David Walliams removed from Waterstones children’s book festival

David Walliams has been removed from Waterstones’ children’s book festival after being dropped by HarperCollins. Photo / Getty Images

David Walliams has been removed from the line-up for Waterstones’ children’s book festival.

The United Kingdom’s leading bookseller confirmed today that the comedian and author would not be appearing at the event in February.

Walliams, who is one of Britain’s most successful children’s authors, was dropped by his publisher HarperCollins late last week following alleged inappropriate behaviour towards young women.

He is accused of harassing a female member of staff at the firm, who subsequently left with a five-figure payout.

Walliams, 54, was not told of the allegations at the time and denies any wrongdoing.

The author was set to appear at the Dundee leg of Waterstones’ annual children’s book festival on February 7.

However, after he was dropped by his publisher, customers trying to purchase tickets online over the weekend for his hour-long talk and Q&A session, billed as “a family event with David Walliams”, encountered difficulties and were met with an error message.

Today, Waterstones confirmed Walliams would no longer speak at the festival.

A spokesman for the chain told the Telegraph: “HarperCollins have confirmed that David Walliams will no longer be appearing at our festival in Dundee.”

Walliams has now been removed from the schedule of listed speakers.

On its website, Waterstones describes its children’s book festival as featuring “bestselling and beloved children’s authors” at a “family friendly celebration”.

The bookseller also appears to have taken steps to adjust the presence of the former Little Britain star’s books on its shelves.

At a branch in London’s Victoria, his books remain on display, but a card recommending Walliams as an “author of loads of laugh-aloud funny children’s books” was removed over the weekend.

A number of independent bookstores across Britain have also withdrawn books from their shelves after the allegations made against him.

The BBC said it had cut ties with Walliams by confirming it had “no future projects directly involving him”.

However, the corporation aired adaptations of his children’s books, Mr Stink and The Boy in the Dress, today.

It is also planning to broadcast an episode of the panel show Would I Lie to You? on Boxing Day, with Walliams appearing as a guest.

The BBC is also understood to have commissioned an animation of one of his books, but Walliams will have no direct involvement in the development or production of the series.

Often producing two novels a year, Walliams became extremely valuable to his publisher.

According to industry magazines, he was responsible for 44% of Harper Collins’ children’s sales in the UK in 2018.

In 2017, the comedian was awarded an OBE for services to charity and the arts.

However, he has faced previous controversies and, in 2022, was forced to apologise after he was recorded making sexually explicit remarks about a Britain’s Got Talent contestant and calling another a c***.

He left his role as a judge on the programme that year and later sued the production company over the leaking of the remarks, reaching a settlement with them in 2023.

The decision by Harper Collins to drop him followed the sudden departure of Charlie Redmayne as chief executive in October. Kate Elton replaced him on an interim basis.

Walliams’ agent said last week: “David has never been informed of any allegations raised against him by Harper Collins.

“He was not party to any investigation or given any opportunity to answer questions. David strongly denies that he has behaved inappropriately and is taking legal advice.”

His representatives have been approached for comment.

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