London's Metropolitan Police is investigating allegations of non-recent serious sexual offences involving a man in his 50s. David Walliams, 55, denies the allegations and says he has not broken the law.
London's Metropolitan Police has opened an investigation into allegations of non-recent serious sexual offences involving a man now in his 50s, following media reports about British comedian and children's author David Walliams.
The Metropolitan Police said it "has received a number of allegations of non-recent serious sexual offences involving a man now in his 50s". The force said the new allegations are separate from those reported this week by ITV News and The Guardian, and that it is proactively reviewing that reporting to establish whether there is any evidence of offences.
Detective Superintendent Mike Cagney urged anyone affected to come forward, saying: "We know reporting allegations of this nature can be daunting, but specialist officers are on hand to provide support, answer questions and guide you through the process."
ITV News and The Guardian published reports on Tuesday after Walliams lost a High Court bid to block them from naming him. The outlets said they spoke to more than 100 people during a three-year investigation. One woman said Walliams sexually assaulted her at his London home when she was 15, while others accused him of grooming them as teenagers. The reports also included allegations that he harassed young female colleagues.
In a letter to ITV and The Guardian, Walliams said: "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." He added: "I am not a sexual predator … I have not broken the law."
The BBC said it had taken down some shows involving Walliams, including all episodes of Little Britain. His literary agency, Independent Talent Group, said it was "no longer representing him in any capacity". His publisher, HarperCollins, dropped him last year following accusations that he harassed female staff, which he had also denied.
Walliams rose to fame with sketch shows Little Britain and Come Fly With Me and was a judge on ITV's Britain's Got Talent. His children's books, including Mr Stink, Gangsta Granny and The Boy in the Dress, have reportedly sold more than 50 million copies.
The investigation follows the sentencing of comedian Russell Brand to more than 10 years in prison for rape and sexual assault. The reports into Walliams were published a day after Brand's sentencing, and the two stories have prompted wider discussion in the UK about celebrities and sexual misconduct.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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