Police in London are investigating British comedian and author David Walliams over alleged "serious sexual offences".
Metropolitan Police said in a statement the force received "a number of allegations of non-recent serious sexual offences involving a man now in his 50s".
The allegations are separate from those published by ITV News and The Guardian earlier this week, the statement said.
Detectives are reviewing the media investigation as well, to determine if there was evidence of offending, it said.
People who reported allegations to police are being supported.
"We know reporting allegations of this nature can be daunting, but specialist officers are on hand to provide support, answer questions and guide you through the process," Detective Superintendent Mike Cagney stated.
He urged anyone who has experienced sexual offending to speak to police, "no matter when it happened".
There was a legal attempt by Walliams to block the publication of the three-year investigation by ITV News and The Guardian, with arguments from his legal team that he would likely commit suicide because of the publication, but a London court refused. The 55-year-old has been in a psychiatric hospital.
The media report contained allegations from a woman who accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was 15 years old, as well as claims of sexual harassment and misconduct in the workplace.
Walliams has denied the allegations. He said in a statement he’s not a sexual predator but behaved thoughtlessly at times.
The Little Britain star became a household name in the UK as a judge for Britain’s Got Talent over ten series.
As a children’s author, he also sold more than 60 million copies worldwide, including in New Zealand, where his books have been popular with children. Walliams has visited New Zealand multiple times, including visiting an Auckland school on his most recent visit in 2024.
Book publisher HarperCollins has cut all ties with Walliams, including no longer printing his books, while the BBC is reviewing content featuring or created by him, and has removed Little Britain from its platforms during the review process.
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