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The Department for Work and Pensions has defended using an actor in a video to promote the benefits of Universal Credit .

The video, tweeted out by Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd on Monday, featured Charlie Watson, an actor who has appeared in programmes for Sky Atlantic and in a Vodafone commercial alongside Liverpool star Mo Salah.

But the Department insist they did not know he was an actor when he was chosen to appear in the video, and was not paid.

Pictures on Mr Watson’s Instagram account show him taking part in filming for the Vodafone commercial in May at Anfield, wearing a Liverpool strip alongside centre-forward Salah.

In the Tweet, Ms Rudd wrote: “Meet Charlie. Because of the personal support #UniversalCredit provides, Charlie started a personal training career.

(Image: Twitter)

“Universal Credit is helping people into work and I am going to share these good stories with you.

“So don’t just take my word for it, take Charlie’s.”

Charlie's Instagram account shows he is an actor who has appeared in a range of adverts and has travelled widely.

Twitter users were quick to point out that the DWP's video did not portray a typical Universal Credit user.

Alex Tiffin, who blogs about UC, tweeted to the Work and Pensions Secretary: "He's an actor and has been since 2013. He's documented his lavish world travel and work online."

But Amber Rudd hit back saying: "Glad you met Charlie.

(Image: Twitter) (Image: Twitter)

"Your scepticism and conspiracy theories are misplaced.

"More than 1.6 million people claim UC, and they have a wide range of life experiences.

"No matter what work you’ve done, you can apply for UC. Cynically exploiting people’s pasts doesn’t help."

A DWP spokesperson told the Mirror: “Everything portrayed in the video is true, and the people speaking are not paid to do so.

“Charlie is a real Universal Credit claimant who has now moved into work and his work coach, shown in the video, still works at the jobcentre.

“Charlie was asked to speak about his Universal Credit experience and his responses were not scripted.”