David Walliams recorded making sexually explicit comment about Britain’s Got Talent contestant
‘These were private conversations,’ reality show judge said in apology
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David Walliams has admitted to making sexually explicit remarks about a Britain’s Got Talent contestant.
The Little Britain comedian and children’s book author, who is a judge on the ITV series, apparently made the offensive comments during an audition show in January 2020 at the London Palladium.
Walliams’s remarks were picked up by microphones placed on the desks by producers in order to pick up the conversations between judges after each audition.
One moment caught by the audio, which was in a transcript obtained by The Guardian, allegedly hears Walliams, 51, describe a woman as being like “the slightly boring girl you meet in the pub that thinks you want to f*** them, but you don’t”.
He is said to then add: “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.’”
An additional instance hears Walliams call a pensioner, who was auditioning, a “c***” three times while the man was walking off stage. The contestant had poked lighthearted fun at the comedian during his routine.
Walliams has apologised for the comments, telling The Indepedent: “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 BGT production company Thames TV said: “Although relating to a private conversation almost three years ago, the language used was inappropriate. Even though it was private, those involved have been spoken to and reminded of their responsibilities and the show’s expectations as to future professional conduct.”
Thames TV also said that, “some time before being made awar of this article, production have also enhanced our training and education for judges and others in terms of language and enhanced respect for contestants and other members of the public alike. We believe all have taken this training on board.”
Walliams’s fellow judges at the time were Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon, but The Guardian notes that Walliams was the only one to make offensive remarks in leaked transcripts from three episodes.
The previously mentioned instances were the only time Walliams made such comments.