Comedian David Walliams is reportedly exploring a major comeback for the controversial sketch show Little Britain on streaming giant Netflix. This move follows a series of professional setbacks for the star, including being dropped by his long-time publisher.
Career Fallout and Allegations
The 54-year-old entertainer faced significant career repercussions last month. His publisher, HarperCollins, severed ties with him following allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards junior female staff members. Walliams has strongly denied all allegations.
In a statement issued on his behalf, a spokesperson said: "David has never been informed of any allegations raised against him by HarperCollins. 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 fallout was swift and wide-ranging. HarperCollins paused all new book projects, while retailer Waterstones removed him from its Children's Book Festival line-up. Furthermore, The Children's Trust charity dropped him as an ambassador, and the BBC confirmed it had no future work planned with him, despite airing a Christmas episode of Would I Lie To You? featuring Walliams.
The Netflix Sanctuary Strategy
Amid this controversy, Walliams has hinted at a potential new home for Little Britain, the hit show he created with Matt Lucas which originally aired on the BBC from 2003 to 2006. Speaking in a Q&A session, he suggested the show could have a future, noting the modern media landscape is "a different world now."
He pointed to other comedians like Ricky Gervais and Chris Rock, who have found a platform on Netflix. "You sort of can’t get cancelled there," Walliams was quoted as saying. "Netflix isn’t going to take anything off. I think it’s different to maybe how things used to be."
This comment is particularly pointed given the show's own history. Little Britain was previously removed from BBC streaming services due to content deemed homophobic, transphobic, and racist, before being reinstated in an edited form.
A Complicated Legacy and Future
Walliams's career, once seemingly bulletproof with an estimated fortune of £17 million, has faced multiple challenges. He was previously dismissed from Britain's Got Talent for making crude remarks about contestants.
Despite the current drama, he expressed a desire for the sketch show to remain available to audiences. The potential pivot to Netflix represents a strategic attempt to navigate a changed cultural and commercial environment, where streaming platforms operate under different pressures than traditional broadcasters.
Whether this speculated move materialises remains to be seen, but it underscores Walliams's intent to rebuild his professional standing in the wake of significant allegations and reputational damage.
