Lewd jokes about David Walliams' sex life were a common punchline during countless appearances at award ceremonies and quiz shows. Last night the 'banter' took a sinister turn as concerns were raised over his alleged conduct.
Walliams, 55, was yesterday named as the celebrity who tried to stop two media organisations from publishing allegations against him. The court heard they intended to report his alleged "abuse of power and status" to contact young women and try to engage in "inappropriate and exploitative sexual activities".
Walliams, who has always denied the claims, was seeking an injunction to prevent this broadcast and publication because of a risk that he would take his own life, following two previous suicide attempts.
Showbiz pals break their silence
Among Walliams' showbiz pals to break his silence on the news was Jonathan Ross. The talk show host issued a statement saying that he was "horrified" over the allegations against Walliams and former friend Russell Brand's rape conviction after he was seen making a joke about underage girls in ITV documentary David Walliams: Power and Silence.
Ross said: "I am as horrified by the revelations about David Walliams and the crimes of Russell Brand as the rest of the nation. There was a time in my life when I was on friendly terms with both men, and during that period I was genuinely unaware of their conduct. My thoughts are with the many, many women who have bravely come forward."
It comes as a clip emerged of Ross, 65, making a joke - which he has since claimed he didn't write - about Walliams going home with a 15-year-old girl at the British Comedy Awards in 2004. He said: "The comedy awards is 15 years old – 15 years old! And like most 15-year-olds, it's drunk, it's unpredictable and it's probably going home with David Walliams." The room roared with laughter, with Walliams himself seen chuckling in the audience before sticking up two fingers at the host.
Resurfaced clips from chat shows
Another clip that has since emerged featured Jimmy Carr joking about Walliams in 2006. Speaking at the launch of Britain's Next Top Model he quipped: "I'm only here to meet David Walliams' next conquest." Asked if he thought there was a possibility his new love interest would be there, Carr said: "Yeah, if she does well, if she gets through the selection process... is that the prize? You get a go on David Walliams?"
Another moment that has resurfaced was Walliams' appearance on Alan Carr's Chatty Man in 2009. Carr pointed out to Walliams "you always seem to be in the paper with different women". Asked how he picked them up, Walliams replied: "I just meet them out. I just like spending time with women, I like to take them out for dinner, go shopping, that kind of thing." Carr joked: "You're a bit like an illegal taxi driver. You lure them into a false sense of security and then you pounce."
And while appearing on 8 Out of 10 Cats in 2007, Walliams joked about British teenagers doing "very well" in pregnancy tests. Peaches Geldof, who had appeared on the panel, retorted: "You'd know a lot about that David, wouldn't you?" In response, Walliams had sniped back: "Oh you b****."
In recent years, Walliams had appeared on The Graham Norton Show to promote a new book. He was asked by host Norton: "Normally, with a new book, you'd be going around schools, but you're not allowed to do that." "I'm not allowed to do that," Walliams said with a laugh. "The reason is because of Covid! Yes!" As the audience laughed, Norton joked along: "Because of Covid! Because of Covid!"
