David Walliams can now be legally named as the celebrity at the centre of an injunction row after his High Court bid to block the publication of sexual misconduct allegations failed. A mysterious gap has appeared on ITV's schedule at 8.35pm, prompting speculation about whether it will be filled by a programme naming the former Britain's Got Talent star.
Injunction bid fails after missed deadline
The comedian asked for an injunction to stop his identity from being reported in connection with allegations against him. However, the High Court bid failed after Walliams missed the November 9, 2026 deadline to lodge an appeal, meaning he can now be legally named.
Although Walliams has denied any wrongdoing, his legal battle was pushed by investigative reporting by The Guardian and ITN. This came after claims from over 100 people that the Little Britain star abused his power and status to engage in, or attempt to engage in, inappropriate and exploitative sexual activities with young women and girls.
Court arguments over suicide risk
Walliams sought to prevent the claims from being made public because of a risk that he would take his own life, following two previous suicide attempts. Sara Mansoori KC, a barrister at Matrix Chambers for Walliams, who was originally labelled as the "famous" man, said he denies the allegations of wrongdoing and that publication "would have a potentially fatal impact".
Ms Mansoori told the court: "The only reason they would not be fatal is because the claimant would be locked up and prevented from his desire to end his life." In written submissions, the barrister added that this was not a case of a person "spuriously" claiming mental health concerns because they do not want something to be published.
She continued: "The claimant has attempted suicide twice as a result of these matters, been hospitalised for months, been the subject of involuntary detention and been examined by multiple, now more than 10, doctors." At the time, the barrister said that Walliams had an initial suicide attempt upon receiving letters from ITN and GNM asking for his reply to the allegations.
Opposing arguments and ITV gap speculation
During the two-week trial in October, Ms Mansoori also said that the claimant, who she said denied the allegations, "has no intention of returning to public life". Gavin Millar KC, for ITN and GNM, said there is no precedent which shows there is a duty to prevent a risk of death in a case relating to the publication of statements which are said to trigger suicidal impulses.
He said the case risks "dragging judges into assessing the causes of suicidal ideation, which are for professionals and not for a judge. The obligation falls on the hospital to keep him safe, and that's that." Despite this, others have suggested that the ITV gap could make way for Waitrose's 2026 Christmas advert, which will finally be unveiled today. The star-studded six-minute rom-com will feature the likes of Keira Knightley, Joe Wilkinson and Alex Hassell. According to a source via Deadline, the gap in ITV's schedule this evening is thought to be based on an error.
