‘He thought he was untouchable’: Insiders tell KATIE HIND why David Walliams is ‘despised’… and the women who are saying it’s time he faced the music

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In July 2020, I traveled to meet a woman who reached out to me with disturbing stories about her interactions with David Walliams, a judge on Britain’s Got Talent.

The woman, then in her early 20s, was visibly shaken as she showed me proof of her relationship with the comedian, who had initially contacted her on X (formerly Twitter) when she was just 17.

The evidence included countless text messages, a holiday card, and, notably, a very strongly worded letter from Schillings, a law firm known for its aggressive tactics.

The firm’s partners strongly warned the woman not to talk to the media about her relationship with the very famous David Walliams. They said sharing any private messages between them could lead to legal trouble, claiming it would be a violation of his privacy.

The letter also warned her she could be forced to pay the comedian money – either as damages or to cover his legal fees – and that this amount would be unaffordable for her. Finally, the law firm advised her to hire her own legal representation.

The document was deeply upsetting for the young woman, as it prevented her from speaking out about what she felt were inappropriate experiences with David Walliams and left her feeling unheard.

Yesterday, a woman—whose name I’m keeping private—likely felt relieved to learn that David Walliams, 54, has been dropped by his publisher, HarperCollins UK, following accusations of inappropriate behavior towards young women.

According to The Telegraph, David Walliams faced accusations of inappropriate behavior towards young female colleagues at the publishing house. Reports indicate one employee received a substantial financial settlement and subsequently left the company.

Reports revealed that female employees were allegedly instructed to meet the celebrity with a colleague and were forbidden from visiting his home. An investigation into Walliams’s conduct reportedly began in 2023 after a staff member expressed concerns, prompting interviews with other employees.

HarperCollins UK will no longer publish new books by David Walliams. A spokesperson stated the decision was made after careful consideration and under the direction of the company’s new CEO, seemingly to avoid acknowledging any issues with the author, who is one of their most successful.

As a longtime fan, I was shocked by the serious accusations, and I was really hoping HarperCollins would shed some light on why they made their decision. But, typical for a big company, they just stuck to their policy and said they never discuss internal issues. It’s frustrating not knowing what led to this.

David Walliams’s representative stated last night that he was never told about any accusations made against him by HarperCollins. He wasn’t involved in any investigation and wasn’t given a chance to respond to the claims. Mr. Walliams firmly denies any wrongdoing and is seeking legal counsel.

This episode represents a significant low point in the career of David Walliams, a hugely popular children’s author in Britain. He’s sold over 60 million books worldwide, translated into 55 languages, and is also well-known as a television personality. His first children’s book, The Boy in the Dress, was published by HarperCollins in 2008, and several of his other titles, like Gangsta Granny and Billionaire Boy, have been made into TV movies.

When the news came out yesterday, many in the entertainment industry – where David Walliams is reportedly disliked – felt a sense of relief. One insider told us last night, ‘People are finally acknowledging what’s been known for a while: he’s not a pleasant person to work with.’

For years, David Walliams didn’t just pay legal firms like Schillings to safeguard his reputation. He also hired the public relations company MBC PR – the same firm that has represented controversial figures like Russell Brand, who has been accused of rape – to protect his interests.

It’s also come to light that reporters at The Sun were instructed to avoid publishing critical articles about Walliams. This was because both The Sun newspaper and HarperCollins, the publishing house, are part of the same company, NewsUK, owned by Rupert Murdoch, and they even share office space near London Bridge.

Despite many people trying to shield him, David Walliams’s inappropriate behavior was widely known within the entertainment industry. One former Britain’s Got Talent staff member shared that he was ‘extremely rude’ to her while she worked on the show.

Simon Cowell, the famous music producer, used to be close friends with comedian David Walliams and gave him a job on a talent show in 2010. However, they’ve grown apart in recent years. They used to enjoy socializing and dining together in upscale restaurants, but now Cowell has even unfollowed Walliams on social media.

David Walliams left Britain’s Got Talent in November 2022 following controversy. Recordings were released revealing him making unkind comments about people auditioning for the show when cameras weren’t rolling.

Recordings revealed him using deeply offensive and sexist language, including a crude and demeaning description of a woman as someone who misinterprets friendly attention as sexual interest.

Even though the judges – including Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon, and Amanda Holden – weren’t broadcasting at the time, they had previously agreed that everything they said would be recorded for possible future use.

Despite issuing a public apology, David Walliams also took legal action against the production company Fremantle, claiming they improperly used his private information and violated data protection laws. Fremantle apologized, and reports suggest Walliams received around £5 million as a result of the case.

Although he earned a lot more money, he damaged many of his professional relationships. As I mentioned last week, ITV show executives were worried to discover Walliams was inviting fans backstage and offering them cupcakes in his dressing room.

Several executives at ITV, the channel that broadcasts Britain’s Got Talent, reportedly dislike him, and other TV networks feel the same way. Sources in the entertainment industry say he’s receiving fewer offers for TV appearances, and a recent attempt to revive his comedy show, Little Britain, with Matt Lucas wasn’t successful.

It’s been three years since his time on Britain’s Got Talent, and he hasn’t been on a major TV show since. He did recently make a guest appearance on the BBC quiz show The Wheel a couple of weeks ago.

He specialized in discussing James Bond, but viewers noticed David Walliams seemed uninterested and a bit standoffish while on the show.

When a contestant incorrectly answered a question about the weather – despite him knowing the right answer – he became visibly frustrated. He loudly asked, ‘Guess who got it right?’ and then waved dismissively at the contestant as they left, saying ‘Bye’ in an angry way.

Walliams might have thought he was being funny, but some viewers felt it came across as mean.

David Walliams’ ex-wife, Lara Stone, who shares a 12-year-old son with him, reportedly doesn’t approve of his behavior. Sources say she even reached out to a young woman Walliams had invited for work experience at his company, King Bert, and to a Britain’s Got Talent show, to ensure she was alright after the invitation. She also contacted her after auditions in Birmingham.

A former coworker called me last night, excited that David Walliams was finally being held accountable for things he’d long tried to hide.

She explained that he believed his power made him immune to consequences and allowed him to act however he pleased. But now, she feels they are finally making progress in uncovering what really happened.

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2025-12-20 05:42