The Metropolitan Police has taken steps to ensure that any potential victims are made aware of how they could report criminal allegations to police, following claims of sexual misconduct against David Walliams. The comedian, 55, denies any wrongdoing and insists he is "not a sexual predator."
Allegations and police response
Walliams, who rose to fame alongside Matt Lucas on the BBC sketch series Little Britain, was named as part of an investigation by the Guardian and ITV News after he tried to obtain an injunction to prevent reporting of the allegations. The alleged offences are said to have occurred at his £10.5 million home in north London, which he has now put on the market.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed it has contacted both the Guardian and ITV News to ensure any potential victims know how to report allegations to officers. A Met spokesperson said: "We're aware of reports in the media in relation to allegations involving a man in his 50s. The Met has not received any related reports of sexual assault or any other offences. Should we receive any reports, they will be carefully assessed. Anyone who contacts the police will be supported by specialist officers."
The spokesperson added: "Last week, we contacted the media organisations that were involved in civil proceedings relating to the protection of the identity of that individual, to ensure that any potential victims who they have spoken to could be made aware of how they could report any criminal allegations to police. Reports can be made by calling 101, providing the reference 4900/10NOV26."
Walliams denies wrongdoing
One woman described her alleged encounter with Walliams, when she was 15, as a "sexual assault," while multiple women accused him of "grooming" them when they were teenagers. Walliams, a best-selling author and former Britain's Got Talent judge, lost his bid for an injunction last week and was allowed to be named today. Labour subsequently suspended him as a party member.
Walliams has not been arrested or charged with anything. In a letter understood to have been sent several months ago to journalists, he 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."
He added: "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. 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."
Institutions respond
His long-time literary agency, Independent Talent Group (ITG), said in a statement: "ITG is deeply disturbed by the allegations concerning David Walliams. Our thoughts are with anyone who has been affected. We are no longer representing him in any capacity." The company had suspended Walliams ahead of publication and terminated its relationship after the investigations were made public.
The BBC said it is carrying out a review of all material featuring and written by Walliams on its platforms. A BBC spokesperson said: "These are serious allegations. As such, the BBC is looking carefully at all material featuring and written by David Walliams on our platforms. We are in the process of removing some programmes, including Little Britain, whilst this review is under way."
Walliams and Lucas also created and starred in Come Fly With Me, which aired on the BBC for one season in 2010.
