Several book sellers and libraries have pulled books authored by David Walliams from their shelves after sexual allegations about the lauded children’s author were revealed on Tuesday. Walliams was named in a joint investigation by the Guardian and ITV News following failed attempts by the author to secure an injunction to prevent the publication of the allegations.
The former Britain’s Got Talent judge is accused of grooming teenage women as young as 15 for sex. He has denied all the claims. In the wake of the allegations, several bookshops and libraries have removed Walliams’ books from their shelves, including best-sellers like Gangsta Granny and Awful Auntie.
It comes after publisher HarperCollins dropped Walliams in December 2025 following an internal investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards junior female staff members. As well as leading booksellers and shops ceasing the sale of Walliams’ novels, schools and London councils have also advised that public libraries remove the books from their offering.
Booksellers respond
Waterstones said it was in contact with HarperCollins about returning the small number of copies still held by some of its branches. A spokesperson said: "As HarperCollins ceased supply of all David Walliams’ existing books, we are in touch with them about returning the small number of copies which remain in stock in a few of our shops in due course." Waterstones also operates Blackwell’s and the famous London-founded Foyles.
Amazon also said it had been in discussions with HarperCollins since the publisher stopped publishing Walliams’ books in September. A spokesperson told the Bookseller: "We have been engaging closely with HarperCollins on this matter. In September, HarperCollins told us they will no longer be publishing David Walliams’ backlist and subsequently withdrew the digital editions from the store. Print editions will remain available only while existing stock lasts."
Formerly trading as WHSmith, TGJones said it was no longer stocking books authored by Walliams. A spokesperson said: "We can confirm that TGJones no longer sells any of David Walliams’ books in-store or online."
Schools and councils act
The Works - which operates around 14 stores in London and over 500 nationwide - said it would be removing books by Walliams from sale. A spokesperson for The Works said: "Following recent media reports, The Works has removed all David Walliams titles from sale. All stores have been notified and have removed all associated products from their shelves."
Camden Council said it was putting Walliams’ books in storage. The council said in a statement: "We are committed to making Camden a safer place for women and girls, to challenging harmful attitudes, and promoting healthy relationships. Following these allegations, we believe the most appropriate action is to remove these books from display."
Steve Chalke, founder of the Oasis Charitable Trust, which runs 59 schools across England, said the academy trust has issued guidance to headteachers to temporarily remove Walliams books. He explained: "Our advice is, for the sake of our children and to protect our children, the right thing to do – because this will traumatise some children without doubt if they read his name or see his face – is to remove books from our libraries temporarily." The trust has 16 schools in London and the South East, including in Lambeth, Croydon and Enfield.
Academy trust GLF Schools, which runs 43 schools, many of them in London’s commuter belt, has also decided to remove Walliams books from its school libraries.
