Jess Phillips Says Walliams Allegations Raise Questions About Who Knew What

Jess Phillips has criticised the entertainment industry after allegations emerged about David Walliams’ conduct around teenage girls, saying it was difficult to believe that no one had noticed signs of a problem. The Labour politician’s comments came after reports by The Guardian and ITV News about claims involving the former Britain’s Got Talent judge. Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Phillips said safeguarding was everyone’s responsibility. She also referred to accounts from people who had worked on television programmes and said they had tried to raise concerns, but were allegedly asked to sign non-disclosure agreements. Phillips linked the issue to wider questions about how allegations involving prominent entertainment figures are handled. The story has a personal connection for Phillips. During Labour’s 2019 election campaign, she shared a photograph of her children meeting Walliams, describing him at the time as a “legend” who had treated them to a birthday surprise. Walliams also posted a photograph from the meeting and praised Phillips. Walliams joined Britain’s Got Talent as a judge in 2012 and left the programme in 2022. He had previously apologised for “disrespectful comments” about contestants made during filming breaks. He denies an allegation that he paid a junior employee to keep quiet. The claim was made by a man identified as Mark, who said he entered Walliams’ dressing room and found two young people there while the performer was wearing a towel. Fremantle UK, the company behind the show, said it was disturbed and concerned by the serious allegation. Phillips’s remarks add to scrutiny of the people and organisations around television productions, while the claims described in the reports remain allegations.