David Walliams Earns £500,000 Despite Controversy

David Walliams has generated £500,000 in a single year through his television production company, King Bert Productions, according to recently filed accounts. This financial success comes despite a period of professional challenges, including being dropped by his publisher, HarperCollins, and facing scrutiny over allegations of "inappropriate behavior towards women," which he denies.

King Bert Productions, which focuses on comedy, children's, and family programming, has produced shows such as "Gangsta Granny Strikes Again" and "Malory Towers." The company's earnings reflect continued activity in television production during a year when Walliams experienced a public downturn in other areas of his career.

Last year, HarperCollins ceased its relationship with Walliams, removing his entire children's book catalog and phasing out physical copies. The publisher cited allegations of harassment toward junior female staff members. Former employees reportedly advised working in pairs when collaborating with Walliams and avoiding visits to his home due to concerns about his conduct. A spokesperson for Walliams stated that he was unaware of any allegations from HarperCollins, was not involved in any investigation, and denied any inappropriate behavior, indicating he was seeking legal advice.

Further professional repercussions include the BBC stating it has no future projects planned with him, though he did appear in a Christmas special of "Would I Lie to You." These events mark a significant shift for Walliams, who is a best-selling children's author with over 60 million books sold globally and a recognizable television personality.

Walliams' past controversies have resurfaced, including his departure from the "Britain's Got Talent" judging panel in November 2022. This followed the emergence of audio recordings where he made disparaging remarks about contestants off-camera. In January 2020, leaked transcripts revealed Walliams using offensive language, which he later apologized for, describing the comments as part of a private conversation. He subsequently sued the production company Fremantle for misuse of private information and data law breaches, reportedly reaching a settlement.

The critical re-evaluation of his earlier work, such as the sketch show "Little Britain" co-created with Matt Lucas, has also impacted his public image. The series, previously a popular hit, has faced accusations of racism, sexism, and homophobia, leading to its removal from platforms like Netflix, the BBC, and BritBox.

Walliams has also seen his ties to several charities diminish. He was removed as a director and trustee of The Candy Foundation and has been removed from the website of the theatre charity MGC Futures, where he was a patron alongside other prominent figures. The Children’s Trust also removed him as an ambassador in December, though his role there had reportedly been dormant for 15 years. Previously recognized for his charity work, including an OBE in 2017 for services to charity after swimming the Thames and English Channel for Sport Relief, Walliams' association with charities is now reportedly being reassessed by organizations concerned about negative publicity.