British comedian and author David Walliams has been publicly identified as the celebrity who attempted to prevent the publication of reports accusing him of sexual misconduct involving young fans and women in the workplace.

The allegations emerged from a joint investigation by ITV News and The Guardian, which reported that several women accused the entertainer of using his fame and influence to pursue inappropriate relationships with them over a number of years.

According to the investigation, two women, identified by the publications as Alex and Jade, alleged that their first encounters with Walliams happened when they were just 15 years old.

Alex claimed she met the comedian at a fan event where she presented him with scripts she had written because of her interest in becoming a comedy writer. She alleged that they maintained contact for about two years before beginning a sexual relationship when she was 17.

Another woman, identified as Jade, said Walliams contacted her through MySpace after they first met in 2007. She alleged that he later invited her to a meeting at a cafe, where he asked questions about her sexual experience.

Jade further claimed that after their meeting, Walliams kissed her on a nearby street before inviting her to his residence, where she said he attempted further physical contact against her wishes.

Walliams has strongly rejected the accusations. His legal representatives denied that he groomed Alex and also disputed claims that he had any sexual contact with Jade.

In a response quoted by The Guardian, the comedian acknowledged that some of his past relationships may have left women feeling hurt, admitting that he had sometimes acted thoughtlessly and failed to properly consider other people’s feelings.

However, he maintained that he had never abused his celebrity status, describing himself as neither a sexual predator nor someone who had broken the law.

The controversy follows Walliams’ unsuccessful attempt to obtain a High Court injunction preventing ITN and The Guardian from publishing their investigation.

During the legal proceedings, his lawyers reportedly argued that making the allegations public could lead him to take his own life.

However, the court declined to grant the injunction, stating that the risks raised could be managed and that protecting his personal wellbeing was not the responsibility of the court.

The development has attracted attention in the United Kingdom, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s official spokesperson describing the allegations as deeply troubling during a Downing Street briefing.

The spokesperson said the government had not yet seen the full extent of the reports but acknowledged the seriousness of the claims.