A photograph from 2003 shows David Walliams with his arm around Lilly Creightmore at a celebrity charity event, placing the comedian in the company of a woman who has accused him of grooming her when she was a teenager.
The image, taken at the Oscar Moore Foundation Charity Quiz Night in London, also features talk show host Jonathan Ross and comedian Ricky Gervais, along with Jane Fallon, Joe Cornish and Jane Goldman. Lilly is one of several women who have accused Walliams of grooming them during their teenage years.
Allegations and denial
The allegations were reported in a joint investigation by ITV News and The Guardian. Walliams, 55, has denied the allegations, including any criminal behaviour.
There is no suggestion that the other celebrities pictured at the event, including Ross, Gervais, Fallon and Cornish, knew of any alleged wrongdoing.
Lilly's account
After being shown the photograph, Lilly reportedly said: "I was really uncomfortable there... Poor baby."
She added: "The thing that upsets me the most is that I was coming from a vulnerable situation as a young adult... and I think as soon as he got to know me, he saw that, and thought I'd be easy to persuade or be able to manipulate. He was making me feel special, plying me with gifts and then disregarding me when he didn't get what he wanted."
When asked what she was accusing Walliams of, Lilly said: "Grooming me. He was pursuing me at a vulnerable age and place in my life for sexual gratification. I didn't give him that."
First contact and card
Former model Lilly was reportedly 18 when Walliams, then 31, first contacted her. She had appeared on the television show Model Behaviour aged 16 and later received a card from the comedian at her home.
The card featured a black-and-white photograph of a little girl dressed as an angel. It read: "When I saw you at the Little Britain recording, I was enraptured. Then when I saw you in Agent Provocateur, I so wanted to speak to you, but amongst all the frilly knickers I couldn't find the words. I'd love to take you out sometime. I know we've never spoken but you seem lovely. David Walliams."
Lilly reportedly agreed to meet him but said she made clear she was not romantically interested. She said they became friends and that, when she had nowhere to live, Walliams offered her his guest room.
However, she claims there was no spare bed and she slept on the sofa. According to Lilly, Walliams repeatedly asked her to share his bed.
"He definitely crossed the line physically in moments, when I was young, trying to coerce me into sleeping with him," she said. "He would plead with me to share a bed with him and paw at me, trying to make me feel sorry for him."
Lilly claimed her refusal sometimes made him angry and that he could be rude to her. "When I was staying with him those first few days, it became apparent that I didn't feel safe there," she said.
She said she eventually left to stay elsewhere but remained in contact with Walliams on and off for five years.
Lilly also claimed he offered to help her career, including suggesting he could assist her in getting a job at the BBC. In 2007, she said he invited her to Australia while he was on a Little Britain tour.
She recalled telling him she would go but was not interested in anything sexual or romantic happening. Lilly said he "hit the roof", "flinging insults" at her and accusing her of using him. She said she never had sex with Walliams.
Walliams reportedly said he did not behave inappropriately or "target" Lilly because she was "vulnerable" or "young". He said he believed their friendship was a "special one" and denied that offers of help or gifts were attempts to groom, manipulate or coerce her into sleeping with him.
He also said he felt "devastated" by Lilly's account.
