Quick summary
- Dymocks told all stores on 11 November 2026 to stop selling books published by David Walliams, plus any affiliated merchandise.
- Nine.com.au understands Big W pulled his books from shelves when the allegations became public.
- Booktopia still listed some of his titles on Wednesday and says it will consider its position with publishers.
- Walliams denies the allegations and has not been charged by police.
Australian retailers are splitting over whether to keep stocking David Walliams, after the English author was named as the subject of a joint ITV News and Guardian investigation into alleged sexual misconduct. Dymocks has removed his books, Big W is reported to have done the same, and Booktopia is still selling some titles, according to Nine.com.au.
What the Australian retailers have done
Dymocks has been the most direct. Chief executive David Allen said in a statement that on 11 November 2026 the chain “instructed all stores to cease sales of, and remove from shelves, all books published by David Walliams, together with any affiliated merchandise”. He said the action was effective immediately across the store network.
Nine.com.au reported that it understands Big W pulled Walliams titles when news of the allegations broke. That detail is the outlet’s own understanding rather than a statement from the retailer.
Booktopia, one of the country’s larger online sellers, was still listing his work on Wednesday afternoon. Nine.com.au saw his book Camp David on sale for $34.75. A Booktopia spokesperson said its mandate is to offer a selection “in the best interests of our customers”, that it appreciates the sensitivity, and that it will “carefully consider any decision in due course, in consultation with the book publishers”.
Some of his children’s books also appeared on Target and Kmart Marketplace on the Kmart website at the time of writing. Nine.com.au said it had asked Dymocks and Kmart for comment.
Why Booktopia is under the spotlight
The comparison that sharpened the story is local. Booktopia stopped selling books by Australian author Craig Silvey, including Jasper Jones and Honeybee, after he was jailed for seven months for distributing and possessing child exploitation material. His books had also been pulled from libraries and bookstores around the country.
Nine.com.au also noted that Russell Brand‘s memoir My Booky Wook remained on Booktopia, priced at $26.75. Brand was sentenced on Monday, UK time, to 10 years and six months in jail for rape and sexual assaults. His case is separate from Walliams’s, and nothing in the reporting links the two men.
What is alleged, and what Walliams says
ITV News and The Guardian allege that Walliams used his fame to groom girls and young women for sex. They say they spoke with several women, one of whom claimed he sexually assaulted her when she was 15. Walliams, 55, denies the allegations and has not been charged.
He had tried to keep his name out of the reporting, seeking a court injunction against ITV News and the Guardian, but a UK High Court judge rejected the bid. In his statement to the two outlets he said he had at times “behaved thoughtlessly” towards people he had casual sexual relationships with, and regretted not always taking their feelings into account. He added: “I am not a sexual predator. I have not broken the law.”
A publisher that moved first
The retail decisions follow a longer chain in Britain. According to The Independent, HarperCollins dropped Walliams in December 2025, saying it would publish no new titles by him after an internal investigation into workplace misconduct. He strongly denied any claims and said he had not been told of an investigation. In September this year the publisher confirmed it was phasing out his backlist, including shop stock, e-books and audio versions.
The scale of that catalogue explains why shelves matter. The Independent reports that since signing with HarperCollins in 2008, he sold more than 26 million copies worth £156 million in the UK alone. The paper also notes that his books drew criticism in recent years over stereotypes, and that it has asked his representative for comment.
For more on how the industry has reacted so far, see our report on retailers and broadcasters responding and our coverage of ministers weighing a law change. Everything we publish is gathered under the David Walliams tag, and more entertainment reporting is in Celebrities.
What happens next
Booktopia has not said when it will decide. Its statement points to talks with publishers, so the outcome may depend on what HarperCollins and any other rights holders ask retailers to do. Nine.com.au is still waiting on comment from Dymocks and Kmart. Walliams has not been charged, and his denial stands alongside the allegations.
Frequently asked questions
Which Australian stores have removed David Walliams books?
Dymocks has ordered all stores to remove them. Nine.com.au understands Big W has also pulled them. Booktopia and some Kmart and Target marketplace listings still showed his titles when Nine.com.au checked.
Has David Walliams been charged?
No. Nine.com.au reports that he has not been charged by police, and he denies the allegations.
Has his publisher dropped him?
Yes. HarperCollins stopped publishing new titles by him in December 2025 and confirmed in September 2026 that it was phasing out his backlist, according to The Independent.
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