David Walliams’ career and controversies as he denies grooming allegations

David Walliams has denied allegations of grooming teenage girls and harassing women at work, published after a joint investigation by The Guardian and ITV News. The comedian and children’s author unsuccessfully sought a High Court injunction to prevent the reporting.

The allegations include the account of a woman given the pseudonym Alex, who says Walliams contacted her after they met at a fan event when she was 15. She says they later had a sexual relationship when she was 17. She described the encounters as consensual but says she felt unable to exert control.

Walliams denies grooming her. His lawyers say he believed she was 18 when she later got back in touch. Another woman, called Jade, alleges that Walliams initiated unwanted sexual contact when she was 15; he denies having any sexual contact with her.

In a letter to the journalists, Walliams said he regretted sometimes behaving thoughtlessly towards people with whom he had casual sexual relationships. He denied abusing his fame, adding: “I am not a sexual predator. I have not broken the law.”

Comedy and children’s books

Walliams became a household name through *Little Britain*, the sketch show he created with Matt Lucas. It began on radio before moving to television, winning awards and attracting millions of viewers.

The show was removed from streaming services in 2020 amid criticism of its use of blackface and racial stereotypes. Walliams and Lucas apologised for their use of blackface. *Little Britain* returned to BBC iPlayer in 2022 with several scenes removed.

Walliams published his first children’s book, *The Boy in the Dress*, in 2008 and went on to become a bestselling author. HarperCollins decided in 2025 not to publish new titles by him amid allegations of inappropriate behaviour, which he denied. In September 2026, the publisher said it would also stop publishing his existing catalogue.

Britain’s Got Talent

Walliams joined *Britain’s Got Talent* as a judge in 2012. He was replaced in 2022 after the Guardian reported that he had made insulting and sexually explicit remarks about contestants during breaks in filming. He apologised, saying the comments were made in private conversations.

He later sued the production company, Fremantle, over the handling of his private information. The case ended in a settlement, with the company apologising for the recording being made public.

The Guardian and ITV investigation also reports concerns raised by staff about Walliams’ conduct towards women working on the show. His lawyers deny sexual harassment and inappropriate workplace behaviour. Fremantle said it had received no complaint about his behaviour and encouraged anyone with concerns to come forward.