Quick summary
- London’s Metropolitan Police confirmed on Friday 13 November that it is investigating “a number of allegations of non-recent serious sexual offences involving a man now in his 50s”.
- Police did not name him, but the reports identify David Walliams. He denies the allegations and says he has not broken the law.
- The police allegations are separate from those in an ITV News and Guardian investigation published on Tuesday, though detectives are reviewing that reporting too.
- Publishers, retailers and film distributors have already pulled back from his work.
The Metropolitan Police has opened a criminal investigation after receiving new allegations of serious sexual offences, and the man at the centre of the reports is the children’s author and Little Britain co-creator David Walliams. Police said on Friday that the complaints are non-recent and separate from this week’s media investigation. Walliams, 55, has denied wrongdoing. No charges have been announced.
David Walliams police investigation: what the Met said
According to Deadline and Variety, the force’s statement said it had “received a number of allegations of non-recent serious sexual offences involving a man now in his 50s”. Under UK practice the Met did not name him, because no one has been charged.
Detective Superintendent Mike Cagney, who leads the team, urged anyone who has been a victim of a sexual offence to come forward “no matter when it happened”. The Associated Press, via PBS, reported that police gave no detail on how many complaints they hold, or where and when the alleged offences took place.
How this follows the ITV News and Guardian report
On Tuesday, ITV News and The Guardian published a joint investigation and an hour-long documentary, David Walliams: Power and Silence. DW reports that it describes a pattern over more than 20 years of him misusing his fame with women and girls. One woman said she was sexually assaulted when she was 15. The outlets also raised conduct concerns linked to Britain’s Got Talent and to his publisher HarperCollins.
AP says the outlets spoke to more than 100 people during a three-year inquiry. Deadline adds that Britain’s Got Talent producer Fremantle asked anyone who feels they were wronged to come forward, though it has not opened a formal investigation.
What Walliams has said
In a letter to the outlets, Walliams said he was “devastated that some of the women I met 10 to 20 years ago have now expressed hurt or anger towards me”. He added that a power imbalance is inevitable when one party is famous, but that abusing it “is something I never did”. Deadline reports he told ITV News: “I am not a sexual predator… I have not broken the law.”
Walliams had tried to win a court injunction to stop publication. AP reports a judge rejected it, calling such an order “an exceptionally serious interference” with media rights. Deadline says his lawyers disclosed in that effort that he had twice tried to take his life because of the allegations. Neither he nor his lawyer had responded to the police investigation at the time of the DW report.
The fallout for his career and books
The consequences began before the police announcement. DW reports the BBC removed content featuring him, including Little Britain. HarperCollins stopped publishing new Walliams books last December and, according to The Guardian, dropped his whole backlist in September.
Producers of the upcoming film Fing! said he would have no part in its release and removed his cameo. AP says Sky is dropping the film in the UK. The Works and TG Jones have stopped selling his titles, and Waterstones is arranging returns.
The numbers show the shift. The Guardian cites NielsenIQ BookData figures: 7,497 copies sold in four weeks, worth £48,400, against 102,000 in the same period last year, when a new book was out. His titles have still earned more than £153 million since 2008.
Wider reckoning in UK entertainment
The story broke a day after Russell Brand was sentenced to 10 and a half years in prison for rape and sexual assault. DW notes that Neil Gaiman has faced accusations since 2024, which he denies. Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the media industry must ensure it protects women and girls, and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy is expected to meet industry leaders next week.
For earlier coverage, see our reports on the industry reaction, the NDA row and the withdrawal of his books in Australia. More is collected under our David Walliams tag.
What happens next
Detectives are taking new complaints and reviewing the ITV and Guardian reporting for evidence of offences. Police have not said whether anyone will be interviewed or charged. Nandy’s meeting with industry leaders is due next week. Until a decision is made, the allegations remain unproven and Walliams maintains his denial.
Frequently asked questions
Is David Walliams being investigated by police?
Yes. The Metropolitan Police confirmed an investigation into allegations of non-recent serious sexual offences involving a man in his 50s. It did not name him, but major outlets identified Walliams.
Has David Walliams been charged?
No charges have been reported. Police have not said whether anyone has been interviewed.
What does David Walliams say?
He denies the allegations, saying he is “not a sexual predator” and has not broken the law.
Are the police allegations the same as the ITV and Guardian claims?
No. The Met says they are separate, but detectives are also reviewing the media reporting.
