The BBC has removed the EastEnders Christmas special featuring David Walliams from iPlayer, as the broadcaster continues its review of material featuring the comedian following allegations of sexual misconduct.
Walliams appeared in the Christmas Day 2003 episode as Ray Collins, a fake registrar hired by Alfie Moon (Shane Richie) to conduct a sham marriage between him and fiancée Kat (Jessie Wallace). He featured in both parts of the two-part episode, and both have now been scrubbed from the streaming service.
Review of Walliams material
This week, Walliams was exposed as the 'famous man' who failed to obtain a High Court injunction against two media organisations, Independent Television News (ITN) and Guardian News and Media (GNM), publisher of The Guardian, ahead of them reporting the allegations against him, including of sexual misconduct and potential criminal activity. Walliams unsuccessfully sought the injunctions to prevent the exposure because of the risk he would take his own life, after two previous suicide attempts.
The BBC previously confirmed it was carrying out a review of 'all material featuring and written by David Walliams on our platforms.' The statement added: 'These are serious allegations. As such, the BBC is looking carefully at all material featuring and written by David Walliams on our platforms. We are in the process of removing some programmes, including Little Britain, whilst this review is underway.'
Further removals and allegations
An episode of Doctor Who featuring Walliams and Gangsta Granny, based on a book he had previously written, were subsequently removed.
The comedian and former Britain's Got Talent judge is alleged to have groomed fans he met when they were as young as 15 and harassed women in the workplace over a number of years, according to The Guardian and ITV reports. Multiple women have accused Walliams of sexually inappropriate behaviour and grooming including when they were teenagers, claims that he denies.
Walliams denies allegations
In a statement to The Guardian and ITV prior to his name being released as part of the investigation, Walliams denied the allegations against him. He said: 'Looking back, I realise that at times I behaved thoughtlessly towards other people I had casual sexual relationships with. I realise I did not always take people's feelings properly into account. That is something I regret. And whilst a power imbalance is inevitable when one party is famous, abusing that power is something else entirely and it is something that I never did. I am not a sexual predator. I have not broken the law, but I am devastated that some of the women I met 10 to 20 years ago have now expressed hurt or anger towards me.'
