In a move that will affect millions of young readers, HarperCollins confirmed it will start withdrawing the entire David Walliams backlist from both physical and digital outlets. The publisher had already signalled last year that it would not commission any new titles from the former TV comedian, and the latest step extends that policy to the author’s previously released works.
The withdrawal will be carried out gradually, meaning that stocked copies in bookstores will be sold until depletion, while e-book and audio editions will be taken offline in a staged manner. Trade observers describe the approach as a “phased exit” designed to avoid abrupt gaps on retail shelves while still ensuring the catalogue disappears over time.
Phasing out the backlist across formats
According to internal reports, the plan covers all 23 children’s books that HarperCollins published for Walliams, beginning with the 2008 debut The Boy in the Dress. Collectively, those titles have moved more than 60 million copies worldwide and six adaptations have made it to television. The publisher’s statement stressed that the removal will affect printed volumes, e-book files and audio recordings alike, and that the process will be monitored until inventory is exhausted.
While the company did not explicitly link the decision to the allegations, it reiterated its commitment to employee wellbeing and to robust procedures for handling concerns. A spokesperson said the firm “takes employee wellbeing extremely seriously and has processes in place for reporting and investigating concerns,” adding that privacy considerations prevent further comment on internal matters.
Walliams’ publishing career and the allegations that sparked the cut-off
David Walliams rose to prominence alongside Matt Lucas in sketch shows such as Little Britain and later built a parallel career as a prolific children’s author. His partnership with HarperCollins produced picture books, novel-length stories and short-story collections that became staples in UK primary schools. However, in 2022 a leaked transcript revealed the author making vulgar remarks about contestants on Britain’s Got Talent a show he judged for a decade.
Following the leak, Walliams issued an apology for the “disrespectful comments” and later settled a lawsuit with FremantleMedia in November 2023. In 2025, after a junior employee lodged a complaint, the publisher opened an internal inquiry. Reports suggest the author was not informed of the investigation, and an employee allegedly left the company with a five-figure payout. Walliams’ legal team maintains that he has never been shown any allegation and “strongly denies that he has behaved inappropriately.”
Industry reaction and the wider impact
Within days of the announcement, the Waterstones Children’s Book Festival removed Walliams from its program, signalling the broader cultural fallout of the publisher’s stance. Critics argue that the removal of a backlist—defined as “the collection of an author’s previously published works still in circulation”—is a rare step that underscores how seriously organisations are treating misconduct claims.
Analysts note that the decision could affect sales channels that still list the titles, as well as libraries and schools that rely on HarperCollins’ distribution. Some retailers have already taken down the author’s online pages, and the company’s website no longer displays his author profile. The episode adds to a growing pattern of entertainment figures facing professional consequences after allegations surface, highlighting the intertwining of publishing, media reputation and corporate responsibility.
