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Best-selling children’s author and comedian David Walliams has been dropped by his publisher HarperCollins UK, the company has said.
A spokesman for the publisher said: “After careful consideration, and under the leadership of its new CEO, HarperCollins UK has decided not to publish any new titles by David Walliams.”
The Telegraph reported that the decision was made after an investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards young women.
HarperCollins did not confirm the reasons for its decision, adding: “We do not comment on internal matters.” BBC News has asked Walliams’ representatives for a response.
Walliams is one of the UK’s most successful children’s authors, having sold more than 60 million copies worldwide in 55 languages.
HarperCollins published his first children’s book, The Boy in the Dress, in 2008.
Some of his books, including Gangsta Granny and Billionaire Boy, have also been adapted into television films.
He has published more than 40 books in total, including a Christmas book titled Santa & Son, which was published by HarperCollins in October.
He first rose to fame on TV sketch series Little Britain and has also won National Television Awards for his work as a judge on Britain’s Got Talent.
He was made an OBE in 2017 for his services to charity and the arts.
But he has faced controversies including being criticised after appearing to make two Nazi salutes during a recording of BBC comedy panel show Would I Lie To You? this summer.
In 2022, he apologised and admitted making “disrespectful comments” about two Britain’s Got Talent contestants during a break in filming.
He left the programme that year and sued the production company over the leaking of the remarks, reaching a settlement with them in 2023.
HarperCollins UK appointed Kate Elton as its new chief executive in October.
