The British comedian and writer David Walliams faces accusations from several women who claim he exploited his fame to target them when they were minors, often for sexual purposes, as revealed in a three-year investigation conducted by the Guardian and ITV News.
Additionally, Walliams has been charged with inappropriate conduct at the workplace during his decade-long tenure as a judge on Britain’s Got Talent, as well as at his previous publisher HarperCollins, which has since severed ties with him.
Walliams has refuted these claims. Earlier this year, his legal representatives approached the U.K. High Court in an attempt to prevent the Guardian and ITV News from disclosing the allegations and revealing his identity in their reports.
Last week, a judge denied his request for an injunction but maintained his anonymity until late Monday.
With the dismissal of the case last week, the allegations can now be publicized. According to a report by the BBC, Walliams’s legal team suggested that if the claims were exposed, he might consider taking his own life.
A representative from the Metropolitan Police Service in London stated that authorities are aware of the media allegations concerning a man in his 50s, but have yet to receive any formal reports of sexual assault or other crimes.
The spokesperson mentioned that police have contacted the media entities involved “to ensure that any potential victims they have conversed with are informed about how to report any criminal allegations to the police.”
Attorney Marcus Johnstone indicated that the decision to charge Walliams may hinge on the nature of his alleged interactions with women who were under 16 at the time.
“Naturally, there is nothing inappropriate about having contact with a 15-year-old. But it becomes problematic if it amounts to sexual assault or grooming. Arranging sexual activities with a child constitutes a potential criminal offense,” said Johnstone, a senior solicitor and managing director of PCD Solicitors in the U.K.
Women allege grooming by Walliams
While the majority of the women report that they were over 18 during their encounters with Walliams, two assert that they were just 15 when they first encountered him.
One woman recounted to the Guardian and ITV News that she met Walliams in 2004 at a fan event, where she was 15 and he was 32. At that time, he was starring in the popular BBC comedy series Little Britain, and she aspired to become a comedy writer.
Matt Lucas, left, and Walliams, right — in character as Lou Todd and Andy Pipkin — signed copies of their comedy CD in January 2004. It was during such a fan event that one of Walliams’ accusers claims she first met him. (Steve Finn/Getty Images)
At the event, she alleges he remarked that she was “a very attractive lady” and continued to gaze at her. She provided Walliams with some scripts she had written along with her contact details, leading to him later calling her at home.
She claims he praised her scripts as very humorous and suggested they keep in touch. During their conversation, she states that her age was mentioned multiple times.
As their communication persisted, she claims the discussions became sexual, and Walliams requested nude photographs of her. At 17, she says she and Walliams engaged in consensual sexual relations.
Walliams told 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, which can result in a prison sentence of up to 10 years in England,” Johnstone remarked.
“If Walliams received a naked image from someone aged 17, 16, or 15, it could lead to additional sexual offenses involving minors, which would automatically classify him as a sex offender.”
Walliams received a Pride of Britain Award in 2006 as the Most Influential Public Figure, following his fundraising efforts for the charity campaign Sports Relief by swimming across the English Channel. (Ian Walton/Getty Images)
Another woman claims she met Walliams at the age of 15 after they connected on MySpace in 2007. She recounts that they arranged to meet in London, where they shared a kiss in an alley; she further alleges that he later sexually touched her at his residence and suggested they reconnect once she turned 16.
Walliams refutes any claims of sexual interaction with this second woman, asserting that he has never groomed young women.
Other women have also alleged that Walliams sought to exploit them during their vulnerable years.
Claims of harassment at HarperCollins and Britain’s Got Talent
Walliams, who has published over 26 million children’s books in the U.K., including Gangsta Granny and Billionaire Boy, was dismissed by HarperCollins in 2025. The publisher has since communicated its decision to cease publication of his backlist as well.
Documents obtained by the Guardian and ITV News indicate that this decision stemmed from long-standing concerns, including allegations of an inappropriate sexual relationship with a young female staff member.
David Walliams has sold millions of children’s books through HarperCollins, which has since cut ties with him. (Ben Pruchnie/Getty Images)
From 2012 to 2022, Walliams gained recognition as a judge on Britain’s Got Talent. During this period, he faced accusations of inviting teenage girls to the show as guests and harassing young women employed there.
In November 2022, Walliams was recorded making disparaging and sexual remarks towards contestants. Since then, he has exited the show.
Simultaneously, Walliams’s alleged tendency to date younger women became a source of humor among comedians in 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 who were investigating the claims, he stated: “I am not a sexual predator. I have not violated any laws, yet I am heartbroken that some women I encountered 10 to 20 years ago now express feelings of hurt or resentment towards me.”
“I recognize that I have not always considered others’ feelings adequately. This is something I regret. While a power disparity is inevitable when one party is famous, abusing that power is an entirely different matter, and it is something I have never engaged in.”
Walliams had the chance to appeal the High Court’s ruling that permitted the Guardian and ITV News to publish their findings, but neither he nor his legal team initiated an appeal or requested additional time to do so.