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David Walliams recorded making offensive comments about Britain’s Got Talent contestants
Walliams has since apologised for his remarks, saying they were part of a ‘private conversation’ that was not intended to be shared
David Walliams was unwittingly recorded making a number of derogatory and sexually explicit remarks about contestants on Britain’s Got Talent.
The remarks, heard in leaked audio obtained by the Guardian, were made during the filming of an audition show at the London Palladium in January 2020.
In the audio, the Little Britain and Come Fly With Me comedian could be heard referring to one contestant as a ‘c***’ and saying of another: “She thinks you want to f*** her, but you don’t”.
One of his comments captured in the transcript involved an older performer who allegedly made a lighthearted joke at Walliams’ expense.
When the elderly contestant left the stage following his unsuccessful audition, Walliams called him a ‘c***’ three times, according to the transcript.
In a second incident shortly afterwards, Walliams was then heard verbally attacking a female contestant in the wake of her audtion, saying: “She’s like the slightly boring girl you meet in the pub that thinks you want to f*** them, but you don’t… she thinks you want to f*** her, but you don’t.”
He then added: “I know, she’s just like: ‘Oh, f*** off!’ I was saying, she thinks you want to f*** her, but you don’t. It’s the last thing on your mind, but she’s like: ‘Yep, I bet you do!’ ‘No I don’t!’
“I had a bit of a boner, but now it’s going, it’s now shrivelled up inside my body.”
The comments were picked up on microphones used to capture discussions between the judges during and after each audition.
In the leaked transcripts from the three episodes, Simon Cowell and the other judges were not heard making derogatory comments.
Walliams has since apologised for the comments, saying they were made during a private conversation that was never intended to be shared.
In a statement, he said: “I would like to apologise to the people I made disrespectful comments about during breaks in filming for Britain’s Got Talent in 2020.
“These were private conversations and – like most conversations with friends – were never intended to be shared. Nevertheless, I am sorry.”
A spokesperson for Cowell and Syco Entertainment, the co-producer of Britain’s Got Talent, said: “We were unaware of the alleged conversation until contacted by the Guardian, and whilst it is not suggested Simon heard the alleged remarks, we can confirm he did not. Britain’s Got Talent is a family show and we do not condone the use of any such language.”
A Thames spokesperson added that even though the production company regarded Walliams’ comments as private, his language was ‘inappropriate’ and he had been reminded of the show’s ‘expectations as to future professional conduct’.