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He was a judge on Britain’s Got Talent, one half of the nation’s most successful comedy duo, a best-selling author and always seemed to have a glamorous woman on his arm.
There was a time when David Walliams was the toast of the entertainment industry and one of the most eligible bachelors in showbiz, equally loved by audiences who he charmed with his witty persona and extravagant character.
But since the star was forced off Britain’s Got Talent for making an offensive comment about a pensioner and vile sexual remarks about another female contestant during a break in auditions, the comedian’s career has not quite recovered – nor has his relationship with Simon Cowell.
He used to describe himself as Simon’s ‘Number one girl’ on BGT, and was in the habit of leaping on the music mogul at red-carpet event. However, the Daily Mail revealed last year that the pair are ‘are no longer on speaking terms at all’.
Those who know them both say Simon has now gone to every possible length to distance himself from the Little Britain star, with a source describing how the end of his BGT career hit the ‘troubled’ comedian hard.
Meanwhile, Walliams, who hails from suburban Banstead in Surrey, has in the past been tortured by crushes on unattainable women, and has experienced, by his own admission, a phase of being a sex addict.
He has been single since his divorce from Lara Stone a decade ago, the mother of his son Alfred – who he will not spend Christmas with this year because it’s the 12-year-old’s turn to be with his mum.
But since the star was forced off Britain’s Got Talent and suffered a bitter fall out with Simon Cowell, the comedian’s career has taken a complete U-turn (pictured together in 2020)
David and Lara divorced in 2015 after a five-year marriage, during which they welcomed their son (pictured in 2014)
David decided to leave Britain’s Got Talent after he was forced to apologise for describing an elderly contestant as a ‘c***’ and making vile sexual remarks about a woman taking part
When he left the BGT David revealed he suffered suicidal thoughts and at times thought he’d ‘lost his ability to be funny’, turning instead to his passion for writing – with his latest children’s book Santa And Son released in time for Christmas.
Although the best-selling author continues to succeed on the publishing front, David appears to be struggling with getting back into mainstream TV and is instead fronting a podcast with his former Little Britain co-star Matt Lucas, Making A Scene.
Meanwhile, David found himself on the rough end of ‘cancel culture’ when the show he co-created with Matt Lucas in 2003, Little Britain, was yanked from the air in 2022.
The hit sketch show, which poked fun at British social stereotypes included segments that featured white actors in black face.
In an apparent reaction to the Black Lives Matter protests, Netflix pulled the show along with Come Fly With Me, also created by David and Matt.
Later the BBC and BritBox both confirmed they had also decided to remove Little Britain saying ‘times have changed’ since the show first aired.
His last attempt to climb back to the top coincides with the ongoing tease of a TV return, following a turbulent few years for the star.
The Little Britain comic admitted he fell for the Torn singer ‘like a ton of bricks,’ but she didn’t feel the same way (pictured in 2019)
David decided to leave Britain’s Got Talent after he was forced to apologise for describing an elderly contestant as a ‘c***’ and making vile sexual remarks about a woman taking part.
The comments, made in January 2020 during auditions at the London Palladium, were picked up on the programme’s microphones and revealed in December 2022.
During the audition, an older performer engaged in banter with the judges in which he made a jibe about Walliams. After the audition, the pensioner left, at which point Walliams is said to have called him a ‘c***’ three times.
Another instance occurred after a female contestant auditioning on the same show had walked off stage.
David remarked: ‘She’s like the slightly boring girl you meet in the pub that thinks you want to f*** them, but you don’t… It’s the last thing on your mind, but she’s like, “Yep, I bet you do!”.’
At the time, a source told The Sun: ‘He hasn’t taken the decision lightly, but it just feels like time to move on.
‘David has decided to bow out after a ten-year run. He wants to leave on a high after a wonderful time.
Clinging onto his last hopes of fame, David now fronts a podcast with his former Little Britain co-star Matt Lucas, named Making A Scene (pictured together in Come Fly With Me)
The comedian, 54, spoke candidly as he co-parents his son Alfred, 12, with his ex-wife Lara Stone, revealing it is her turn this Christmas to spend the day with him
‘His team have quietly been having conversations over the past few days where it has been made clear that David is readying himself to step down – and then producers will start to think about who might replace him.’
David apologised, but nevertheless sued production company Fremantle for misuse of private information and breaching data laws.
The company apologised and said the matter had been resolved and the comedian is thought to have walked away quietly with around £5million.
In recent times, David revealed on TV how he’s named his dog Eric – the same name as Cowell’s 11-year-old son.
Simon also unfollowed David on social media back in October 2023.
On top of his difficult few years career wise, David is set to spend Christmas without his son, Alfred, 12.
The comedian spoke candidly as he co-parents his son Alfred with his ex-wife Lara Stone. David and Lara divorced in 2015 after a five-year marriage, during which they welcomed their son.
While they continue to share custody of Alfred, David has heartbreakingly revealed this Christmas he won’t be with him as it is Lara’s turn to spend the big day with the 12-year-old.
The Little Britain star has shared how he explored his sadness in his brand new children’s book Santa and Son.
It centres around a boy called Elvis who is being raised by his single mother, with the young boy’s father a grumpy retired Santa.
A bond is struck when they meet and have an adventure together.
Speaking to Mike Hosking’s breakfast show in New Zealand, David said: ‘This dad in the book is sort of a deadbeat dad but there’s definitely a theme running through about parents, separated parents.
‘And so I was thinking a bit about sometimes the pain you feel as a parent when you don’t have your child at Christmas.
‘I think at Christmas there’s a sort of thing that we’ve all got to be happy but there’s often sort of melancholy creeps in.’
However, David added that he’s looking forward to taking Alfred away for a trip to the Maldives before the big day.
David and Lara, who wed in Claridge’s hotel in 2010, saw their divorce hearing last just 60 seconds.
Since then, he’s not found a lasting relationship and remains single while Lara has re-married.
Last year the comedian opened up about his previous rumoured romance with Torn singer Natalie Imbruglia who he was linked with in 2019.
The comedian, 53, told of his heartbreak after being friend-zoned by the former Neighbours star, telling how he fell for her ‘like a ton of bricks,’ but she saw him more as a ‘gay best friend’.
Speaking on Australian radio show Fitzy and Wippa with Kate Ritchie, David said: ‘She’s very much friend-zoned me.’
After his exit from BGT, a long-time friend of Walliams on the London social scene gave an insight into his relationship struggles at the time.
‘He is a very lonely man despite the career and all the connections,’ the said. He’s incredibly generous, kind and considerate but is quite a troubled soul. I think that he is just deeply unhappy, underneath it all.’