Fresh allegations against British comedian and author David Walliams have emerged, with multiple women accusing the television star of sexual misconduct, including incidents they say took place when they were teenagers.
Walliams was identified in a joint investigation by the Guardian and ITV News after he attempted to obtain a court injunction aimed at blocking publication of the claims.
One woman said her alleged encounter with Mr Walliams, when she was 15, amounted to a “sexual assault”.
Several women also allege he “groomed” them while they were teenagers.
Mr Walliams has rejected the characterisation of him as a predator, saying he is “not a sexual predator” and denying that he abused his position in relationships with women.
The Metropolitan Police said it has contacted the Guardian and ITV News “to ensure that any potential victims” are “made aware of how they could report any criminal allegations to police”.
Before the reports were published, Mr Walliams launched legal proceedings against Independent Television News (ITN) and Guardian News and Media (GNM), the publisher of The Guardian, over planned coverage of allegations including sexual misconduct and potential criminal activity.
We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
In a statement provided to both the Guardian and ITV News, Mr Walliams said he had come to accept that he had “behaved thoughtlessly”.
“Looking back, I realise that at times I behaved thoughtlessly towards other people I had casual sexual relationships with… I realise I did not always take people’s feelings properly into account. That is something I regret.
“And whilst a power imbalance is inevitable when one party is famous, abusing that power is something else entirely and it is something that I never did…
“I am not a sexual predator… I have not broken the law… I am devastated that some of the women I met ten to twenty years ago have now expressed hurt or anger towards me.”
Lawyers for the two media outlets previously told the High Court in London that the allegations concerned Mr Walliams’ alleged “abuse of power and status” to approach young women and attempt to involve them in “inappropriate and exploitative sexual activities”.
Mr Walliams denied the allegations and sought an injunction to stop publication, arguing there was a risk he would take his own life, following two previous suicide attempts.
He was granted anonymity during the legal proceedings, but that protection ended after his bid was rejected and the investigations were published today by GNM and ITN.
David Walliams left Britain’s Got Talent in 2022 after he apologised for making ‘disrespectful comments’ about contestants
At a two-day hearing in October, lawyers acting for the news organisations told the court the material had been assembled through “a wide-ranging and rigorous investigation” and that the public interest in publication was “strong”.
Gavin Millar KC said journalists involved in the investigation spoke with more than 100 people, including more than 30 sources with first-hand accounts, as well as Mr Walliams’ friends and colleagues.
Mr Walliams’ legal team said he first attempted suicide after receiving letters from ITN and GNM seeking his response to the allegations, citing “long-term trauma and the fear of trial by media”.
Sara Mansoori KC, representing Mr Walliams, said in written submissions that the author “has no intention of returning to public life” and had not “spuriously raised ‘mental health’ concerns in the face of an impending publication that they do not wish to occur”.
Mr Justice Matthew Nicklin refused to grant the injunction, finding it would amount to an “exceptionally serious interference” with freedom of expression.
In his 52-page judgment, he also concluded an injunction would not treat Mr Walliams’ psychiatric condition or remove the elevated risk he faced.
The judge noted that, because Mr Walliams was detained under the Mental Health Act in October, hospitals and health staff meant the state had “assumed responsibility” for his immediate safety and “can provide significant protection”, which “materially reduces the likelihood of suicide”.
UK Justice Minister Alex Davies-Jones said the government is “concerned” about the use of injunctions and is “looking at what more we can do” after Mr Walliams sought to use the courts to prevent reporting of the allegations.
In the House of Commons, shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy asked what steps were being taken to prevent abuse of process, pointing to the Walliams case in which he “remained anonymous” during his injunction attempt.
Ms Davies-Jones said: “I want to reassure him that this Government is determined to do all we can to ensure that anyone who is a perpetrator of these kinds (of potential offences) is held to the full force of the law.
“That includes looking at what we can do regarding injunctions.
London-based journalist Enda Brady on the allegations against David Walliams
We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
“He will know that applications for privacy injunctions are considered independently (by) the courts, and it would not be appropriate for the government to comment.
