Met Police Open Criminal Investigation Into David Walliams

The Metropolitan Police have launched a criminal investigation into David Walliams, 55, over serious sexual offence allegations, the force announced in a statement.

The investigation is separate from the accusations levelled against Walliams in reports by the Guardian and ITV News, the Met said. Those reports accused the television personality of using his power and celebrity status to prey on young women and teenagers for sex. Multiple women made the accusations against him.

Walliams has denied any wrongdoing. Details of the media-reported allegations became public only after a court rejected a legal attempt by Walliams aimed at preventing publication.

Walliams, 55, is one of Britain's best-known television personalities and a top-selling children's author.

What did the Metropolitan Police say?

In its statement announcing the investigation, the Met said the serious allegations it is now investigating are distinct from the journalistic accounts. "In recent days, the Met has received a number of allegations of non-recent serious sexual offences involving a man now in his 50s," the force said.

"Those who have come forward are being supported by specialist officers.

"The allegations are separate from those reported by ITN and the Guardian. However, as part of their investigation, detectives are also proactively reviewing that reporting to establish whether there is any evidence of offences."

The reference to ITN is the broadcaster that owns ITV News, one of the two outlets whose reporting first surfaced the accusations.

Who is leading the investigation?

Detective Superintendent Mike Cagney's team is leading the inquiry. He issued a direct appeal for victims to come forward, regardless of how much time has passed.

"We would encourage anyone who has been the victim of a sexual offence to come forward and speak to us, no matter when it happened," Det Supt Cagney said.

"We know reporting allegations of this nature can be daunting, but specialist officers are on hand to provide support, answer questions and guide you through the process."

How can people report information?

The Met has opened two channels for anyone with information relevant to the case:

• Call 101 and provide the reference 4900/10NOV26
• Contact the complex sexual offences unit directly on 0207 175 2738

The reference code indicates the investigation was opened on 10 November 2026, according to standard police dating conventions.

What happens next?

The dual-track nature of the inquiry — separate allegations received by the Met plus a proactive review of the Guardian and ITV News reporting — means detectives will assess both streams of evidence to establish whether criminal offences can be proven, and further details are expected as the investigation develops.