Television presenter Jonathan Ross said he was “horrified” by the allegations regarding David Walliams and the crimes of Russell Brand, stating he was “genuinely unaware of their conduct.”
The 65-year-old broadcaster issued the statement following a joint investigation by The Guardian and ITV News, which named Walliams as the subject of allegations involving sexual misconduct and the grooming of teenage girls. The investigation, which includes an ITV documentary titled David Walliams: Power and Silence, follows an unsuccessful attempt by Walliams to secure a legal injunction to prevent the publication of the claims, according to RTE.ie.
The resurgence of a 2004 controversy
Specifically, footage has resurfaced from the 2004 British Comedy Awards in which Ross joked about Walliams potentially “going home with a 15-year-old.”
In a statement to the Press Association, Ross addressed the resurfaced footage, noting that the joke had been submitted to him by the awards’ scriptwriting team. He explained that he believed the punchline was a hyperbolic reference to Walliams’ history of dating younger women rather than a reference to actual events.
David Walliams has been revealed as the anonymous celebrity who fought to conceal his identity amid sexual misconduct allegations, with his lawyers arguing the claims going public could put him at risk of suicide. Allegations include grooming teenage girls as young as 15 and… pic.twitter.com/U0PLmZsZFS
“I recognise how deeply shocking it is to revisit footage of a joke delivered by me at the Comedy Awards in 2004, in which I make light of the notion of Walliams going home with a 15-year-old,” Ross said.
“Had I had any reason to suspect that it might be referring to actual events, I would not only have refused to use it, but I would not have felt comfortable continuing a personal or professional relationship with him.”
Ross also addressed his previous connection to Russell Brand, who was recently jailed for ten and a half years for rape and sexual assault. Ross, who appeared on several shows with Brand and featured on his BBC Radio 2 show in 2008, noted that he was on friendly terms with both men during a period when he was unaware of their actions.
Allegations of grooming and abuse of power
The investigation by The Guardian and ITV News presents detailed accounts from several women. One woman, identified by The Guardian as Alex, alleged that Walliams first contacted her in January 2004 when she was 15 years old. According to The Guardian, Walliams was 32 at the time and was a rising star through his work on Little Britain.
The reporting by The Guardian includes details of correspondence, such as an email from February 2004 where Walliams asked Alex to provide her email address. Another woman, Jade, told The Guardian that during a meeting when she was 15, Walliams asked her if she had ever had sex before.
Walliams has denied all allegations of criminal activity and sexual misconduct. His legal representatives told RTE.ie that he has never engaged in grooming and that he is “devastated” that women he met years ago have expressed hurt or anger toward him. Sara Mansoori KC, representing Walliams, stated in written submissions to the High Court that the author has “no intention of returning to public life,” according to RTE.ie.
David Walliams has, finally, been named as the celebrity about whom sordid allegations have been circulating for decades. I delved into his downfall for @spectator https://t.co/CkTt4Hg4sM
According to RTE.ie, his publisher, HarperCollins, dropped him in December 2025 following an investigation into allegations of harassment. His literary agency, Independent Talent Group, expressed that they are “deeply disturbed” by the allegations, and the BBC is reportedly in the process of removing his programmes, including Little Britain.
| Entity Involved | Reported Action/Impact | Source |
|---|---|---|
| HarperCollins | Dropped Walliams in December 2025 | RTE.ie |
| BBC | Removing programmes including Little Britain | RTE.ie |
| Independent Talent Group | Expressed they are “deeply disturbed” | RTE.ie |
Disclaimer: The cultural analyses and financial data presented in this article are based on available public records and industry metrics at the time of publication.
The @itvnews investigation which David Walliams tried to stop in the courts. Watch here 👇 https://t.co/jvXQEwPPQW
More on David Walliams
Many have been asking for a link to my interview with comedian Lucy Beaumont about the #Walliams allegations (which he denies). Here it is:https://t.co/dF0vrnb76i
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