David Walliams has been identified as the celebrity who sought a court order preventing publication of allegations that he had preyed on teenage girls, including one alleged victim who was 15 at the time.
The best-selling children’s author applied to the High Court for an injunction, arguing in what was described as an unprecedented case that publicising the claims could lead him to take his own life.
Walliams has been accused of exploiting his celebrity status to pursue what claimants describe as “inappropriate and exploitative sexual activities” involving a large number of women and girls.
One woman, referred to as Jade by ITV News and The Guardian, alleges that Walliams sexually assaulted her after contacting her online when she was 15. She said they met in Soho before he drove her to his home in an Aston Martin.
“He asked me to come over and gave me a hug. That’s when he kissed me again,” Jade alleged.
She claimed he then lifted her top, touched her sexually and attempted to move her hand down his trousers. Jade said she pulled away and told him “no”.
“I wasn’t ready for sex. I didn’t want to do that, with him or with anyone. I didn’t want to be touched in that way at all. I mean, I was only a 15-year-old,” she said.
Walliams, 55, the former Britain’s Got Talent judge, turned to the High Court in an effort to stop media organisations from reporting the allegations.
A judge rejected his application last week. Walliams did not appeal before the 4.30pm deadline on Monday, allowing ITV News and The Guardian to identify him at midday on Tuesday.
Several women have accused Walliams of sexually inappropriate conduct and grooming, including alleged behaviour dating back to when some of them were teenagers.
He strongly denies abusing his celebrity position in relationships with women, although he has acknowledged that he sometimes behaved “thoughtlessly”.
In a statement issued to ITV News and The Guardian, the comedian 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.
“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. I am devastated that some of the women I met 10 to 20 years ago have now expressed hurt or anger towards me.”
Children’s author and TV star David Walliams is accused of abusing his status to target girls and young women. He denies the claims
The court case comes 11 months after publisher HarperCollins ended its relationship with Walliams following allegations that he had harassed female junior employees.
The High Court heard that ITN, the parent company of ITV News, and The Guardian had spoken to more than 100 people during their joint investigation, including 30 individuals who provided first-hand accounts.
Unlike previous celebrity injunction cases centred on privacy rights, Walliams argued that publication would threaten his right to life because it could prompt him to die by suicide.
Mr Justice Nicklin ruled, however, that the court was not responsible for protecting Walliams from that risk and warned that restraining the media would represent a serious interference with freedom of expression.
Walliams rose to prominence through the comedy series Little Britain before becoming one of British television’s most recognisable personalities. He has denied all wrongdoing.
His former romantic partners have included Patsy Kensit, Geri Halliwell, Lisa Snowdon, Ashley James, model Lauren Budd and Miss Norway contestant Sylvia Flote.
He was also married for five years to Dutch supermodel Lara Stone, his most prominent former partner.
Alongside his television and comedy career, Walliams has sold more than 60 million children’s books around the world and built an estimated £20 million fortune. His career has nevertheless been marked by repeated controversies.
Those incidents have included allegations about his conduct towards colleagues, offensive comments about talent-show contestants and comedy routines that critics described as “creepy” and “sick”.
During last week’s hearing, Sara Mansoori KC told the court that Walliams had attempted to take his own life twice since learning of the allegations, including once after leaving a secure hospital in July.
“The [media outlets] wish to publish allegations of wrongdoing which he denies and which the evidence is clear will highly likely lead to his death or psychological injury,” she said.
“The only way [publication] wouldn’t be fatal is if [Walliams] is locked up and prevented from taking his own life.”
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: JD Vance’s Take on a 2026 Blue Wave and Its Aftermath
Walliams, pictured last month, lost his bid to block the media from publishing sex abuse claims against him and did not appeal the decision
Walliams was previously married to Dutch model Lara Stone, pictured in 2014
His other ex-girlfriends have included model Lauren Budd, pictured at the height of his fame in 2009
The court was told that Walliams’s demeanour changed dramatically when he was informed about the allegations in May, with his “body language completely changed” and his mental state described as one of “extreme panic”.
“He started saying that he wanted to kill himself and would seek to do so,” Ms Mansoori said. “Publication of these allegations would lead to a very substantial increase in suicidal ideation and suicidal acts.”
Gavin Millar KC, representing the media organisations, called Walliams’s argument “unprecedented”. He said it risked requiring judges to determine the causes of suicidal thoughts, matters that should instead be assessed by medical professionals.
A psychiatrist who examined Walliams said his mood disorder was treatable and that remaining in a secure hospital would be “significantly safer” if the allegations were published.
The latest allegations are not the first time Walliams’s conduct has attracted public attention.
In a 2006 Little Britain stage sketch titled “Hide the Sausage”, he played a fictional children’s entertainer who invited young male volunteers on stage.
Video that recently resurfaced online appeared to show Walliams pulling down the trousers and underwear of a 16-year-old boy in front of the audience, while saying: “Bingo – you’re a big boy for 16, aren’t you? That’s what I’ll tell the judge.”
The footage appeared to show the teenager attempting to cover himself as Walliams struggled with him and tried to kiss his buttocks.
Walliams later defended the routine, saying: “To me, there are no subjects you can’t make fun of, because if you make that line then you have to get rid of all comedy.”
In January 2018, he apologised after hosting the annual Presidents Club charity dinner at London’s Dorchester Hotel, an event attended exclusively by men.
An undercover investigation found that female hospitality staff had been told to wear revealing black clothing, matching underwear and high heels. The women also reported being subjected to sexually inappropriate behaviour by guests.
Walliams was not accused of personally harassing anyone, but said afterwards that he was “absolutely appalled” by what had occurred.
His decade-long role as a Britain’s Got Talent judge ended in November 2022 after a leaked transcript revealed crude and sexually explicit comments about contestants.
The remarks were captured during auditions at the London Palladium, when microphones recorded conversations between the judges during breaks in filming.
According to the transcript, Walliams used a highly offensive term three times to describe an older male contestant after he left the stage. Speaking about a female contestant, he also reportedly said: “She thinks you want to f*** her but you don’t.”
Walliams apologised for the comments and later sued BGT producer Fremantle, alleging misuse of private information and claiming the disclosure had caused psychiatric harm and financial losses. The case was settled out of court.
In June 2025, the BBC reprimanded Walliams after he performed Nazi salutes during the recording of a Christmas episode of the panel show Would I Lie To You?
The incident occurred during a segment featuring actress Helen George, who was discussing an injury sustained while waving during the Strictly Come Dancing tour.
The BBC called the gesture “completely unacceptable”, while production company Zeppotron said any humour involving it was “unacceptable in any context”.
Later that year, HarperCollins announced that it would stop releasing new books by Walliams after reports of inappropriate behaviour towards junior female employees.
One former employee was reportedly paid a five-figure settlement after raising concerns. Other staff members said they had been advised to meet Walliams in pairs and avoid visiting his home.
In September, HarperCollins announced that it would also withdraw Walliams’s entire back catalogue, bringing its nearly 20-year publishing relationship with the author to an end.
His books, including Gangsta Granny, Mr Stink and Ratburger, have sold more than 60 million copies worldwide.
Walliams has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
