UK actor and writer David Walliams has been accused of preying on young women for sex in a joint investigation by The Guardian newspaper and broadcaster ITV.
The investigation cites multiple young women with allegations dating back to the early 2000s. Most of the women say they were over 18 when they had interactions with Walliams. However, at least one of the women says she met Walliams when she was 15, and that he initiated sexual contact weeks after first connecting with her.
The allegations include those of inappropriate behaviour towards women on ITV show Britain’s Got Talent, on which Walliams was a judge from 2012 to 2022, and at HarperCollins, publisher of Walliams’ extensive catalogue of children’s books.
Walliams denies all the allegations. Earlier this year, his lawyers took a case to the high court in an attempt to stop the allegations being published. The case was dismissed last week, which allowed for the publication of the allegations today (November 10).
In a letter to The Guardian, Walliams said: “I am not a sexual predator. I have not broken the law, but I am devastated that some of the women I met 10 to 20 years ago have now expressed hurt or anger towards me.”
Walliams came to prominence in the 2000s as co-creator and star of BBC sketch comedy series Little Britain with Matt Lucas, with the pair following it up with Come Fly With Me. His film credits include Dinner For Schmucks, Stardust and Great Expectations, and voice roles in The Chronicles Of Narnia: Prince Caspian, Marmaduke and Missing Link.
Fing!, a UK-Australian co-production co-starring Walliams and adapted by him from his 2019 children’s book, premiered at Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, starring Mia Wasikowska, Blake Harrison, Taika Waititi and Penelope Wilton.
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