David Walliams Under Police Investigation as Met Receives New Allegations of Serious Sexual Offences
(Illustration: USA Current Affaires)
London's Metropolitan Police has launched a criminal investigation into David Walliams after receiving a number of allegations of non-recent serious sexual offences, the force confirmed on Friday, November 13.
In a statement, the Met said: "In recent days, the Met has received a number of allegations of non-recent serious sexual offences involving a man now in his 50s." The force stressed that the allegations it is investigating are separate from those reported by ITV News and The Guardian earlier this week — but added that detectives are also proactively reviewing that reporting "to establish whether there is any evidence of offences."
Detective Superintendent Mike Cagney, whose team is leading the investigation, urged "anyone who has been the victim of a sexual offence to come forward and speak to us, no matter when it happened." Walliams, 55, has denied all the allegations against him. No charges have been brought, and an investigation does not establish guilt.
What the Guardian and ITV Investigation Reported
The police announcement follows a joint investigation by ITV News and The Guardian, published on Tuesday, November 10, after a three-year investigation — and after Walliams lost a High Court battle to prevent UK media from identifying him.
Multiple women accused the comedian and children's author of sexually inappropriate behaviour and grooming, including when they were teenagers, with claims dating back to 2003. One woman described her alleged encounter with Walliams as sexual assault. Walliams was also accused of inappropriate conduct and sexual harassment at his former publisher HarperCollins, and while working on Britain's Got Talent.
Responding to that investigation, Walliams denied all the allegations and denied being a "sexual predator." He had desperately — and unsuccessfully — sought a gag order from London's High Court to stop the reporting from being published.
Two Sets of Allegations, One Investigation
What makes Friday's announcement significant is that the police are now dealing with two strands at once. The first is the new set of allegations received directly by the Met in recent days, which the force says are distinct from the media reports. The second is the published Guardian and ITV material itself, which detectives are now reviewing for evidence of offences.
The Met has not said how many new allegations it has received, nor when the alleged offences are said to have taken place, beyond describing them as "non-recent." It has also not named Walliams in its statement — the force referred only to "a man now in his 50s" — but the investigation was confirmed in connection with the reporting about him, and multiple outlets, including Page Six, have reported that Walliams is the man under investigation.
The development marks a sharp escalation in a story that has dominated British entertainment news all week. Walliams was first named this week after losing his High Court bid to stay anonymous, and the allegations have already prompted questions about his television and publishing career. A police investigation raises the stakes considerably — for Walliams, for the women who have come forward, and for the broadcasters and publishers who have worked with him.
For now, the facts are these: an investigation is under way, the allegations are unproven, Walliams denies them, and no charges have been brought. What happens next depends on what detectives find. We will update this story as it develops.
This article reports on allegations and a police investigation. All parties are presumed innocent unless proven otherwise in a court of law.
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