Sky News live blunder during Walliams scandal coverage

A Sky News breakfast segment was interrupted by an on-air expletive as Arts and Entertainment Correspondent Katie Spencer fumbled her notes while discussing allegations that David Walliams harassed and behaved inappropriately toward female staff. The moment occurred during Sky News Breakfast with presenters Anna Jones and Kamali Melbourne.

Spencer began outlining Walliams’ career as a comedian and children's author before appearing to lose her place, saying, "Oh f*** it, I’m going to start again. Do not ever air me saying the f-word," before restarting the segment. The camera then cut back to the studio, where a bemused Jones and Melbourne apologized if viewers heard any bad language. Jones and Melbourne then checked in with sport presenter Jacquie Beltrao, who quipped, "No bad language Jacs." Beltrao replied, "No bad language from me!" Online, eagle-eyed viewers quickly shared the clip, with posts noting the slip and commenting on the perils of live television.

Walliams has faced allegations of harassment and inappropriate conduct toward female staff dating to 2023. HarperCollins said on Wednesday that it would no longer publish his works following an internal investigation prompted by the accusations. The BBC later confirmed it has no plans for future projects with Walliams. He has denied the allegations.

The allegations involve a junior colleague who reportedly complained about his behavior in 2023, prompting interviews with staff who worked with Walliams. The investigation reportedly involved an in-house lawyer. One of the women who raised concerns was allegedly given a five-figure payout and has since left the company. Former employees described how they were advised to work in pairs when meeting with him and told not to visit his home.

Amid the fallout, the BBC said it was stepping back from projects with Walliams but did not announce any changes to festive schedules. A BBC spokesperson said, "While we’re not making any changes to the festive schedules, we have no future projects directly involving David Walliams." The Daily Mail reported that Sky was asked for comment. Walliams has denied the allegations and, according to reports, is currently on a break in the Maldives with his 12-year-old son, Alfred, during the holiday period, as details of the investigation continue to unfold.

The blunder on Sky News underscores the ongoing scrutiny surrounding Walliams’ public return to media and publishing. HarperCollins’ decision marks one of the clearest publisher actions to date, while the BBC’s stance signals that broadcasters remain cautious about involving him in upcoming programming. Supporters and critics alike have followed developments on social media, where the discussion has centered on accountability in entertainment and the handling of workplace complaints. As institutions reassess associations with Walliams, the public timeline of events—beginning with the 2023 complaints and continuing through corporate responses—remains in focus for audiences following Culture & Entertainment coverage.