Jonathan Ross Addresses Allegations Against Walliams and Brand

TV presenter Jonathan Ross has stated he is "horrified" by allegations of sexual misconduct against David Walliams and the recent conviction of Russell Brand for rape. Ross acknowledged past friendly relationships with both men, stating he was unaware of their alleged conduct at the time. The allegations against Walliams, published by ITV News and The Guardian, include claims of grooming and inappropriate behavior towards women, some as young as 15. Walliams denies the allegations, stating he is "not a sexual predator." Brand was sentenced to 10 and a half years in jail on Monday after being found guilty of rape and sexual assault. Ross also addressed a 2004 joke referencing Walliams and a 15-year-old, explaining it was based on a misunderstanding of Walliams’ public dating history and that he would not have used it had he known of any actual misconduct. The Metropolitan Police have contacted the Guardian and ITV News to ensure potential victims are aware of how to report criminal allegations.

The allegations against Walliams include claims that he met a 15-year-old at a fan event and subsequently engaged in a sexual relationship when she was 17. Another woman alleges Walliams attempted to lift her shirt and commit a sexual assault during a coffee meeting when she was 15. Multiple women have accused Walliams of grooming, including a model who worked with him in her teens and another who claims he attempted to kiss her while showing her around his home. Investigations also suggest a sexual relationship with a junior employee at HarperCollins and pursuit of another. Reports also detail alleged inappropriate behavior at Britain’s Got Talent, including inviting young women to his dressing room.

Both Brand and Walliams were prominent figures in British television in the early 2000s, with Brand hosting Big Mouth and Walliams achieving success with Little Britain. Their decades-long friendship has ended with Brand’s conviction and the accusations against Walliams.

Where they differ

• The Independent highlighted the length of the friendship between Brand and Walliams, emphasizing their rise through the comedy ranks together.
• The BBC focused more on Ross’s statement and the details of the allegations against Walliams, while The Independent provided a broader context of the pair’s careers.
• The Independent noted that Walliams was denied an injunction against the allegations being published, a detail not present in the BBC report.

What is not yet known

• The extent to which the Metropolitan Police investigation will proceed remains unclear.
• Whether any criminal charges will be filed against Walliams is currently unknown.

Background

• Russell Brand was convicted of rape and three counts of sexual assault following a trial involving allegations from six women spanning a decade, between 1999 and 2009 [Fact Refinery, 2026-11-03].
• Brand’s 2007 memoir detailed problematic past behavior, including obsessive pursuit of a classmate and disturbing interactions with women, which were not widely condemned at the time [Fact Refinery, 2026-11-06].
• Jemima Goldsmith, ex-partner of Russell Brand, publicly accused him of violence, coercive control and abuse following his conviction, stating she previously called the police but did not pursue charges [Fact Refinery, 2026-11-09].
• David Walliams and Russell Brand were both prominent figures in British television in the early 2000s, achieving success with *Little Britain* and *Big Mouth* respectively [background knowledge].

Our reading

Our reading is that the article highlights a pattern of alleged misconduct by prominent figures in British entertainment, and the belated reckoning with that behavior. Jonathan Ross’s statement acknowledges past relationships with both Brand and Walliams, but emphasizes his lack of awareness of the alleged actions, suggesting a wider cultural issue of enabling or overlooking problematic behavior. The detail about the 2004 joke, and Ross’s explanation, further underscores the difficulty of assessing past interactions in light of current allegations.

What to watch

• The outcome of the Metropolitan Police investigation into the allegations against David Walliams, and whether any criminal charges are filed [article text].
• Whether any further details emerge regarding the extent of the alleged inappropriate behavior at *Britain’s Got Talent* [article text].
• Any statements or legal action taken by David Walliams regarding the allegations, beyond his denial of being a “sexual predator” [article text].

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