“However, we are concerned about the use of these, and the minister for courts is looking at what more we can do with Slapps (strategic lawsuits against public participation) injunctions.
“He will know we have already taken action on NDAs for sexual abuse cases, and what more we can do to prevent abuse of process throughout the judicial system.”
Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton said she is “very concerned” by the reports.
Speaking to RTÉ’s Drivetime, she said she understood why questions were being raised about whether Mr Walliams’ books should remain in school libraries.
“Obviously they’re very serious allegations so I think it’s important that all of those matters are dealt with and handled properly and fairly and that there’s due process there.
“In terms of schools and the decisions about what books are in their libraries or that are generally made available at school level, I’d have complete confidence in our principals and our school communities to make the decisions that they feel are appropriate for their students.
“It’s always important that our young people have access to safe and positive and diverse reading material,” she said.
She added that she does not give, and does not have the ability to give, direction on such matters, but said she has absolute confidence in schools to make appropriate decisions.
BBC removes shows from platforms
Matt Lucas and David Walliams (R) during a BBC Radio 4 comedy show in 2019
Mr Walliams, a former judge on Britain’s Got Talent and a familiar face from television comedies including Come Fly With Me and Little Britain with Matt Lucas, has sold more than 60 million copies of his children’s books worldwide.
Among his best-known titles are The Boy In The Dress, Fing, and Gangsta Granny. Gangsta Granny was adapted into a one-hour BBC special in 2013, followed by a sequel starring Sheridan Smith in 2022.
His publisher, HarperCollins, dropped him in December 2025 following an investigation into allegations he had “harassed” young women — claims Mr Walliams strongly denied.
He has now also been dropped by his literary agency, while the BBC said it is “in the process of removing” programmes including Little Britain amid the accusations of sexual misconduct and grooming.
A spokesperson for Independent Talent Group (ITG), Mr Walliams’ long-time literary agency, said: “ITG is deeply disturbed by the allegations concerning David Walliams.
“Our thoughts are with anyone who has been affected. We are no longer representing him in any capacity.”
It is understood the agency suspended Mr Walliams ahead of the publications and ended its relationship with him after the investigations became public.
The BBC said it is reviewing “all material” featuring and written by Mr Walliams across its platforms.
A BBC spokesperson said: “These are serious allegations. As such, the BBC is looking carefully at all material featuring and written by David Walliams on our platforms. We are in the process of removing some programmes, including Little Britain, whilst this review is under way.”
Both Come Fly With Me and Little Britain are currently unavailable on iPlayer, along with a 2020 episode of Who Do You Think You Are? featuring Mr Walliams.
Adaptations of his books are also unavailable are on the service.
Earlier this month, Alton Towers permanently shut its World Of David Walliams attraction, which included rides based on his books.
Mr Walliams left Britain’s Got Talent in 2022 after apologising for making “disrespectful comments” about contestants during filming breaks in January 2020 at the London Palladium.
In 2023, Britain’s Got Talent producer Fremantle apologised and reached an “amicable resolution” with Mr Walliams after the remarks made while he was on the programme were leaked.
Schools will make own decisions on Walliams’ books, says Naughton
Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton said she is very concerned by reports of allegations against Mr Walliams.
Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton said it is important children have access to safe reading material (file image)
Speaking on RTÉ’s Drivetime, Minister Naughton said: “Obviously they’re very serious allegations, so I think it’s important that all of those matters are dealt with and handled properly and fairly and that there’s due process there.”
“In terms of schools and the decisions about what books are in their libraries or that are generally made available at school level, I’d have complete confidence in our principals and our school communities to make the decisions that they feel are appropriate for their students.
“And it’s always important that our young people have access to safe and positive and diverse reading material,” she said.
She said she understands why people are asking questions about whether the books should be removed from school libraries.
But she added that she does not have the ability to give direction on that but has “absolute confidence” in schools making the appropriate decision.
If you’ve been affected by any issues raised in this article, please go to rte.ie/helplines
