Sky drops new David Walliams movie after ‘extremely serious’ allegations

Sky has confirmed it has dropped David Walliams’s movie Fing! following “extremely serious” allegations made against him.

The best-selling author and former Britain’s Got Talent judge, 55, was named as part of an investigation by the Guardian and ITV News on Tuesday, after he tried to obtain an injunction to prevent the reporting of allegations against him.

One woman described her alleged encounter with Walliams, when she was 15, as a “sexual assault”, while multiple women accused him of “grooming” them when they were teenagers.

Walliams denies any wrongdoing.

Several of his children’s books have been adapted into films, including Fing!, which was published in 2019.

On Wednesday, media minister Ian Murray said a “cultural problem” needs to be “stamped out” in the media industry.

Giving evidence to the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Mr Murray said he was “deeply saddened and also angry” to see the prevalence of abuse by men.

He said: “The culture in this sector for many years hasn’t been good. We’ve got to support the brave women that are coming forward, not just women, but brave women in particular.

“I think we just need to continue to send out a message as a Government, as a Parliament, but also as audiences, that this is completely unacceptable behaviour.

“We want to make sure it’s stamped out. This industry has, in the past, been rife with it. It’s a cultural problem and that culture has to change.”

He added: “There should be a zero-tolerance approach with support for the brave women, support for whistleblowers, and making sure the industry can clean up its own act.”

A movie based Walliams’ book Fing was due to be distributed by Sky across the UK and Ireland in early 2027.

In a statement, a Sky spokesperson said: “The allegations made against David Walliams are extremely serious. We have notified the producers of the film of our intention to exit our position as the UK and Ireland licensee of Fing!.

“We have already removed content which features him from our platforms.”

Directed by Jeffrey Walker and filmed in Australia, some of the film’s stars include Taika Waititi, Blake Harrison and Mia Wasikowska, while Matt Lucas provided the voice of the titular character.

Angel Studios confirmed it will still release the film in the US, but a cameo featuring Walliams will be removed and he will not take part in its promotion.

In a statement to Variety, Angel Studios said: “We take the allegations reported regarding David Walliams seriously.

“Our thoughts are with anyone who has been affected. We have removed his cameo appearance from Fing!, and he will have no involvement in the film’s release or promotion.”

Fing! will also retain is January 14 release date in Australia, but local distributor Transmission Films confirmed to ABC Walliams will not participate in the publicity campaign.

Local streaming service Stan was set to make the film available on its platform, but told ABC: “In light of the recent and serious allegations against David Walliams, Stan has removed Fing! from its content slate.”

Since Walliams was named in the ITV News and The Guardian investigation, he has been dropped by his literary agent, while the BBC said it was “in the process of removing” programmes including Little Britain.

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.”

Walliams has yet to respond following the publication of his name on Tuesday.