The year 2025 has marked a dramatic and public fall from grace for David Walliams, transforming the once-ubiquitous television personality and best-selling children's author into a figure mired in controversy. A series of allegations and professional repercussions have culminated in him being dropped by his long-time publisher, HarperCollins, and effectively sidelined by the BBC.
A Cascade of Professional Setbacks
The most significant recent blow came when publishing giant HarperCollins confirmed it would no longer release any new titles by Walliams. This decision followed an internal investigation into allegations that the author had harassed junior female employees, claims which Walliams has strongly denied through a spokesperson. Reports suggest a former employee received a five-figure settlement after raising concerns.
This publishing rupture is a severe financial and reputational hit. By 2019, it was estimated Walliams had sold £100 million worth of books for HarperCollins, with hits like 'Gangsta Granny' becoming cultural phenomena adapted for BBC film and McDonald's Happy Meals.
Simultaneously, his relationship with the BBC has cooled significantly. While a festive 'Would I Lie To You?' special featuring Walliams is still scheduled for Boxing Day, the corporation stated it has no future projects directly involving him. Furthermore, earlier in 2025, he ceased to be an ambassador for the charity The Children's Trust following a review of their ambassador programme.
From Comedy Stardom to Controversial Figure
Walliams's career trajectory has been stark. He rose to national fame in the early 2000s through the groundbreaking, if later criticised, sketch show Little Britain with Matt Lucas. His profile soared further with a judging role on Britain's Got Talent from 2012, where he became a household fixture, winning multiple National Television Awards for 'Best Judge'.
His success extended to becoming one of the UK's most successful children's authors and hosting prestigious events like the National Television Awards and the Royal Variety Performance. However, in recent years, several aspects of his past work have faced intense scrutiny.
A Mounting List of Controversies
The allegations at HarperCollins are not isolated incidents but part of a pattern of controversies that have eroded Walliams's public standing.
Little Britain has been widely criticised for its use of blackface and racial stereotypes, leading Walliams and Lucas to publicly apologise in 2020, admitting they would not make the show the same way today.
In 2022, he was removed from Britain's Got Talent after leaked audio from 2020 revealed him making derogatory and sexually explicit remarks about auditioning contestants. He later apologised and reached a settlement with production company Fremantle.
His children's books have also faced accusations of racism and fat-shaming. Notably, a story featuring a Chinese character was removed from one collection over stereotyping concerns, and the recurring character 'Raj' has been called a lazy ethnic stereotype.
Most recently, during the filming of the upcoming 'Would I Lie To You?' Christmas special, Walliams was filmed performing two Nazi salutes, an incident for which the BBC and Banijay UK apologised.
Through a spokesperson, Walliams has consistently denied any inappropriate behaviour regarding the HarperCollins claims, stating he was never informed of the allegations or given a chance to respond. He is reportedly taking legal advice. Nevertheless, the collective weight of these events has fundamentally altered the career of a man who was, for over a decade, one of Britain's most recognisable and commercially successful entertainers.
