The BBC is facing mounting pressure to remove comedian and children's author David Walliams from its Christmas television schedule. This follows the decision by his publisher, HarperCollins, to sever ties with him after allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards female staff members.
Broadcaster Stands Firm on Festive Plans
Despite the controversy, a BBC spokesperson has stated that the corporation will not be making any changes to its festive schedules. However, they confirmed that the BBC has "no future projects directly involving David Walliams." This leaves his existing Christmas programming in a precarious position.
The scheduled broadcasts include two television adaptations of Walliams's books: Mr Stink, airing on CBBC, and The Boy in the Dress. Furthermore, a Boxing Day festive special of the panel show Would I Lie To You? will feature Walliams as a guest panellist. This recording itself attracted controversy when the author reportedly performed two Nazi salutes during filming, an act condemned by host Rob Brydon.
Publisher Severs Ties as Author Holidays Abroad
The crisis for Walliams escalated when HarperCollins UK announced it would not publish any new titles by the author following an internal investigation. The publisher emphasised its commitment to employee wellbeing but declined to comment on specific internal matters.
Walliams has vehemently denied any wrongdoing. A spokesperson for the author stated: "David has never been informed of any allegations raised against him by HarperCollins. He was not party to any investigation... He strongly denies that he has behaved inappropriately and is taking legal advice."
As the storm brews, Walliams is currently on a pre-Christmas holiday in the Maldives with his son. He has posted a series of lavish Instagram posts from the Park Hyatt resort, where villas can cost over £4,500 per night.
A Career Under Scrutiny and in Decline
This is not the first scandal to engulf the former Britain's Got Talent judge. He left the ITV show in 2022 after a leaked transcript revealed he made vile and sexually explicit comments about female contestants during auditions. Although he apologised, calling the remarks "disrespectful," he subsequently sued the production company and is believed to have received a settlement of around £5 million.
His once-dominant position in children's publishing is also waning. While his books have sold over 60 million copies globally, his sales have reportedly fallen by more than 60 per cent this summer. His professional relationship with Simon Cowell is also said to be over, with the pair no longer on speaking terms.
One MP told The Telegraph that the BBC "probably would be better being safe than sorry" and remove the 54-year-old from its schedule. For now, the broadcaster is holding its line, leaving viewers to decide if Walliams remains a festive fixture or a figure of the past.
