Quick summary
- A joint investigation by ITV News and The Guardian, published on 10 November (UK time), makes allegations of grooming and sexual misconduct against David Walliams, dating back to 2003.
- Walliams denies the allegations and says he has “not broken the law”. Scotland Yard says it has received no related reports so far.
- Stan and Sky have dropped the family film Fing!, which Walliams co-wrote. His cameo has been cut.
- Fing! keeps its Australian cinema release date of 14 January, without Walliams in the publicity.
Stan and Sky have pulled the children’s film Fing! after a British investigation made serious allegations against its co-writer, David Walliams. The comedian and author denies wrongdoing. The allegations have not been tested in court, and police have yet to receive a direct complaint.
What the investigation alleges
ITV News and The Guardian published their report after a three-year inquiry. According to ABC News, it draws on more than 30 sources with first-hand accounts and covers conduct from 2003 onwards.
The outlets report that several women say Walliams contacted them on social media, including six models aged between 19 and 22 at the time. Two women say they met him when they were 15. One alleges she was sexually assaulted at his London home at that age, according to The Sydney Morning Herald, which drew on reporting by The Telegraph. The Telegraph first reported claims about his treatment of junior female staff at HarperCollins last year.
These are allegations. None has been proven.
Walliams’s response
In a letter to the journalists, quoted by ABC News and IF Magazine, Walliams wrote: “I am not a sexual predator. I have not broken the law.” He added that he realised he had “at times” behaved “thoughtlessly” towards people he had casual relationships with, and that he regrets it. He said abusing a power imbalance was something he never did.
His lawyers told the investigators he denies targeting teenagers. In one case they said he believed the woman was 18.
He had tried to block publication. ABC News reports that the High Court in London rejected his injunction application on 3 November, and that he did not appeal. The judge, Mr Justice Nicklin, found the report concerned matters of substantial public interest, according to IF Magazine.
Fallout for his career
The consequences came quickly, according to the SMH report. His literary agency, Independent Talent Group, dropped him. His Labour Party membership was suspended. The BBC said it was removing some programs, including Little Britain, while it reviews all material featuring or written by him. HarperCollins had already cut ties in December 2025. Walliams has sold more than 60 million books worldwide, ABC News notes.
PerthNow reports that a 2004 British Comedy Awards clip has resurfaced in which Jonathan Ross joked about Walliams going home with a 15-year-old. Ross told The Mirror the joke was written by the awards’ script team. He called it “deeply shocking” and “tasteless”.
What it means for Fing!
The Australian angle is the film. Fing!, based on Walliams’s 2019 book, was shot in Queensland in early 2025 and premiered at Sundance in January. It stars Taika Waititi, Mia Wasikowska, Iona Bell and Blake Harrison and is directed by Australian Jeffery Walker. Walliams co-wrote the screenplay and was set to appear as a headmaster.
ABC News reports that the producers have removed his cameo. Stan said it had taken the film off its slate “in light of the recent and serious allegations”. Sky said it intends to exit as the UK and Ireland licensee. Angel Studios in the United States says Walliams will have no involvement in the release or promotion.
Screen Queensland said Fing! generated more than $24 million in local spending and employed about 210 Queensland crew, but that it plays no part in casting or distribution decisions.
What happens next
Transmission Films says the cinema release on 14 January is unchanged and that publicity will focus on the Australian production, the director and the lead cast. The film has no confirmed streaming home in Australia now that Stan has stepped away.
Scotland Yard says it contacted the media organisations involved last week so any potential victims know how to report to police. It says any report will be carefully assessed. The SMH notes that under-16s cannot legally consent to sexual activity, so the published accounts could prompt a criminal inquiry.
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Frequently asked questions
Has David Walliams been charged with a crime?
No. Scotland Yard says it has not received any related reports of sexual assault or other offences. Walliams denies the allegations.
Is Fing! still coming out in Australia?
Yes. Transmission Films says the cinema release stays on 14 January. Stan has dropped the planned streaming release, and Walliams will not take part in the publicity.
Who is publishing the allegations?
ITV News and The Guardian, after a three-year investigation. A UK court refused to stop publication.
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