British celebrity named after failed bid to block sexual misconduct claims

MANCHESTER, England (CN) — British comedian and children’s author David Walliams was publicly named Tuesday in connection with claims that he used his celebrity status to pursue teenage girls and young women, after a High Court judge refused to block publication of a three-year investigation.Walliams, 55, was identified in court proceedings only as “PPT” while seeking an injunction against Independent Television News and Guardian News & Media, publisher of The Guardian.He did not appeal by Monday’s deadline, allowing the organizations to identify him when they published their reports Tuesday.The joint investigation said reporters spoke with more than 100 people, including more than 30 with firsthand accounts.Multiple women said Walliams used his fame and professional position to pursue them when they were teenagers or young adults.Two said they first met him at 15.One said he contacted her after they met at a “Little Britain” fan event and they began having sex when she was 17.She described the experience as grooming, which Walliams denies.The investigation also includes claims of sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct involving women who worked with him in television and publishing.The Metropolitan Police said it was aware of the reports but had received no related complaints of sexual assault or other misconduct.“Should we receive any reports, they will be carefully assessed,” a spokesperson said. The force said anyone contacting police would be supported by specialist officers.It had contacted the media organizations involved in last week’s court proceedings to tell potential victims how to report crimes.Who is David Walliams?Walliams is one of Britain’s best-known entertainers.He rose to fame with comedian Matt Lucas in the sketch series “Little Britain” before becoming a judge on “Britain’s Got Talent” for 10 seasons.He also became a bestselling children’s author, publishing books including “The Boy in the Dress” and “Gangsta Granny,” which have sold tens of millions of copies worldwide.Walliams even has his own themed attraction with rides and special effects at Alton Towers, Britain’s largest theme park.European human rights protectionsWalliams sought a permanent High Court injunction to prevent the media organizations from publishing or broadcasting the investigation.His lawyers argued publication “would expose him to a real and immediate risk of serious harm or death.”The court heard he had made two previous suicide attempts and received psychiatric treatment.His legal team cited Articles 2, 3 and 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, whose protections are incorporated into British law through the Human Rights Act 1998.Article 2 protects the right to life, Article 3 prohibits torture and inhuman or degrading treatment and Article 8 protects private and family life.Walliams argued the state had to protect him from the publication’s consequences, including its impact on his relationship with his teenage son.But Judge Matthew Nicklin rejected the argument that those rights required the court to silence the media organizations.The judge accepted that “the risk of suicide is genuine, grave and closely connected to the Court’s decision and any subsequent publication.”He nevertheless found psychiatric treatment and mental health services provided significant protection.Nicklin ruled that Article 3 did not require courts to prevent publication by private media organizations and Article 8 did not provide a standalone basis for Walliams to stop them.The publishers relied on Article 10, which protects freedom of expression under the convention. The judge found the public interest in reporting claims of serious wrongdoing by a prominent figure outweighed Walliams’ privacy interests. An injunction would also interfere with the rights of journalists, sources and the public to share and receive information.The judgment did not determine whether any claims against Walliams were true.In response, Walliams said he had sometimes behaved thoughtlessly in casual relationships and failed to consider others’ feelings, but insisted he didn’t commit any crimes.“I am not a sexual predator,” he said. “I have not broken the law.”Fallout spreads across British entertainmentThe investigation prompted a series of consequences.The BBC said it was removing some programs, including “Little Britain,” while reviewing all material featuring or written by him on its platforms.His agency, Independent Talent Group, ended its relationship with him, saying it was deeply disturbed by the claims.The production company behind “Britain’s Got Talent” said it was disturbed by the claims but had received no complaints about his conduct during his time on the show. It encouraged anyone who experienced wrongdoing to come forward.The Labour Party also suspended his membership.The British government also signaled concern about the wider use of injunctions to prevent reporting.The Prime Minister’s spokesman said the claims were deeply troubling, while Victims Minister Alex Davies-Jones told Parliament on Tuesday the government was examining what more it could do to address the use of the legal system to discourage public interest reporting.Walliams’ former publisher HarperCollins had already ended its relationship with him in 2025 following a separate internal investigation.Courthouse News reporter James Francis Whitehead is based in England.Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads