David Walliams has been dropped as an ambassador for a leading children’s charity amid ‘harassment’ allegations against the comic star.
The Children’s Trust announced the TV star and children’s author as its new celebrity supporter in January 2018, joining the likes of singer Dame Elaine Paige and actress Joely Richardson.
But today, a spokesperson for the charity told the Mail : ‘After a review of our ambassador programme earlier in the year, David Walliams is no longer an ambassador of The Children’s Trust.’
It comes after the 54-year-old comedian was dropped by his publisher HarperCollins following allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards female staff.
He is alleged to have harassed a female employee at the publishing house, who later left with a five-figure settlement.
Walliams was not informed of the allegations at the time and has denied any wrongdoing.
A photograph of Walliams had been above Dame Elaine on The Children’s Trust website, which showed him holding his dog Bert on a visit to the charity’s HQ in 2018.
Walliams has supported The Children’s Trust, which focuses on children suffering with brain injury and neurodisability, for several years and has dropped-in on Christmas Day to read to children.
David Walliamshas been dropped as an ambassador for a leading children’s charity amid ‘harassment’ allegations against the comic star
The Children’s Trust announced the TV star and children’s author as its new celebrity supporter in January 2018
Upon accepting the role he said: ‘I am absolutely thrilled to become an ambassador for The Children’s Trust. It’s a charity I care greatly about, and every time I visit I am struck by its warm, caring atmosphere and the dedication of its staff.’
‘The Children’s Trust is a very special place with incredibly inspiring young people. I feel very proud to be involved.’
The star was appointed an OBE for his services to charity and to the arts in 2007.
In 2006, he swam the English Channel to raise more than £1million for Sport Relief, and the same year he became Patron of Cardiac Risk in the Young.
He swam the 12-mile Strait of Gibraltar in 2008 and the 140-mile length of the Thames in 2011, both for Sport Relief.
Its not the only blow for the Little Britain star, Walliams has also been pulled from a Waterstones children’s book festival amid the allegations.
The comedian-turned-author will no longer appear at the bookseller’s annual children’s festival in February, with Waterstones confirming his removal on Sunday.
He had been due to appear on February 7 at the Dundee stop of Waterstones’ festival, where he was scheduled to host an hour-long talk and Q&A described as ‘a family event with David Walliams’.
Over the weekend, customers attempting to buy tickets online reported problems, with error messages appearing when they tried to book for the event.
Waterstones later confirmed that Walliams would no longer be taking part. A spokesman for the chain said: ‘HarperCollins have confirmed that David Walliams will no longer be appearing at our festival in Dundee.’
His name has since been removed from the festival’s list of speakers.
Its not the only blow for the Little Britain star, Walliams has also been pulled from a Waterstones children’s book festival amid the allegations
On its website, Waterstones says the children’s book festival brings together ‘bestselling and beloved children’s authors’ for a ‘family-friendly celebration’.
The retailer also appears to have altered how Walliams’s books are presented in stores.
At its Victoria branch in London, his titles were still on sale, but a promotional card describing him as an ‘author of loads of laugh-aloud funny children’s books’ was taken down over the weekend.
Several independent bookshops around the UK have also reportedly removed his books from display following the allegations.
The BBC has said it has severed ties with Walliams, confirming there are ‘no future projects directly involving him’. However, adaptations of his children’s books Mr Stink and The Boy in the Dress were broadcast on Sunday.