The allegations first emerged through a December 2025 investigation by The Telegraph, which reported that Walliams had been accused of harassing junior female staff at his publisher, HarperCollins UK . The reported claims included that one employee received a five-figure settlement after raising concerns, and that staff were advised to work in pairs when meeting Walliams and not to visit his home . HarperCollins did not publicly confirm the specific reasons for its decisions, citing a policy of not commenting on internal matters .
HarperCollins Drops New Titles and Backlist
HarperCollins UK announced in December 2025 that it would not publish any new titles by Walliams, stating the decision was made “after careful consideration” . A company spokesperson emphasised that HarperCollins takes employee wellbeing “extremely seriously” and has processes for investigating concerns .
In September 2026, the publisher escalated its decision by confirming it would also drop Walliams’s entire back catalogue, meaning his previously published books would gradually be withdrawn from sale . This includes more than 40 books written between 2008 and 2025, a collection that has sold over 60 million copies worldwide in 55 languages . The move represents a complete severing of a relationship that began when HarperCollins published his first book, The Boy in the Dress, in 2008 .
Walliams’s Denial and Legal Position
A spokesperson for Walliams issued a firm denial, stating: “David has never been informed of any allegations raised against him by HarperCollins. He was not party to any investigation or given any opportunity to answer questions. David strongly denies that he has behaved inappropriately and is taking legal advice” . This statement has been consistently repeated across multiple verified reports .
Waterstones and BBC Respond
The consequences extended beyond publishing. In December 2025, book retailer Waterstones removed Walliams from its Children’s Book Festival lineup in Dundee, confirming through a spokesperson that “HarperCollins have confirmed that David Walliams will no longer be appearing” . The BBC also stated it had “no future projects directly involving David Walliams,” although adaptations of his books Mr Stink and The Boy in the Dress were still broadcast as scheduled .
Earlier Britain’s Got Talent Controversy
The current situation follows a separate controversy from 2022. Walliams apologised after a leaked transcript revealed he made derogatory and sexually explicit remarks about contestants during breaks in filming Britain’s Got Talent at the London Palladium in January 2020 . In his apology, Walliams said: “These were private conversations and, like most conversations with friends, were never intended to be shared. Nevertheless, I am sorry” .
Walliams left his role as a judge on the ITV show in 2022, after appearing on the panel alongside Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, and Alesha Dixon since 2012 . In 2023, production company Fremantle reached an “amicable resolution” with Walliams after he sued over the leak of his private remarks . He was replaced on the show by Bruno Tonioli .
A Career in Contrast
The allegations present a stark contrast with Walliams’s public profile. He rose to fame through the sketch comedy series Little Britain alongside Matt Lucas, and was awarded an OBE in 2017 for charity fundraising, including swimming the length of the River Thames . His children’s books, including Gangsta Granny and Billionaire Boy, became television adaptations and made him one of the UK’s best-selling authors .
Representation changes have also followed. Talent agency YMU is no longer actively representing Walliams, and his profile has been removed from the company’s website, though Independent Talent Group continues to oversee his literary interests .
The situation continues to develop, with no indication that Walliams has received any opportunity to formally respond to the allegations through the publisher’s process.
What are the David Walliams allegations about?
The allegations against David Walliams center on claims of inappropriate behaviour toward young women, reportedly involving junior female staff at his publisher, HarperCollins UK. The allegations were first reported by The Telegraph in December 2025, which claimed a junior employee had raised concerns about his conduct. According to the report, staff were advised to work in pairs when meeting Walliams and not to visit his home.
What has HarperCollins done in response?
HarperCollins UK announced in December 2025 that it would not publish any new titles by Walliams, stating the decision was made “after careful consideration”. In September 2026, the publisher escalated its decision by confirming it would also drop Walliams’s entire back catalogue, meaning his existing books would gradually be withdrawn from sale. A spokesperson said the company takes employee wellbeing “extremely seriously” but declined to comment on internal matters.
How has David Walliams responded?
A spokesperson for Walliams stated he “strongly denies” the allegations and has never been informed of any claims raised against him by HarperCollins. The statement added that he “was not party to any investigation or given any opportunity to answer questions” and that he is taking legal advice. Walliams, 54, is known for Little Britain and his bestselling children’s books.
What other professional consequences has he faced?
Waterstones removed Walliams from its Children’s Book Festival lineup in Dundee for 2026, with a spokesperson confirming he “will no longer be appearing”. The BBC stated it has “no future projects directly involving David Walliams,” though existing festive programming aired as scheduled. Charity organization The Children’s Trust also dropped him as an ambassador.
Is this connected to his Britain’s Got Talent exit?
The current allegations are separate from his 2022 departure from Britain’s Got Talent. Walliams left the ITV show after apologising for making “disrespectful comments” about contestants during filming breaks in 2020. In 2023, producer Fremantle reached an “amicable resolution” with him after his private remarks were leaked. That controversy involved leaked audio, while the current allegations concern workplace conduct reported by his publisher.
