Fastrack · Police Investigate David Walliams Over Alleged Sexual Offences

The Metropolitan Police opened a criminal investigation into David Walliams over allegations of non-recent serious sexual offences. Walliams denies wrongdoing.

Police say the new complaints came in recent days, separate from published reports.
15 was the age some women say they were when contact began.
A High Court judge refused Walliams' bid to block the reports.
His literary agency dropped him, and the BBC began removing his shows.

Why it matters: The case has moved from press allegations to a formal police inquiry. Walliams is a former Britain's Got Talent judge and top-selling children's author.

Walliams said, "I am not a sexual predator… I have not broken the law."
His lawyers told the court he had twice attempted suicide over the allegations.

The story so far

10 steps · since Oct 27

Oct 27Unnamed Celebrity Fights Publication of Sex Misconduct Claims9 sources
Nov 2
Nov 3Celebrity Loses Injunction Bid to Stay Anonymous Over Allegations14 sources
Nov 9Walliams Named Over Sexual Misconduct Allegations After Failed Injunction29 sources
Nov 10–11
Nov 13Police Investigate David Walliams Over Alleged Sexual OffencesYou are hereLatest

How 15 sources split on this story

Source landscape

Factuality

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Strong LeftLeftLean LeftCenterLean RightRightStrong Right

Political Bias

Coverage by lean% of 15 sources

15 sources · 25 articles · 47% Center coverage

Center coverage, 7 sources: The center frames it as a procedural update, quoting the Met's statement and Walliams' denial at length.

Deadline7hDavid Walliams Being Investigated By Police CTV News6hPolice launch sex offence investigation into children’s author David Walliams BBC News8hPolice investigating David Walliams over alleged serious sexual offences Deutsche Welle5hDavid Walliams: UK police launch sex offense probe into 'Little Britain' comedian, children's author PBS NewsHour5hUK police launch sex offense investigation into children’s author and TV personality David Walliams Sky News1dPolice to investigate David Walliams over alleged 'serious' sexual offences TMZ7hDavid Walliams Under Police Investigation Over New Sex Misconduct Allegations

Left coverage, 5 sources: The left frames this as a police inquiry following its own reporting, with professional fallout and Walliams' denial alongside.

The Guardian8hMet police launch investigation into David Walliams allegations The Independent7hUK police launch sex offense investigation into children’s author and comedian David Walliams Hollywood Reporter7hDavid Walliams Under Investigation by U.K. Police Over Alleged “Serious Sexual Offenses”Rolling Stone2hDavid Walliams: British Police Open Investigation Into Sexual Misconduct Allegations Variety8hDavid Walliams Being Investigated for 'Serious Sexual Offences' by Police

Right coverage, 3 sources: The right centers the accusers' detailed accounts and treats the inquiry as victims coming forward.

Daily Mail8hPolice launch criminal probe into David Walliams as victims come forward accusing him of sexual misconduct New York Post7hDavid Walliams under police investigation for ‘serious sexual offenses’ as more alleged victims come forward The Sun8hMet Police launches investigation into David Walliams over NEW allegations as more ‘victims’ come forward

What’s next: Detectives will review the ITV News and Guardian reporting for evidence of offences. Det. Supt. Mike Cagney urged victims to come forward, no matter when it happened.

Walliams remains in a psychiatric hospital after being sectioned on Oct. 22.
What do the new complaints to police allege, and how many people made them?
Will detectives find evidence of offences in the published reporting?