Legal action 10 months after he left over crude comments

David Walliams is suing the makers of Britain’s Got Talent, almost a year after he left under a cloud.

The comic turned children’s book author left the show last  November after crude comments he made about contestants were leaked.

Now he is suing producers FremantleMedia under data protection laws, according to multiple reports.

After watching hopefuls audition at the London Palladium in January 2020, he repeatedly called one elderly a ‘cunt’ several times and described a female contestant as ‘the slightly boring girl you meet in the pub that thinks you want to fuck them, but you don’t.’

The comments were never meant to air but were picked up by microphones  and leaked to The Guardian.

At the time, Walliams apologised for his comments, saying in a statement: ‘I would like to apologise to the people I made disrespectful comments about during breaks in filming for Britain’s Got Talent in 2020. 

‘These were private conversations and – like most conversations with friends – were never intended to be shared. Nevertheless, I am sorry.’

In a statement after the incident, producers said: ‘Although relating to a private conversation almost three years ago, the language used was inappropriate. Even though it was private, those involved have been spoken to and reminded of their responsibilities and the show’s expectations as to future professional conduct.’

Walliams was subsequently replaced by former Strictly Come Dancing judge Bruno Tonioli.

Published: 27 Sep 2023