Comedian Lucy Beaumont has revealed she was led away by an older television industry figure at a BBC awards party when she was 16, before her mother intervened and stopped the encounter.
The 43-year-old said the incident took place while she was attending the event with her mother, who later found the pair and stepped in.
Details of the incident
Speaking about her experience on Sky News, Beaumont said she did not consider the incident serious enough to report to police at the time, but later shared the details with the Metropolitan Police.
She said: “I was young, I was 16, and we were at a BBC awards party. Me and my mum were there, and I was taken off by an older man who works on TV. My mum found us and stopped it.”
Beaumont said her mother initially blamed herself for allowing her daughter to wear make-up, adding that she believed this was partly reflective of the attitudes of the time.
Reporting to the police
Years later, the comedian decided to report the incident to the Met, explaining that she wanted to provide information in case it could help with other investigations.
She said: “I knew it hadn't got to that point. I don't know where it would have got to, but if someone's leading you off, it's not great, is it?”
Beaumont added that she had spoken confidentially to women who had worked with the man, but none had reported having similar experiences.
She also acknowledged officers can only act if people came forward with information about their own experiences.
Impact on her career
The comedian said the incident no longer troubled her, but had made her more determined to support young people entering the television industry.
“It makes me prickly, and it makes me massively want to help others,” she said.
“If I hear about there's a young person entering this world of TV, they're vulnerable, and so of course I want to help them.”
Beaumont made the comments while discussing allegations made against David Walliams, which he strongly denies. The 55-year-old had sought to prevent the media from identifying him, but was named after losing his bid to keep his identity secret. Walliams has been accused of pursuing young women for sexual purposes, including contacting two when they were 15. He has staunchly denied any wrongdoing.
