The encyclopedia · People & Management · Marketing decision · 2025
HarperCollins dropped David Walliams — 40 books and 60 million copies went with him
Days after a Telegraph investigation reported allegations, HarperCollins cut Britain's best-selling children's author — and the festival circuit followed.
HarperCollins · 2025-12-19
What happened
David Walliams was Britain's best-selling children's author — more than 40 books, over 60 million copies in 55 languages, a franchise HarperCollins had built since The Boy in the Dress in 2008. In mid-December 2025, a Telegraph investigation reported allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards young women.
On 19 December HarperCollins dropped him. The publisher said it took employee wellbeing 'extremely seriously' with 'processes in place for reporting and investigating concerns' — and, on the case itself, 'To respect the privacy of individuals we do not comment on internal matters.' Walliams strongly denied the allegations; his spokesperson said he had 'never been informed of any allegations raised against him' and was 'not party to any investigation or given any opportunity to answer questions', and that he was taking legal advice.
Waterstones then confirmed he would no longer appear at its Children's Book Festival in Dundee and removed him from the listed speakers — 'HarperCollins have confirmed that David Walliams will no longer be appearing.'
Why it happened
- The announcement came with the reason left blank: 'we do not comment on internal matters' let the Telegraph's allegations stand as the corporate position.
- One name priced the whole backlist: 40 live titles carrying his name became the inventory of a dropped author overnight, not just a cancelled next book.
- The festival made it a cascade: once the publisher moved, every venue that had booked the name had to re-decide — and the safe answer was to follow.
The lesson
HarperCollins cut its best-selling author on a report it would neither confirm nor detail — the whole 40-book backlist moved with him before any finding existed.
Aftermath
HarperCollins said it took employee wellbeing 'extremely seriously' and had 'processes in place for reporting and investigating concerns', while declining to comment on the case itself. Walliams' spokesperson said he had never been informed of any allegations, was not party to any investigation, strongly denied the claims and was taking legal advice. Waterstones confirmed he would no longer appear at its Children's Book Festival in Dundee and removed him from the listed speakers.
Sources
- The Bookseller — David Walliams dropped by HarperCollins over inappropriate behaviour
- BBC — David Walliams dropped by publisher after allegations
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