In a significant development within the UK publishing industry, bestselling children's author and comedian David Walliams has been dropped by his long-time publisher, HarperCollins UK. The decision follows allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards women.
Publisher Severs Ties After Investigation
A spokesperson for HarperCollins UK confirmed the move on Friday 19 December 2025, stating the company had decided not to release any new titles by Walliams. The decision was made "after careful consideration, and under the leadership of its new CEO," Kate Elton, who was appointed in October. The publisher emphasised its commitment to employee welfare, saying: "HarperCollins takes employee well-being extremely seriously and has processes in place for reporting and investigating concerns."
The action is reported to have been taken after an investigation into allegations concerning the author's conduct towards young women, as first reported by The Telegraph. The publisher declined to comment further on internal matters.
Walliams Denies Allegations and Seeks Legal Advice
In a strongly worded statement issued later on Friday, a spokesperson for David Walliams contested the process. "David has never been informed of any allegations raised against him by HarperCollins," the statement read. "He was not party to any investigation or given any opportunity to answer questions. David strongly denies that he has behaved inappropriately and is taking legal advice."
The 54-year-old entertainer, who shot to fame on the BBC sketch show Little Britain, is one of the country's most successful children's authors. According to his website, he has written more than 40 books, which have sold over 60 million copies worldwide and been translated into 55 languages. His first children's book, The Boy in the Dress, was published by HarperCollins in 2008.
Career Impact and Broader Context
This development marks a major professional setback for Walliams, whose partnership with the publisher spanned 17 years. Beyond his literary success, he is also known for the BBC show Come Fly With Me and was a former judge on ITV's Britain's Got Talent. He was awarded an OBE in 2017 for services to charity and the arts.
The publisher's decisive action underscores the ongoing scrutiny of behaviour within the media and entertainment sectors. It highlights the increasing priority companies are placing on internal conduct investigations and duty of care towards staff, even when involving high-profile, revenue-generating figures.
