BBC under pressure to drop David Walliams from Christmas schedule amid harassment allegations

The BBC is under pressure to remove David Walliams from its Christmas television schedule amid harassment allegations that led HarperCollins to stop publishing new titles by the children's author. Walliams has denied any wrongdoing, saying he was not informed of any allegations or investigations and is taking legal advice. Some lawmakers and commentators have urged the BBC to err on the side of caution, calling for Walliams to be dropped from festive programming; the broadcaster, however, has said it is not making changes to the schedule and that there are no future projects directly involving him.

The broadcaster still plans to air two television adaptations of Walliams’s books and a Boxing Day edition of the panel show Would I Lie To You? in which he appears as a participant. The arrangements come amid a separate on-set controversy during filming of the show’s Christmas edition, in which Walliams reportedly performed two Nazi salutes while a colleague was recounting a Strictly Come Dancing anecdote. CBBC will broadcast the 2009 film Mr Stink at 9am today, with The Boy in the Dress scheduled to air later, according to network schedules. The BBC is understood to have no plans to remove any Walliams content from its streaming service.

Walliams’s publisher, HarperCollins, announced it would not publish any new titles by the author following an internal review. The move followed leadership changes at HarperCollins UK, including the exit of former chief executive Charlie Redmayne and the installation of Kate Elton. Walliams’s representatives have stressed that he was unaware of any allegations, was not involved in any investigation, and is pursuing legal options. HarperCollins said the decision underscores its commitment to employee wellbeing and declined further comment on internal matters.

Walliams remains a prolific figure in children’s literature, with more than 40 titles translated into multiple languages and tens of millions of copies sold. The company has historically relied on his work for a large share of its children’s list, though figures cited in industry reporting indicate a decline in sales in recent years. In the wake of the controversies surrounding Walliams, questions have intensified about his ongoing collaborations with television and publishing partners. In parallel, Walliams’s public profile has been affected by a series of scandals that began with his exit from Britain’s Got Talent after remarks about female contestants surfaced in a leaked transcript; he apologized for those comments, acknowledged they were inappropriate, and subsequently left the show, later pursuing a legal challenge related to the handling of private information.

Observers note that the entertainment industry has seen other figures distance themselves from Walliams, and some long-time collaborators have indicated a cooling of ties. The broader discourse around how broadcasters balance audience trust with ongoing access to star-driven programming has intensified as new reporting surfaces about past incidents and the handling of internal investigations. As this unfolds, there is no consensus on how to reconcile a celebrated body of children’s literature with the public scrutiny surrounding its author.

For now, the BBC’s festive slate remains intact as the corporation navigates competing pressures: uphold viewer trust and protect staff while continuing to air popular adaptations and specials that are central to its Christmas programming. The situation illustrates the tensions at the intersection of culture and entertainment when a high-profile figure becomes the subject of serious allegations. Viewers can expect further updates as parties involved respond to ongoing inquiries and as the BBC assesses whether anything in its schedule should be revisited in light of new information.