio DJ Swarzy Shire and Jools Holland, with team captains David Mitchell, and Lee Mack and host Rob Brydon.

The BBC has risked a fresh backlash by broadcasting a Boxing Day episode of a long-running comedy panel show featuring David Walliams

Walliams (left) appeared as a guest on the show alongside Call The Midwife actress Helen George (right) and Lee Mack (centre)

Walliams caused controversy at the filming of the episode in June when audience members spotted him twice making a Nazi salute as part of a joke during one segment.

The BBC apologised for the incident, which occurred during one of Ms George’s stories about injuring her wrist while waving, deeming it ‘completely unacceptable’.

His fellow panellists were said to be shocked by the incident during filming at Pinewood Studios.