David Walliams, the BAFTA-winning comedian and best-selling children's author, has been unmasked as the previously anonymous British celebrity accused of sexual misconduct. The allegations, which had been kept under wraps due to legal restrictions, claim that Walliams preyed on a large number of girls and young women for sexual purposes.
The star, known for his roles in Little Britain and Come Fly With Me as well as his decade-long judging stint on Britain's Got Talent, faces accusations of sexual assault and grooming girls as young as 15. He had previously sought an injunction to stop two news organizations, ITN and the Guardian News and Media, from revealing his identity. His lawyers argued that the 'trial by media' made it highly likely he would kill himself, a risk they attributed to the publicity rather than the alleged wrongdoing itself.
The identity was kept confidential until last week when a judge rejected the injunction. Walliams subsequently refused to lodge an appeal after missing the deadline on Monday. This legal clearance allowed The Guardian and ITV News to release their three-year joint investigation on Tuesday, titled 'David Walliams: Power and Silence.'
Walliams denies all allegations, stating that he is not a sexual predator and has not broken the law. One accuser described an encounter at age 15 as sexual assault, while multiple women have accused him of grooming them during their teenage years. Most of the women involved say they were over 18 when they interacted with the comedian, though the abuse of power is a central theme of the report.
The investigation details the testimony of a woman identified as Alex, who was contacted by Walliams in January 2004 when she was 15 and he was 32. She recalls him saying, 'Hi, it's David Walliams.. You know, off the telly!' after meeting him at a fan event. Alex says she shared script samples with him and included her contact details. Over the following two years, they exchanged emails and phone calls, and she claims they were having sex by the time she turned 17.
The allegations also extend to professional environments. Several sources described inappropriate behavior toward women at both Britain's Got Talent and his publisher, HarperCollins. This follows a December 2025 report in The Daily Telegraph that accused Walliams of harassing junior female employees at HarperCollins, where staff were reportedly advised to meet him in pairs and avoid visiting his home. Walliams strongly denied those claims at the time.
In recent years, Walliams has faced a series of professional setbacks. He was dropped by HarperCollins in 2025, despite being one of the country's best-selling authors with over 50 million copies sold worldwide. Titles such as Gangsta Granny and The Boy in the Dress are among his most famous works. Additionally, TMZ reported that he was removed from an upcoming film, The Road to Nevermore, as misconduct allegations surfaced, though it remains unclear if these are connected to the current investigation.
The situation has also impacted his theme park presence. Alton Towers, a flagship park owned by Merlin Entertainments, announced last week that it would permanently close The World of David Walliams attraction after five years. A spokesperson stated that the decision was made following a regular review of rides and guest experience as the 2026 peak season concluded.
The latest developments follow a significant incident in June of last year, where Walliams drew widespread condemnation for making two Nazi salutes during a recording of the panel show Would I Lie To You?. The gestures were made in response to a joke about an injured wrist, shocking the audience at Pinewood Studios. The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to his representatives for further comment on the new revelations.
