David Walliams performs to an audience of just 48 at local pub – as scandal-hit comedian claws his way back from allegations of ‘harassment’
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He once performed in arenas that seated 21,000 people, and his Little Britain Live stage show with former comedy partner Matt Lucas was watched by more than a million fans.
But David Walliams appeared in front of an audience of just 48 people when he hosted a ‘storytelling adventure for children and families’ at a bar near his home in north London at the weekend.
It comes after the Gangsta Granny author fell from grace after being fired by her publisher HarperCollins following allegations she harassed staff at the firm.
Arriving at the event at the Circle & Star theater above the Horseshoe pub in Hampstead, Walliams, 54, appeared to be struggling to find the stage door.
Dressed in jeans and a bomber jacket, the man had no comment when asked by the Daily Mail about how he was feeling after a bruising few weeks.
Asked if it was possible to separate the scandal surrounding her from her work, one theater goer said: ‘His children’s books are amazing, but I don’t know, I think it’s very difficult after the allegations happened.’
David Walliams appeared in front of an audience of just 48 people as he hosted a ‘storytelling adventure for children and families’ at a bar near his home in north London at the weekend.
Walliams entertained guests at the Circle & Star theater above the Horseshoe pub in Hampstead (pictured)
In a statement published in December, HarperCollins said: ‘After careful consideration and under the leadership of its new CEO, HarperCollins UK has decided not to publish new works by David Walliams. The author is aware of this decision.’
A spokesman for Walliams said in a statement that he “was never aware of any allegations made against him by HarperCollins.”
‘He was not party to any investigation or given the opportunity to answer questions. In the statement, David vehemently denies acting inappropriately and seeking legal advice.
The broadcaster said it would not comment on internal matters “to respect the privacy of individuals.”
‘HarperCollins takes the welfare of employees extremely seriously and has processes in place for reporting and investigating concerns,’ he said.
Walliams has published more than 40 children’s books and sold more than 60 million copies worldwide, according to his website.
Many of them, including “Gangsta Granny”, have been adapted into BBC sitcoms and stage productions.
In a statement to the Press Association, a spokesman for Walliams said: ‘David was never made aware of any allegations made against him by HarperCollins.
Dressed in jeans and a bomber jacket, the man had no comment when asked by the Daily Mail about how he was feeling after a bruising few weeks.
It comes after the Gangsta Granny author fell from grace after being fired by her publisher HarperCollins following allegations she harassed staff at the firm.
‘He was not party to any investigation or given the opportunity to answer questions. ‘David emphatically denies acting inappropriately and seeking legal advice.’
Books written by Walliams include The Boy In The Dress, Fing and Gangsta Granny; the last of these was made into a one-hour BBC special in 2013, followed by a sequel starring Sheridan Smith in 2022.
The TV star, whose real name is David Edward Williams, was a judge on Britain’s Got Talent but left the role in 2022 after apologizing for making “disrespectful comments” about auditioning contestants during breaks in filming at the London Palladium in January 2020.
In 2023, Britain’s Got Talent producer Fremantle apologized and reached an “amicable resolution” with Walliams after comments he made during the show were leaked.
Walliams, who appeared on the ITV talent show between 2012 and 2022, was suing the company for misuse of private information and breaches of the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UKGDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
The comedian, actor and presenter was awarded an OBE in 2017 for his services to the arts and charities by completing a 140-mile swim in the River Thames, raising £2 million for Sport Relief.
Earlier in the year it was reported that he made a Nazi salute while recording BBC panel show Would I Lie to You?
