British comedian, children's author and former Britain's Got Talent judge David Walliams has been identified as the previously unnamed celebrity accused of using his fame and influence to pursue young women, including girls as young as 15.

The 55-year-old is at the centre of a three-year joint investigation by The Guardian and ITV News, which uncovered allegations dating back to 2003. The investigation heard from 30 sources with first-hand accounts of his alleged behaviour.

Among those who have come forward are two women who claim they were groomed by Walliams after first encountering him when they were just 15 years old.

One woman, identified under the pseudonym Jade, alleges that Walliams contacted her through MySpace in 2007, when she was 15, before arranging to meet her in London. She claims the encounter led to unwanted sexual contact, which she now describes as sexual assault.

Another woman, known as Alex, claims she met Walliams at a Little Britain fan event in 2004, where she shared scripts in the hope of pursuing a comedy career. She alleges that their subsequent contact developed into an inappropriate relationship, which became sexual when she was 17. Walliams denies grooming either woman or committing sexual offences.

The investigation also uncovered allegations of inappropriate workplace behaviour and sexual harassment involving women connected to Britain's Got Talent and publishing company HarperCollins.

In December 2025, HarperCollins confirmed it would no longer publish new books by Walliams following earlier reports concerning his workplace conduct. The publisher subsequently announced in September 2026 that it would also stop publishing his existing back catalogue.

However, before the latest allegations could be made public, Walliams attempted to secure a High Court injunction preventing the two news organisations from publishing their findings.

His legal representatives raised serious concerns about his mental health, arguing that publication could put his life at risk. The court heard that he had made two attempts to take his own life following the allegations being put to him.

Despite acknowledging the seriousness of those concerns, Mr Justice Nicklin rejected the application on 3 November, citing the significant public interest in the allegations and the importance of press freedom.

The judge recognised that there was a genuine and grave risk to Walliams' life but concluded that an injunction would represent an exceptionally serious interference with the media's ability to report on matters of substantial public interest.

Walliams' legal team subsequently confirmed that he would not be appealing the decision, allowing The Guardian and ITV News to publish their findings on 10 November.

Walliams has strongly denied all allegations, including criminal wrongdoing and claims that he abused his celebrity status.

In a letter addressed to the journalists investigating the claims, he acknowledged that he had sometimes behaved thoughtlessly in previous casual relationships, expressing regret for not always considering other people's feelings.

However, he maintained:

"I am not a sexual predator. I have not broken the law, but I am devastated that some of the women I met 10 to 20 years ago have now expressed hurt or anger towards me."

The allegations have since prompted wider scrutiny of the comedian's career and the influence held by powerful figures within the entertainment industry.

It is important to note that the High Court proceedings concerned whether the allegations could be published, rather than determining whether they were true. The court's decision to reject the injunction does not establish that any of the allegations against Walliams are true.