British comedian and writer David Walliams is facing accusations from several women who claim he exploited his fame to target them when they were young, often with sexual intentions, as revealed by a three-year investigation conducted by the Guardian and ITV News.
Additionally, Walliams has been charged with inappropriate conduct in the workplace during his decade-long tenure as a judge on Britain’s Got Talent, as well as at his previous publishing house, HarperCollins, which has since severed ties with him.
Walliams has categorically denied these allegations. Earlier this year, his legal representatives sought an injunction from the U.K. High Court to prevent the Guardian and ITV News from disclosing the accusations and identifying him in their reports.
A judge dismissed his request for an injunction last week but granted a temporary order to keep his identity private until late Monday.
With the dismissal of his case last week, those allegations can now be publicized. Walliams’s legal team expressed concerns that publicizing these claims could lead him to consider suicide, according to a report by the BBC.
A representative from the Metropolitan Police Service in London stated that they are aware of media allegations concerning a man in his 50s, but so far, no formal reports of sexual assault or related crimes have been submitted.
The spokesperson mentioned that police have contacted the media entities involved, “to ensure that any potential victims who have spoken to them are made aware of how they can report any criminal allegations to the police.”
Attorney Marcus Johnstone indicated that whether Walliams faces charges may hinge on the nature of the alleged interactions with women who were under 16 at the time.
“Of course, there’s nothing inappropriate about contacting a 15-year-old. However, it becomes a serious issue if it involves sexual assault, grooming, or arranging sexual encounters with a minor, all of which are potentially criminal acts,” stated Johnstone, who is a senior solicitor and managing director at PCD Solicitors in the U.K.
Claims of Grooming Against Walliams
While the majority of women report being over 18 during their encounters with Walliams, two women allege they were just 15 when they first met him.
One woman recounted to the Guardian and ITV News that she encountered Walliams in 2004 at a fan event, when she was 15 and he was 32. At that time, he was well-known from the popular BBC comedy series Little Britain, and she aspired to become a comedy writer.
Matt Lucas, left, and Walliams, right — dressed as their characters Lou Todd and Andy Pipkin — signed copies of their comedy CD in January 2004. It was at such a fan event where one of Walliams’ accusers says she first met him. (Steve Finn/Getty Images)
At the event, she claims he referred to her as “a very attractive lady” and continually stared at her. She provided him with scripts she had written along with her contact details, after which she claims he called her at home.
She alleges that he praised her scripts as being very funny and suggested they keep in touch, with her age being mentioned multiple times during the conversation.
As their communication progressed, she asserts that the discussions became sexual, culminating in Walliams requesting nude photographs of her. At 17, she claims they engaged in consensual sexual relations.
Walliams has stated to the Guardian and ITV News that he does not recall asking for such images and believed she was 18 at the time of their sexual encounter.
“That’s a serious offense. In England, it carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison,” Johnstone emphasized.
“If Walliams received a naked image from someone who was 17, 16, or even 15, that could lead to separate sexual offenses involving minors, which would automatically place him on the sex offender registry.”
Walliams received a Pride of Britain Award in 2006 as the Most Influential Public Figure, after raising funds for the charity campaign Sports Relief by swimming across the English Channel. (Ian Walton/Getty Images)
Another woman alleges she met Walliams when she was 15 after connecting with him on the social platform MySpace in 2007. She claims they arranged to meet in London, where they shared a kiss in an alleyway; later, she alleges he sexually touched her at his residence and suggested they reconnect once she turned 16.
Walliams has denied any sexual interaction with the second woman and asserts he has never groomed young females.
Other women have also come forward with accusations that Walliams attempted to exploit them during vulnerable times in their lives.
Allegations of Misconduct at HarperCollins and Britain’s Got Talent
Walliams, who has sold over 26 million children’s books in the U.K., including titles like Gangsta Granny and Billionaire Boy, was dropped by his publisher HarperCollins in 2025. The publisher has also stated that it will no longer distribute his previous works.
Documents acquired by the Guardian and ITV News reveal that this action was prompted by ongoing concerns, including allegations regarding an inappropriate sexual relationship with a young female staff member.
David Walliams has sold millions of copies of children’s books through the publisher HarperCollins, which has since dropped him. (Ben Pruchnie/Getty Images)
Walliams gained fame as a judge on Britain’s Got Talent from 2012 to 2022. During this time, he faced allegations of inviting underage girls to the show as guests and harassing young women involved with the production.
In November 2022, recordings surfaced in which Walliams made derogatory and sexual remarks about contestants. He has since departed from the show.
Throughout this time, Walliams’s alleged tendency to pursue younger women was a frequent target for comedians’ jokes across the U.K.
‘I am not a sexual predator’
Walliams maintains his innocence. In a letter addressed to journalists from the Guardian and ITV News investigating the case, he stated: “I am not a sexual predator. I have not violated any laws, but I am heartbroken that some women I encountered 10 to 20 years ago now harbor feelings of hurt or anger towards me.”
“I acknowledge that I have sometimes failed to consider people’s feelings appropriately. This is something I regret. While a power imbalance is unavoidable when one party is famous, misusing that power is an entirely different matter, and I have never done so.”
Walliams had the opportunity to contest the High Court’s ruling that allowed the Guardian and ITV News to publish their findings, but he and his legal team chose not to appeal or seek additional time to do so.