What are the allegations against David Walliams?

David Walliams has been accused of sexual misconduct and grooming girls as young as 15 in a joint investigation by The Guardian and ITV.

The comedian and writer allegedly used his celebrity status to prey on young girls, including on MySpace.

The former Britain’s Got Talent judge tried and failed to seek an injunction against The Guardian and ITV because of a risk that he would take his own life, after two previous suicide attempts.

The Guardian published an investigation the day after the appeal deadline passed, while ITV released its documentary ‘Power And Silence’ on its YouTube channel before it is due to be broadcast on ITV1. Walliams has denied any wrongdoing.

In a letter understood to have been sent several months ago by Walliams to journalists working on the ITV News and Guardian investigations, he wrote: “Looking back, I realise that at times I behaved thoughtlessly towards other people I had casual sexual relationships with.

“I realise I did not always take people’s feelings properly into account.

“That is something I regret.

“And whilst a power imbalance is inevitable when one party is famous, abusing that power is something else entirely and it is something that I never did.”

He added: “I am not a sexual predator.

“I have not broken the law, but I am devastated that some of the women I met 10 to 20 years ago have now expressed hurt or anger towards me.”

Here is a series of claims that have been made about the comedian and writer:

One woman, referred to by the name Jade, alleges that she was 15 and Walliams was 36 when they began chatting online in mid-2007, and weeks later met in person in August that year.

He invited her back to his house, and once there, she claims that he sexually assaulted her, which he denies.

Jade told journalists: “I didn’t want to be touched in that way at all. I mean, I was only a 15-year-old.”

When she said no and pulled away, he agreed that they should wait until she was 16, it is alleged.

Walliams denies any sexual contact with Jade and any wrongdoing.

Another named as Alex claims that he offered to help her with her dream of being a comedy writer when they met at a Little Britain fan event in London in January 2004, when she was aged 15.

He later phoned her and they exchanged emails over several months, it is claimed.

Eventually, in October 2005, Alex, then aged 17, messaged him to say she was going to a gig in London with friends and invited him along.

The pair again began exchanging emails, and the woman claims that he pressured her to send sexual photos, which he denies.

She alleges that Walliams groomed her.

She says the pair had consensual sexual contact three times when she was 17 and 18, but that she “felt unable to say anything or have any control in that situation once I was with him”.

Walliams denies any wrongdoing.

His lawyers say any suggestion he groomed Alex is false and has caused him significant distress.

Former model Lilly Creightmore said she was 18 when she was first contacted by Walliams, who sent a card to her home address in 2003.

The pair became friends, and Walliams let her stay on his sofa when she was homeless for a time.

She claims that he pestered her to share his bed, saying: “He definitely crossed the line physically in moments, when I was young, trying to coerce me into sleeping with him.”

Ms Creightmore accuses the comedian of having tried to groom her.

Walliams denies any inappropriate behaviour and said he is “devastated” by her claims.

A fellow model, a woman named as Ella, said Walliams called her in December 2007 when she was 19 and took her and a friend out to dinner, before sending her flowers.

Later he invited her to a celebrity party at his house in 2008, during which she claimed he tried to kiss her and put his head in her lap, “begging” her to stay.

She and her friend left, and she said she believes she “dodged a bullet”.

Walliams said he made “a clumsy pass” at Ella, denied putting his head in her lap and said he had no intention of making her feel uncomfortable or intimidated.

Britain’s Got Talent fan Sarah was invited to watch the show by a friend when she was 18, and Walliams invited her and her friends out for dinner the following day.

Two weeks later she and another friend, also 18, were invited to stay at his house.

She claims that while there he tried to kiss her, and later tried to lead her up to his bedroom.

Walliams denies there being any sexual contact.

Another fan of Britain’s Got Talent Abby Tomlinson claims that she and a 13-year-old girl were left alone with Walliams in his dressing room with the door closed, which his lawyers have denied.

A woman named only as Amy who worked on Britain’s Got Talent claimed that Walliams referred to her as “the one with the arse”, and stared at her chest, which he denies.

Another who worked at publisher Harper Collins, referred to as Katie, claimed that a young woman showed her a series of “gross” emails from Walliams, while she and another worker called Helen allege managers avoided sending young female staff on their own to his flat.

If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI) or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.

If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.