David Walliams, one of Britain's best-selling children's authors, has been publicly named in sexual misconduct allegations after abandoning a High Court bid to keep his identity secret. The reporting restrictions were lifted on Tuesday, 10 November 2026, when the 55-year-old chose not to appeal a ruling by Justice Nicklin dismissing his claim.
The same week, Land Registry filings suggest his £10.5 million gated townhouse near Primrose Hill in north London may already have been sold, with a boutique law firm representing high net worth clients applying to update the property's title, according to the NZ Herald.
What the court documents allege
Court papers made public after the anonymity order was lifted accuse Walliams of abusing his power and status as a well-known public figure to establish contact with young women and engage, or seek to engage, in inappropriate sexual activity, including potential criminal activity.
The claims first surfaced through a Telegraph investigation, which disclosed last year that Walliams' publisher HarperCollins had looked into his conduct after a junior employee complained about harassment. A joint investigation published by the Guardian and ITV News has since added multiple further allegations, according to The Independent.
The allegations women have made
Among the most serious claims is an alleged sexual assault against a 15-year-old schoolgirl. Walliams is said to have contacted the girl, named only as Jade, on MySpace, met her for coffee, then driven her to Supernova Heights, his five-storey townhouse in Belsize Park previously owned by Noel Gallagher, where she says he kissed and undressed her.
It's a sexual assault. It's grooming. It's completely wrong in every way.
That account comes from Jade herself. Walliams' lawyers say he never engaged in grooming young women and deny he had any sexual contact with her.
A separate allegation from 2017 concerns a HarperCollins intern in her mid-20s who was sent to Walliams' house alone. His lawyers describe what followed as a consensual sexual relationship. The Guardian reported that the woman later said the relationship had been consensual but amounted to an abuse of power, and that female employees would warn each other not to visit his house alone.
Police step in as the story widens
The Metropolitan Police has contacted the Guardian and ITV News to ensure any potential victims know how to report criminal allegations, according to The Mirror. No charges have been laid at this stage, and Walliams denies the allegations of sexual misconduct.
Why the house sale is drawing attention
The timing of the sale raises questions about the cost of Walliams' legal battle to silence the press. Land Registry records show he bought the property for £8.4 million in 2017 and took out mortgages on it twice, with charges registered in 2023 and again the following year. The listing describes it as a beautiful family house a stone's throw from the exclusive Primrose Hill enclave.
Interior images from the listing show a display cabinet of trophies, including a Pride of Britain Award Walliams won in 2006 after swimming the English Channel and raising more than £1.5 million for Sport Relief. James Bond posters hang in the living room, an Elton John image sits above a bed, and David Bowie adorns the bathroom wall. The four-bedroom townhouse overlooks Regent's Park, according to NationalWorld, and the property is now being marketed at £10.5 million, the Express reports.
Walliams used the same estate agent for his previous home, Supernova Heights. Speaking to Boyd Hilton for the book Inside Little Britain, he once admitted he worried the large house would make him feel lonely. Several of the alleged incidents of inappropriate conduct are said to have taken place there.
Why the anonymity fight matters
Walliams had initially obtained an interim order preventing his identification, but lost his High Court battle to remain anonymous. His decision not to appeal means one of Britain's most recognisable children's entertainers, a former Britain's Got Talent judge whose books line library shelves across New Zealand as well as the UK, can now be named in connection with these claims.
For readers in Aotearoa, the case is a reminder of how power imbalances in publishing and entertainment can persist behind confidentiality agreements and legal threats, and how court reporting restrictions can delay, but ultimately not suppress, investigative journalism.
FAQ
Who is David Walliams?
David Walliams, 55, is a British comedian and children's author, a former Britain's Got Talent judge and one of the UK's best-selling children's writers. He denies the sexual misconduct allegations.
What is David Walliams accused of?
Court documents allege he used his fame to contact young women and engage or seek to engage in inappropriate sexual activity, including potential criminal activity, and multiple women have accused him of sexual misconduct in reporting by the Guardian and ITV News.
Has David Walliams been charged with a crime?
No. The Metropolitan Police has contacted the media outlets involved to ensure potential victims know how to report allegations, but no charges have been laid.
What is happening with his London home?
His £10.5 million gated townhouse near Primrose Hill appears to have been sold, based on a Land Registry application lodged in the week ending 10 November 2026.