The Department of Work and Pensions has been forced to deny paying an actor for a Universal Credit advert after it was revealed that he has appeared on television alongside footballer Mo Salah.

Amber Rudd, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, said the claims he was paid to appear in a glowing review of the controversial scheme were "conspiracy theories."

In the video, which the minister shared on Twitter, Charlie Watson speaks of how Universal Credit took him from being unemployed to being a personal trainer in Salford.

Sharing the clip, Ms Rudd wrote: "Universal Credit is helping people into work and I am going to share these good stories with you".

While it is confirmed he now works as a personal trainer, his Instagram shows him working as an actor up until last year.