David Walliams was last pictured in public on October 14, before he was named as the celebrity who had sought an injunction blocking the publication of sexual misconduct allegations. The 55-year-old TV star and author, who denies all wrongdoing, was photographed enjoying a coffee with businesswoman Adrianna Martin in London's Pimlico, alongside his two Border Terrier dogs. The pair shared a warm embrace before parting ways.
Allegations of sexual misconduct
The former Britain's Got Talent judge was named as part of an investigation by the Guardian and ITV News on Tuesday. One woman, named by ITV and the Guardian as Jade, said she was 15 and Walliams was 36 when they met in August 2007 and he invited her back to his house. She described her alleged encounter as a "sexual assault" and "grooming", adding: "It's completely wrong in every way."
Another woman, named by the news organisations as Alex, alleged she was having sex with Walliams by the time she was 17. Asked how she feels about him now, she said: "I think I was groomed. 100%." Walliams told the publications he believed she was 18 at the time they had sex.
Walliams' response
In a letter addressed to journalists working on the ITV and Guardian investigation, Walliams wrote: "Looking back, I realise that at times I behaved thoughtlessly towards other people I had casual sexual relationships with. I realise I did not always take people's feelings properly into account. That is something I regret. And whilst a power imbalance is inevitable when one party is famous, abusing that power is something else entirely and it is something that I never did."
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." His lawyers say the suggestion he groomed Alex is false and has caused him significant distress.
Legal action and fallout
Walliams brought legal action against Independent Television News (ITN) and Guardian News and Media (GNM), publisher of The Guardian, ahead of the two organisations reporting allegations against him. Lawyers for the media organisations previously told the High Court in London the allegations involved Walliams' alleged "abuse of power and status" to contact young women and try to engage in "inappropriate and exploitative sexual activities".
Walliams unsuccessfully sought an injunction to prevent these publications because of the risk he would take his own life, after two previous suicide attempts. The author was granted anonymity during the proceedings, which was lifted after his injunction bid was dismissed. Walliams' lawyers said that he had initially attempted to take his own life after receiving letters from ITN and GNM asking for his reply to the allegations, because of "long-term trauma and the fear of trial by media".
Walliams has sold more than 60 million copies of his children's books globally. His book publisher HarperCollins dropped him in December 2025, after an investigation into allegations he had "harassed" young women, which Walliams strongly denied. Earlier this month, theme park Alton Towers permanently closed its World Of David Walliams attraction. Walliams left Britain's Got Talent in 2022 after apologising for making "disrespectful comments" about auditioning contestants during filming breaks.
