Multiple women have accused British comedian and author David Walliams of exploiting his celebrity status to target them at a young age, often for sexual purposes, according to a three-year investigation conducted by the Guardian and ITV News.
In addition, 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 HarperCollins, his former publishing house, which has since severed ties with him.
Walliams has refuted the allegations. Earlier this year, his legal team approached the U.K.’s High Court in an attempt 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 prohibited the disclosure of his identity until late Monday.
With the dismissal of that case last week, the allegations can now be made public. According to a report by the BBC, Walliams’s lawyers claimed that if these accusations were revealed, he might take his own life.
A representative for the Metropolitan Police Service in London stated that they are aware of the allegations circulating in the media regarding a man in his 50s, but have not yet received any reports concerning sexual assault or other offenses.
The spokesperson mentioned that police have contacted the media organizations involved “to ensure that any potential victims they have spoken to are informed about how to report any criminal allegations to law enforcement.”
Lawyer Marcus Johnstone indicated that the decision on whether Walliams will face charges will likely hinge on the nature of the alleged interactions with women who were under 16 at the time.
“Of course, there is nothing inappropriate about communicating with a 15-year-old. However, it becomes a serious issue if it involves sexual assault, grooming, or arranging sexual activities with a minor, all of which could be classified as criminal offenses,” said Johnstone, who is a senior solicitor and managing director at PCD Solicitors in the U.K.
Women allege grooming by Walliams
While the majority of women reporting interactions with Walliams stated they were over 18, two claimed they were just 15 at the time they first encountered him.
One woman recounted to the Guardian and ITV News that she met Walliams in 2004 at a fan event when she was 15 and he was 32. At that time, he was appearing in 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)
During the event, she alleges that he called her “a very attractive lady” and continuously stared at her. She provided him with some scripts she had written along with her contact details, after which she claims he called her at home.
She asserts that he complimented her scripts and suggested they keep in touch. During their conversation, she says her age came up multiple times.
As their communication progressed, she states that the discussions became sexual, and Walliams requested nude photos from her. By the time she turned 17, she claims they engaged in consensual sex.
Walliams informed the Guardian and ITV News that he does not recall asking for such photographs and believed she was 18 when they had sexual relations.
“That’s a serious offense. It can result in a sentence of up to 10 years in prison in England,” stated Johnstone.
“If Walliams received a naked image from someone who was 17, 16, or even 15, that could constitute separate sexual offenses involving minors, which would automatically place him on the sex offender registry.”
Walliams won a Pride of Britain Award in 2006 as the Most Influential Public Figure, after raising money for the charity campaign Sports Relief by swimming across the English Channel. (Ian Walton/Getty Images)
Another woman claims she met Walliams when she was 15 after connecting on the social platform MySpace in 2007. She reports that they arranged to meet in London, where they kissed in an alley; she alleges that he later sexually touched her at his home and suggested they reconnect when she turned 16.
Walliams denies any sexual contact with the second woman and insists he has never groomed young women.
Additional women have also come forward with claims that Walliams attempted to exploit them during vulnerable times in their youth.
Claims of harassment at HarperCollins and Britain’s Got Talent
Walliams, who has sold over 26 million children’s books in the U.K., including titles such as Gangsta Granny and Billionaire Boy, was dropped by HarperCollins in 2025. The publisher has also revealed that it will no longer release his backlist of books.
Documents obtained by the Guardian and ITV News indicate that this decision was made due to longstanding concerns, including allegations of an inappropriate sexual relationship with a young female employee.
David Walliams has sold millions of copies of children’s books through the publisher HarperCollins, which has since dropped him. (Ben Pruchnie/Getty Images)
Between 2012 and 2022, Walliams was also known as one of the judges on Britain’s Got Talent. During this time, he faced accusations of inviting teenage girls to the show as guests and harassing young women working on the production.
In November 2022, Walliams was recorded making derogatory and sexual remarks towards contestants. Since then, he has departed from the show.
Throughout this period, Walliams’s alleged inclination to date younger women became a source of humor among comedians in the U.K.
‘I am not a sexual predator’
Walliams firmly denies any misconduct. In a letter addressed to journalists from the Guardian and ITV News who were investigating the story, he stated: “I am not a sexual predator. I have not violated the law, but I am heartbroken that some women I met 10 to 20 years ago have now voiced feelings of hurt or anger towards me.”
“I acknowledge that I did not always consider the feelings of others appropriately. This is a matter I regret. While a power imbalance is unavoidable when one party is famous, misusing that power is an entirely different issue, and it is something I have never done.”
Walliams had the option to appeal the High Court’s ruling that allowed the Guardian and ITV News to publish their findings, but neither he nor his legal team pursued an appeal or requested additional time to do so.