LAST UPDATE | 19 Dec 2025

BEST-SELLING CHILDREN’S author and comedian David Walliams has been dropped by his publisher, HarperCollins UK, following an investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards young women.

The investigation reportedly began in 2023 after a junior employee raised concerns about Walliams’ conduct.

According to The Telegraph, some staff were instructed to work in pairs when meeting him and to avoid visiting his home.

One woman who raised concerns received a five-figure settlement and subsequently left the company.

Sources told The Telegraph that Walliams was not made aware of the investigation while it was ongoing, and its conclusions were not put to him directly.

The news was originally reported by The Telegraph this afternoon.

A spokesperson for HarperCollins told the Telegraph: “After careful consideration, and under the leadership of its new CEO, HarperCollins UK has decided not to publish any new titles by David Walliams.

“The author is aware of this decision. HarperCollins takes employee wellbeing extremely seriously and has processes in place for reporting and investigating concerns,” the spokesperson added.

In a statement this evening, a spokesperson for Walliams said: “David has never been informed of any allegations raised against him by HarperCollins.

“He was not party to any investigation or given any opportunity to answer questions. David strongly denies that he has behaved inappropriately and is taking legal advice”

Walliams, real name David Edward Williams, rose to fame more than 20 years ago through the BBC sketch series Little Britain and has since become one of the UK’s most successful children’s authors.

The 54-year-old has written more than 40 books and short story collections, which have sold over 60 million copies worldwide and been translated into 55 languages.

His works, including Gangsta Granny and Billionaire Boy, have also been adapted for television.

The author’s television career has previously been affected by controversy.

In 2022, leaked transcripts revealed that Walliams had made offensive remarks about contestants during filming for Britain’s Got Talent.

He subsequently stepped down from his role as a judge, apologising for the “disrespectful comments” and stating that they were part of private conversations not intended to be shared.

In 2023 Britain’s Got Talent producer Fremantle apologised and reached an “amicable resolution” with Walliams after the remarks he made while on the show were leaked.

Walliams, who appeared on the ITV talent show between 2012 and 2022, was suing the company a for misuse of private information and for breaching UK General Data Protection Regulation (UKGDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

With reporting from Press Association