The BBC is facing explosive allegations that its make-up artists deliberately contaminated brushes with human saliva and other bodily fluids before applying them to Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage during television appearances.
The claims, first aired by historian and former BBC presenter Lisa Hilton in The Critic magazine, stemmed from an alleged insider tip-off described as coming from a “morning news veteran”.
Hilton wrote: “Naming no names but Nigel Farage might want to start doing his own face, given the extraordinarily imaginative range of natural cosmetics which the brushes are loaded with when he’s in the chair.”
The BBC swiftly dismissed the accusations as “completely false” with sources insisting no such sabotage occurred. It described its make-up teams as complete professionals.
Farage and his party members declined to comment, although allies such as British-Belizean political activist Andy Wigmore called the claims “sick”, while GB News commentator Adam Brooks blasted: “Vile if allegations are true.”
The Reform leader, who has boycotted sit-down BBC interviews since the 2024 general election, has long accused the broadcaster of left-wing bias.
Farage said he refused to appear on the BBC until it apologises for having a dishonest audience, after then Green Party Co-leader Adrian Ramsay was allowed to slander Reform UK, saying it “attracts racists and extremists”.
According to Farage, the BBC behaved “like a political actor throughout the [previous] election” and his party has been campaigning to abolish the licence fee all Brits have to pay.
No formal investigation has been announced but the story has amplified calls for scrutiny of the Corporation’s internal culture.
This alleged incident fits into a long pattern of personal harassment against Farage, including the 2014 Nottingham egging by a protester who pleaded guilty to assault; the 2019 Newcastle milkshake attack that inspired copycat incidents; the 2024 Clacton banana milkshake dousing, resulting in a suspended sentence for the assailant; the 2023 Coutts de-banking scandal over his political views and knife-attack threats forcing him to delay constituency surgeries in 2024.
Despite all this animosity, Farage is highly popular with the public and Reform is leading in the polls, hovering around 30 per cent, while opposition Conservatives and ruling Labour Party have difficulties reaching 20 per cent.
BBC presenter Lisa Hilton has revealed that makeup artists at the channel were putting “human saliva” and “other bodily fluids” on Nigel Farage’s face.
This is not just disgusting, it is criminal. There must be a full investigation.
Scrap the licence fee. Enough is enough. pic.twitter.com/IqUp6HM83h
— Nicholas Lissack (@NicholasLissack) November 28, 2025
