David Walliams Claims Channel 4 Canceled Travel Show After His Leaked ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ Barbs

Jake Kanter
·2 min read
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EXCLUSIVE: David Walliams’ lawsuit against the producer of Britain’s Got Talent has detailed work, including a Channel 4 show, he claims to have lost after his derogatory remarks about contestants were leaked to the press.

Walliams is suing Fremantle for allegedly breaking data protection laws and breaching his privacy after The Guardian published what he argues were private remarks about people auditioning for Britain’s Got Talent.

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The Guardian saw a transcript of comments made by Walliams in 2020. The newspaper said he made the remarks while sitting at the Britain’s Got Talent judges’ table and they included him referring to a pensioner as a “c***.”

In a High Court legal filing seen by Deadline, Walliams claimed that his “reputation and earnings have been severely damaged” as a result of The Guardian’s story.

The legal document listed offers of work that had been “withdrawn,” including a “travelogue across India on Channel 4.” The project was said to have been canceled “entirely.”

Channel 4 declined to comment, though it is understood that the early-stage development was not taken forward for reasons unconnected to Walliams’ Britain’s Got Talent remarks.

Walliams also claimed that the BBC withdrew part of its funding for an animation series based on his children’s book Gangsta Granny, while he said that Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group ended its involvement in a musical based on the same novel.

The High Court document estimated that Walliams’ loss of earnings from “appearances and performances” totaled nearly £1.8M ($2.2M) since The Guardian’s article was published. This included a withdrawn £1M contract for appearing in the 2023 season of Britain’s Got Talent.

The filing added that Walliams’ mental health had suffered as a result of the issue. Citing remarks from his psychiatrist Dr Mark Collins, it said Walliams had been “plagued by uncontrollable negative thoughts,” including “active suicidal thoughts.”

Fremantle said: “We had a long and productive relationship with David and so are surprised and saddened by this legal action. For our part, we remain available and open to dialogue to resolve this matter amicably. However, in the interim, we will examine the various allegations and are prepared to robustly defend ourselves if necessary.”

Walliams apologized for his comments last year. He said in a statement: “I would like to apologise to the people I made disrespectful comments about during breaks in filming for Britain’s Got Talent in 2020. These were private conversations and – like most conversations with friends – were never intended to be shared. Nevertheless, I am sorry.”

Walliams is represented by attorney Adam Morallee of Brandsmiths.

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