U.K. Police Open Sexual Offences Investigation Into Children's Author David Walliams

Police in London confirmed on Friday that they have opened an investigation into David Walliams, the children's author and television personality, over allegations of serious sexual offences.

The Metropolitan Police said they had received a number of allegations of past abuse after ITV News and the Guardian published a joint investigation into Walliams. In those reports, one woman said Walliams sexually assaulted her at his London home when she was 15, and others alleged he groomed them while they were teenagers. The news outlets reported that Walliams used his fame to groom girls and young women for sex.

Police said the allegations under investigation differ from those described in the media reports, but they will examine the published stories for evidence of any further crimes.

Walliams, 55, has denied the allegations, insisting he broke no laws and is not a sexual predator. "I am devastated that some of the women I met 10 to 20 years ago have now expressed hurt or anger towards me," he said in a written statement to ITV and the Guardian. "Whilst a power imbalance is inevitable when one party is famous, abusing that power is something else entirely and it is something that I never did."

Walliams is best known as co-creator and co-star of Little Britain, the hit sketch comedy of the 2000s, and as a children's author whose roughly 40 titles have sold more than 60 million copies worldwide, according to his website. Several of his books, including Gangsta Granny, have been adapted into BBC comedy dramas and stage shows. He also spent a decade as a judge on Britain's Got Talent before stepping down in 2022 after apologizing for making "disrespectful comments" about contestants.

The fallout from the reports has already affected his work. Producers of Fing!, an upcoming film based on his book, said on Tuesday they had cut his cameo and that Walliams "will have no involvement in the film's release or promotion," though he remains credited as a co-writer. U.K. distributor Sky told Variety it was dropping the movie, while U.S. distributor Angel Studios did not respond to a query from The Associated Press. Last year, publisher HarperCollins dropped Walliams over allegations of inappropriate behaviour, with the Guardian reporting that concerns about his conduct had existed for years, including an allegation of an inappropriate sexual relationship with a junior female employee.

The Guardian and ITV said their investigation spanned three years and involved interviews with more than 100 people. Walliams had sought a court injunction to stop the outlets from naming him, but Justice Matthew Nicklin rejected the request, calling such an order "an exceptionally serious interference" with media rights. Walliams had argued publication would drive him to take his own life, but the judge said his safety was the responsibility of mental health services. Walliams has not spoken publicly since the story was first reported Tuesday afternoon.

The reports were published a day after British actor and comedian Russell Brand was sentenced to 10 and a half years in prison for rape and sexual assault. Together, the two cases have prompted comparisons and broader reflection in Britain over celebrities escaping accountability for sexual misconduct. Brand's accusers came forward after a joint investigation by The Times and Channel 4, and The Times reported that more women have made claims against him since his sentencing, with police investigating two other cases.

Detective Superintendent Mike Cagney urged any victims of sexual offences to come forward. "We know reporting allegations of this nature can be daunting, but specialist officers are on hand to provide support, answer questions and guide you through the process," he said.