While the new series of Britain’s Got Talent is set to kick off on Saturday, April 15, David Walliams won’t be a part of the judging panel.
After spending a decade on the show, the star has left after he was forced to apologise for making disparaging, expletive-ridden remarks about an elderly contestant and a young woman.
The comments, made in January 2020, were made during auditions at the London Palladium and revealed in December 2022.
Here is everything we know about David Walliams and the incident in question.
Who is David Walliams?
David Walliams, 51, is a comedian, actor, and writer best known for his work with Matt Lucas on the BBC series Little Britain and Come Fly With Me.
Walliams and Lucas first met when they were both performing with the National Youth Theatre in 1990 and have remained close since.
Born in Wimbledon, Walliams grew up in Surrey and was educated at Reigate Grammar School, where he was a contemporary of writer Robert Shearman.
He studied at the University of Bristol, where he resided at Manor Hall and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in drama.
The actor changed his name to David Walliams when he joined College Equity (the trade union for the entertainment industries) as there was already a member named David Williams.
He has been a judge on ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent since 2012. Other shows Walliams has been involved in include Mr Stink, Big School, and Cruise of the Gods.
He is also a writer of children’s books, such as Gangsta Granny and Billionaire Boy, and has sold more than 37 million copies worldwide.
Walliams was previously married to Dutch model Lara Stone, from 2010 until 2015. Together they have a son named Alfred, who was born in 2013.
The actor was awarded an OBE in 2017 for his fundraising efforts, after becoming the oldest person to swim the English Channel and raising millions for charity in the process.
What did David Walliams allegedly say?
The Guardian first reported that Walliams used derogatory and sexually explicit terms, referring to one contestant as a “c***” and saying of another: “She thinks you want to f*** her, but you don’t.”
The comments were made at the London Palladium on January 2020, according to the leaked transcript published by the newspaper.
Walliams replied to the claim in a statement, saying: “These were private conversations and — like most conversations with friends — were never intended to be shared. Nevertheless, I am sorry.”
ITV said that it did not condone the language and had “spoken to the producers” about the incident.
The comedian also faced several controversies during the Little Britain days. Walliams and Lucas were known for derisory portrayals of characters, including those of different races during their sketches, using blackface.
The BBC removed Little Britain from its service in 2020, citing that “times have changed”.
Why did David Walliams leave BGT?
Following the incident and the forced apology, a source told The Sun that the star “hasn’t taken the decision lightly” but that it felt “like time to move on”.
They added: “David has decided to bow out after a ten-year run. He wants to leave on a high after a wonderful time.”
