David Walliams Faces Teen Sexual Assault Allegation

David Walliams, 55, was named after a High Court judge rejected his bid to prevent The Guardian and ITV News from publishing allegations, and he did not appeal. The investigation says multiple women accused him of using his celebrity status to pursue them, including two who say they first met him at 15; one alleges he sexually assaulted her, and others describe alleged inappropriate conduct, including toward junior female staff. The outlets said their findings drew on more than 100 sources, and the allegations have not been adjudicated; the court ruling concerned publication and freedom of expression, not whether the claims were true. Walliams denies grooming, sexual assault, sexual misconduct and other wrongdoing. HarperCollins ended its relationship with him, he left Britain’s Got Talent, his literary agency said it no longer represents him, and the BBC is reviewing material featuring or written by him and has begun removing some programmes, including Little Britain. Britain’s Got Talent producer Fremantle said it received no complaints about his conduct while he was on the show and urged anyone with concerns to come forward.