David Walliams Celebrity Accused After Failed Bid to Stay Anonymous
British comedian and children's author David Walliams has been named as the celebrity accused of sexual misconduct by multiple young women. A judge rejected his bid to block publication. Walliams denies breaking the law and says he is not a sexual predator.
British comedian and children's author David Walliams has been named as the U.K. celebrity who lost a court fight to keep his identity secret amid allegations of sexual misconduct, according to reports published on November 10, 2026. Walliams strongly denies the claims.
Multiple women allege that Walliams, a former Britain's Got Talent judge, "abused his power and position as a celebrity to prey on them for sexual purposes when they were teenagers or young women." That is the finding of a joint investigation by British media organizations. The accusations include grooming fans as young as 15.
What the women allege
One woman described an encounter with Walliams, which she said happened when she was 15, as a "sexual assault." The age of consent in the U.K. is 16. His lawyers say he denies any sexual contact with her and call the allegations of serious criminal conduct false.
Another woman said she was 15 when Walliams first contacted her, and that they were having sex by the time she was 17. Lawyers for Walliams say he understood her to be 18.
The court ruling
Walliams tried to use the U.K. legal system to block publication. He argued it would create a serious risk to his life through suicide.
In a judgment dated November 3, judge Matthew Nicklin accepted that publication would substantially increase that risk. He still dismissed the application. The court did not decide whether the allegations are true.
His lawyer, Sara Mansoori KC, argued that naming him was "highly likely" to lead him to try to kill himself. She said he had previously attempted suicide twice and had "no intention of returning to public life."
Gavin Millar KC, representing the media outlets, said the case risked "dragging judges into assessing the causes of suicidal ideation, which are for professionals and not for a judge."
Walliams' response
In a letter to the journalists, Walliams wrote that he "behaved thoughtlessly towards other people I had casual sexual relationships with" at times. He said he regretted not always taking people's feelings into account.
He added: "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." He also wrote that a power imbalance is inevitable when one party is famous, but that abusing that power "is something that I never did."
Who he is
Walliams rose to fame on the BBC comedy show Little Britain. He judged Britain's Got Talent from 2012 to 2022 and left after apologizing for "disrespectful comments" about contestants. He received an OBE in 2017.
As an author he has reportedly sold 60 million books worldwide, including Gangsta Granny and The Boy in the Dress. His publisher, HarperCollins, dropped him in December 2025 after an investigation into inappropriate behavior toward young women. In September it announced it would no longer publish his back catalog.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental or emotional health, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Lifeline in the U.S., or visit 988lifeline.org.
