A lengthy probe has found no evidence to back up Tory Nadine Dorries’ damaging claims about a Channel 4 show.
The Culture Secretary, who is the minister responsible for TV, had claimed “paid actors” impersonated poor people on a deprived estate for a reality show.
Ms Dorries stayed on the West London estate to film Tower Block of Commons in 2010, and told MPs she "discovered later they were actually actors".
But nearly two months later, Channel 4 has now issued a statement saying it had investigated the claims thoroughly with production firm Love Productions and found no evidence they were true.
The probe spoke to contributors and crew and included retrieving 85 hours of raw footage, Channel 4 said.
Culture committee chairman Julian Knight said: "The committee has written to the Secretary of State on this matter and invited comments from her as a matter of urgency.
"Now that Channel 4 and Love Productions have concluded the investigation, we look forward to receiving the Secretary of State's response, which we will then publish."
Ms Dorries could not immediately be reached for comment.
An ally of hers pointed out Channel 4 had issued the statement on the same day as its chief executive’s pay was revealed. Alex Mahon took home £1.2m in 2021, up from £991k.
It was the latest in a string of clashes between Ms Dorries and the broadcaster - which she has vowed to privatise after 40 years. The channel will be put up for sale after the Government announced the plans earlier this year.
She was also mocked last year for wrongly claiming Channel 4 was “in receipt of public money”.
Channel 4 is publicly owned and non-profit but receives no taxpayer cash, instead being funded entirely through its commercial activity.
Ms Dorries had made her claims at a committee hearing in May this year.
She said: "The parents of the boys in that programme actually came here to have lunch with me and contacted me to tell me, actually, they were in acting school and that they weren't really living in a flat, and they weren't real, they were actually actors.
"And there's a pharmacist or somebody that I went to see who prepared food, she was also a paid actress as well."
Following the accusations, Channel 4 said it asked programme-maker Love Productions to carry out a thorough investigation into the concerns raised.
The broadcaster said it then reviewed the findings and conducted its own internal searches and review.
A statement from Channel 4 documenting its process and findings said: "At the DCMS Committee meeting on 19 May 2022, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Nadine Dorries MP alleged that contributors to the 2010 Channel 4 series Tower Block Of Commons, in which she appeared, were paid actors, in acting school and/or not living in the homes in which they were portrayed in the series as living.
"Channel 4 takes any allegations of misrepresentation extremely seriously and always rigorously investigates any such claims.
"In keeping with standard practice, Channel 4 asked Love Productions, who produced the programme, to conduct a thorough investigation into the concerns raised.
"The investigation, overseen by their external lawyers, encompassed contributors who were ordinary members of the public and with whom the Secretary of State had significant interaction.
"It involved speaking with many of those involved in the making of the series, including contributors and crew, and retrieving and reviewing relevant documentation and footage, including 85 hours of raw footage filmed for the series.
"Channel 4 then reviewed Love Productions' findings and undertook its own internal document searches and review.
"Neither Love Productions' investigation nor Channel 4's internal inquiries revealed any evidence to support the allegations made about the programme."
