Metropolitan Police Launch Investigation into David Walliams Over Sexual Offence Allegations

The Metropolitan Police have launched a criminal investigation into David Walliams following multiple allegations of serious sexual offences. The investigation, involving claims of non-recent incidents, comes after reports published by The Guardian and ITV News detailed accusations of grooming and sexual misconduct spanning several years. While the Metropolitan Police state these new allegations are separate from those already reported, they are proactively reviewing the media’s reporting for potential offences.

Multiple women have accused Walliams, 55, of using his celebrity status to pursue them for sexual purposes, with one woman characterizing an alleged encounter at age 15 as a sexual assault. Walliams has denied all allegations of criminal activity, stating he is “not a sexual predator” and did not break the law, but acknowledged behaving “thoughtlessly” in past casual relationships. He had previously attempted to prevent publication of the allegations, arguing the publicity could be detrimental to his mental health.

Several allegations involve interactions with young women and teenagers, including claims of inappropriate behaviour at Britain’s Got Talent and attempts to pursue junior employees at HarperCollins. The Metropolitan Police are urging anyone with information about potential offences to come forward, offering support through specialist officers. The investigation follows a judge’s rejection of Walliams’ attempt to block the initial reporting by The Guardian and ITV News, and has already led to his literary agency dropping him and the BBC removing some of his shows from its iPlayer streaming service.

Where they differ

• The Daily Mail emphasized Walliams’ attempt to prevent publication and his reported fear of suicide, framing it as a desperate act.
• Left-leaning outlets such as The Guardian and Independent focused on the allegations of grooming and the power imbalance inherent in Walliams’ interactions with young women.
• Variety and The Hollywood Reporter highlighted the professional fallout, including Walliams being dropped by his agency and content being removed from streaming platforms.
• Sky News and BBC US provided brief, factual reports, focusing on the police investigation itself without extensive detail on the allegations.

What is not yet known

• The full extent of the alleged offences and the number of potential victims remains unclear.
• Whether the police investigation will lead to criminal charges is currently unknown.

Background

• David Walliams is a 55-year-old celebrity known for his work in television and literature [background knowledge].
• In November 2026, allegations of sexual misconduct were made against both David Walliams and Russell Brand, prompting police contact with media outlets [Fact Refinery, 2026-11-11].
• Multiple individuals have recently come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct against prominent figures, including claims involving Salah Fayed and Thomas Markle Sr. [Fact Refinery, 2026-11-09, 2026-11-06].
• The Metropolitan Police have been involved in reviewing allegations and responding to reports of potential criminal activity in multiple recent cases [Fact Refinery, 2026-11-12, 2026-11-06].

Our reading

Our reading is that the Metropolitan Police are responding to a pattern of serious allegations against a public figure, prompted by reporting in multiple media outlets. The differing emphases in those reports, from the legal attempts to suppress the story to the details of the accusations and professional consequences, suggest a complex situation with multiple layers of public interest. The police are proactively investigating, indicating they view the claims as potentially warranting criminal charges.

What to watch

• The Metropolitan Police’s timeline for completing their investigation and any announcement regarding potential charges [Metropolitan Police press releases].
• Any further reporting from The Guardian and ITV News detailing the number of accusers and specifics of the allegations [The Guardian/ITV News websites].
• Any changes in Walliams’ professional standing, such as further agency or network decisions, or legal action taken by any of the accusers [Variety/The Hollywood Reporter].

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