Richard Osman has revealed that he and David Walliams "fell out" shortly after working together on a pilot episode of a computer game show at the start of his television career. The 55-year-old producer and author discussed the former Britain's Got Talent judge on his podcast, The Rest Is Entertainment, alongside co-host Marina Hyde.
Early Career Encounter
Osman recalled that Walliams, who used the name David Williams at the time, had "literally just left university" when they worked together. He said they filmed a pilot for Hat Trick with Dominik Diamond hosting, while Walliams and Simon Pegg were "the talent" on the show.
"So, yeah, I knew him when he was 21-years-old. We fell out, not for any exciting reasons, shortly afterwards and I didn't work with him again," Osman said. "But I absolutely, of course, have followed his career and what he's done."
Allegations Against Walliams
The discussion came as Osman addressed allegations that have been levelled at Walliams. Several women have accused the comedian of exploiting his power and celebrity status to prey on young women and teenage girls for sex. These claims, uncovered in a joint investigation by the Guardian and ITV News, include accusations from two women who allege they first encountered the star when they were 15 years old.
Walliams has firmly denied any wrongdoing and said he was "devastated" by the allegations.
Reflections on 1990s TV Culture
Osman broached the topic while praising comedian Joe Wilkinson, with whom he had worked earlier in the week. He told Hyde: "It felt like there was a period of time... funnily enough, I was working with Joe Wilkinson yesterday and I thought, 'how lovely to be working with that generation of comics'."
Reflecting on the wider industry, Osman said: "I do think it's hard for any man who worked in television in the 1990s and the 2000s to not feel like they failed, to not feel blind, to not feel some sense of shame about what has happened." He described it as "a sin of omission, not understanding you need to create an environment in which everybody felt safe."
He added that looking back on that era is "tough... and it's horrific, it's unremittingly grim."
