Richard Osman has revealed that he and David Walliams "fell out" shortly after working together on a computer game show pilot, which he described as his "first ever job" in television.
The TV producer and author, 55, recalled the experience on an episode of his podcast, The Rest Is Entertainment, with co-host Marina Hyde. He said he worked with Walliams, who was known as David Williams at the time, when the comedian was 21 years old.
Working on the pilot with Hat Trick
Osman explained that the pair worked on a computer game show pilot produced by Hat Trick, with Dominik Diamond hosting. Walliams and Simon Pegg were the talent on the show.
"He'd literally just left university and we worked on a computer game show and did a pilot for Hat Trick with Dominik Diamond hosting, and David Walliams and Simon Pegg were the talent in that," Osman said.
"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. But I absolutely, of course, have followed his career and what he's done."
Reflections on 1990s TV culture
The discussion came as Osman praised comedian Joe Wilkinson, whom he had worked with 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'."
Osman also reflected on the wider television industry during the 1990s and 2000s, saying: "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 added: "And it's not a sin of commission, it's a sin of omission, not understanding you need to create an environment in which everybody felt safe, I think."
The comments come amid allegations against Walliams, who has been accused by multiple women of abusing his power and fame to prey on young women and teenage girls for sex. The allegations, uncovered in a joint investigation by the Guardian and ITV News, include accusations from two women who claim they first met the star when they were 15 years old. Walliams has vehemently denied any wrongdoing and said he was "devastated" by the allegations.
