David Walliams has been accused of preying on girls as young as 15. Walliams, 55, known best for his work with Matt Lucas on the BBC sketch comedy series Little Britain and Come Fly with Me, is accused of "inappropriate sexual activities" and sexual misconduct.
High Court injunction bid denied
He had asked the High Court in London to permanently prevent ITN and the Guardian from publishing his identity and the allegations. However, the bid for an injunction was denied last week. Walliams brought legal action against the two news organisations.
Judge's ruling and appeal deadline
Lawyers for the TV personality, who denies the allegations, argued that he would be at risk of taking his own life after two previous suicide attempts. But in a ruling on November 3, judge Justice Nicklin dismissed the bid for an injunction, ruling it would be an "exceptionally serious interference" with freedom of expression. The judge said Walliams could take his case to the Court of Appeal, however, the deadline to do so was missed on Monday, November 9.
Media allegations and publisher fallout
The news outlets say they have interviewed more than 100 people with knowledge of the celebrity's alleged misconduct, including 30 with "first-hand" accounts. Lawyers for the media organisations previously told the court in London that the allegations they want to report involve Walliams' alleged "abuse of power and status" to contact young women in a bid to engage in "inappropriate and exploitative sexual activities".
In December last year, Walliams was dropped from the Waterstones Children's Book Festival and by his publisher, HarperCollins. A spokesperson for British book chain Waterstones told the BBC: "HarperCollins have confirmed that David Walliams will no longer be appearing at our festival in Dundee." His publisher, HarperCollins, cut ties with the star at the same time.
