Jonathan Ross Responds to Allegations
Television presenter Jonathan Ross stated he was horrified by allegations of sexual misconduct against David Walliams and the criminal convictions of Russell Brand, according to The Journal.
The 65-year-old broadcaster maintained that he was genuinely unaware of their conduct during the time they maintained friendly terms.
Ross issued his statement following the resurfacing of footage from the 2004 British Comedy Awards. In the clip, Ross delivered a joke regarding Walliams and a 15-year-old girl, an incident he now calls tasteless.
“My thoughts are with the many, many women who have bravely come forward,” Jonathan Ross said in a statement to the Press Association.
“I am as horrified by the revelations about David Walliams and the crimes of Russell Brand as the rest of the nation,” television presenter Jonathan Ross said in a statement to the Press Association.
Investigation Names Walliams
David Walliams, 55, was publicly named as the subject of a joint investigative report by The Guardian and ITV News. The author and former Britain’s Got Talent judge attempted to obtain a legal injunction to block publication of the findings, but Mr Justice Matthew Nicklin refused the bid, ruling it an exceptionally serious interference with freedom of expression, as reported by RTÉ.ie.
David Walliams has, finally, been named as the celebrity about whom sordid allegations have been circulating for decades. I delved into his downfall for @spectator https://t.co/CkTt4Hg4sM
Multiple women have accused Walliams of sexual misconduct, grooming teenagers as young as 15, and abusing his position of power. Lawyers for Walliams told the High Court in London that he denies all allegations, stating he has no intention of returning to public life, according to RTÉ.ie court submissions.
Publisher and Agency Fallout
In the wake of the allegations, Walliams’ book publisher HarperCollins dropped him in December 2025 following an earlier internal investigation into harassment claims, RTÉ.ie reported. His long-time literary agency, Independent Talent Group, also severed ties, stating they are deeply disturbed by the findings.
The BBC initiated the removal of programmes featuring Walliams, such as Little Britain, from its platforms. Meanwhile, Russell Brand was jailed on Monday for ten and a half years for raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others, drawing renewed scrutiny to figures connected to him in the past, according to The Journal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What legal action did David Walliams take before the report?
Walliams brought legal action against Independent Television News and Guardian News and Media in an unsuccessful attempt to obtain an injunction preventing publication of the allegations, according to RTÉ.ie.
David Walliams has been revealed as the anonymous celebrity who fought to conceal his identity amid sexual misconduct allegations, with his lawyers arguing the claims going public could put him at risk of suicide. Allegations include grooming teenage girls as young as 15 and… pic.twitter.com/U0PLmZsZFS
How did Jonathan Ross respond to the 2004 awards footage?
Ross stated that the script was provided by the Comedy Awards writing team and that he believed the punchline exaggerated his public dating history, adding in his statement to the Press Association that it is a joke he would not dream of making today.
What penalties did Russell Brand receive?
Russell Brand was sentenced to ten and a half years in prison after being convicted of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others, as reported by The Journal.
The @itvnews investigation which David Walliams tried to stop in the courts. Watch here 👇 https://t.co/jvXQEwPPQW
Many have been asking for a link to my interview with comedian Lucy Beaumont about the #Walliams allegations (which he denies). Here it is:https://t.co/dF0vrnb76i