David Walliams has been identified as the entertainer who tried to stop The Guardian and ITV News from publishing an investigation into his conduct. The outlets released their reporting on November 10 after his unsuccessful High Court bid to prevent publication.
Two women say the former Britain’s Got Talent judge began contacting them when they were 15 and used his celebrity status to gain their trust. Walliams, 55, strongly denies wrongdoing and disputes their accounts.
The investigation spanned more than three years. Reporters contacted more than 100 people and examined emails, social media messages and other records, including material concerning his dealings with young television workers and publishing employees.
The court proceedings concerned whether the reporting could be published. They did not determine whether the women’s claims were true, and the judge’s ruling was not a finding of wrongdoing by Walliams.
Former Teenage Fans Describe How Contact With Walliams Began
One woman, identified as Alex to protect her identity, met Walliams at a Little Britain fan event in January 2004. Hoping to become a comedy writer, she gave him scripts and a letter containing her contact details.
He called her family home days later. Alex preserved handwritten notes about their conversation, which The Guardian reviewed alongside correspondence. She says his interest in her writing initially made her hopeful about a future in comedy.
Alex says they later began a relationship when she was 17. Looking back, she believes his age, fame and apparent willingness to help her career created an unequal relationship. His lawyers say he initially wanted to encourage her writing, believed she was 18 when their contact resumed and deny that he pressured her.
A second woman, identified as Jade, says Walliams first messaged her on MySpace in 2007. She alleges that subsequent meetings led to unwanted contact at his London home. Walliams’ representatives categorically deny that contact occurred.
The reporting also includes photographer Lilly Creightmore, who was 18 when she met Walliams in 2003. She says he repeatedly pursued a relationship despite her wanting to remain friends. His lawyers say offers to help her career were genuine and carried no expectation of romance.
Television Workers and Publishing Employees Describe Workplace Concerns
Former Britain’s Got Talent staff described concerns about personal messages Walliams sent to young female runners. Reporters examined WhatsApp discussions among colleagues, including accounts of employees feeling unsure how to respond to a prominent judge.
Walliams’ lawyers deny inappropriate workplace behavior. They say some comments were jokes or expressions commonly used in entertainment and deny that he had been warned about messaging runners. Producer Fremantle said it had received no complaints about his behavior. Syco said it had no knowledge of the claims, while ITV expressed concern and pointed to Fremantle’s responsibility for production oversight.
At HarperCollins, the investigation describes a relationship with a junior employee and concerns about messages to other colleagues. Walliams’ lawyers say both people agreed to the relationship and reject claims of workplace misconduct.
The Guardian reports that an internal inquiry began in late 2023, heard from at least five women and concluded in 2024 without consequences for Walliams. HarperCollins declined to discuss internal matters and reiterated its commitment to employee welfare.
The publisher announced in December 2025 that it would no longer publish new Walliams titles, then extended that decision to his existing catalog in September 2026. Wealth of Geeks previously covered those decisions. His representative said the publisher had not given him an opportunity to answer the concerns.
Why the High Court Declined to Restrict Publication
Walliams’ application was heard on October 27 and 28, with his identity protected under the initials PPT. His lawyers sought a final injunction, arguing that publication would seriously endanger his health and affect his family.
Mr Justice Nicklin rejected the application on November 3. In the published judgment, he accepted the seriousness of the medical evidence but found no sufficient legal basis for the restriction sought.
The judge considered the substantial public interest in the reporting, the potentially indefinite effect of an injunction and the protective medical care available to Walliams. His lawyers subsequently confirmed that he would not pursue an appeal before the November 9 deadline.
Walliams Acknowledges Past Regrets but Rejects Misusing His Fame
“I have not broken the law.”
— David Walliams, in a statement shared by ITV News
In his written response, Walliams said he had sometimes behaved thoughtlessly in past relationships and regretted not considering other people’s feelings properly.
He acknowledged that fame could create an imbalance between partners but maintained that he had never exploited it. He also expressed distress that women he had known between 10 and 20 years earlier now described feeling hurt or angry about their experiences.