Key Highlights
- Television host Jonathan Ross stated he is “horrified” following the resurfacing of a 2004 British Comedy Awards joke directed at David Walliams amid new misconduct allegations.
- Walliams was identified in a joint Guardian and ITV News investigation regarding allegations of grooming and sexually inappropriate behaviour, all of which Walliams vehemently denies.
- Ross clarified that the scriptwriting team wrote the resurfaced punchline and maintained that he had no knowledge of any real-life improper conduct at the time.
Jonathan Ross Responds as 2004 British Comedy Awards Joke Resurfaces
Broadcaster Jonathan Ross has issued a formal statement addressing a resurfaced televised joke from the 2004 British Comedy Awards regarding comedian and author David Walliams. The clip recirculated widely online after Walliams was named as the high-profile public figure at the centre of a joint investigative report by The Guardian and ITV News concerning allegations of grooming and sexually inappropriate behaviour.
The controversy stems from the 2004 awards broadcast, where Ross delivered the line: The comedy awards is 15 years old – 15 years old! And like most 15-year-olds, it’s drunk, it’s unpredictable, and it’s probably going home with David Walliams,
Walliams was identified in the press following an unsuccessful attempt to secure an injunction that would have prevented media outlets from reporting on the allegations against him.
Responding to the resurfaced clip, Ross expressed deep remorse over delivering the line and stated that the material was handed to him by the ceremony’s production writers rather than conceived by him personally. Ross noted that he was horrified
by the broader revelations facing Walliams.
Full Statement from Jonathan Ross on Walliams and Russell Brand
In a detailed statement provided to LADbible, Ross addressed his past professional and personal ties to both Walliams and comedian Russell Brand, affirming his total unawareness of the alleged behaviours at the time.
I am as horrified by the revelations about David Walliams and the crimes of Russell Brand as the rest of the nation. There was a time in my life when I was on friendly terms with both men, and during that period I was genuinely unaware of their conduct.
My thoughts are with the many, many women who have bravely come forward.
I recognise how deeply shocking it is to revisit footage of a joke delivered by me at the Comedy Awards in 2004, in which I make light of the notion of Walliams going home with a 15 year old.Advertisement
This joke was submitted to me by the Comedy Awards script writing team and I believed that the punchline was a reference to the fact he had publicly dated younger women, exaggerated for comic effect. “It is also a tasteless joke that I would not dream of making today about anyone, but that is beside the point. Had I had any reason to suspect that it might be referring to actual events, I would not only have refused to use it, but I would not have felt comfortable continuing a personal or professional relationship with him. I also like to think that I would have acted upon that knowledge.
David Walliams Rejects Allegations of Criminal Conduct
Lawyers representing David Walliams told The Guardian that the performer never engaged in grooming young women
, explicitly denies any sexual contact with the 15-year-old mentioned in the media investigation, and maintained that allegations of serious criminal conduct are false
.
Walliams issued a direct statement via a letter shared with the press, addressing his past personal life while strongly rebuffing the accusations of abuse and illegality:
Looking back, I realise that at times I behaved thoughtlessly towards other people I had casual sexual relationships with.
I realise I did not always take people’s feelings properly into account. That is something I regret. And whilst a power imbalance is inevitable when one party is famous, abusing that power is something else entirely and it is something that I never did.
I am not a sexual predator. I have not broken the law, but I am devastated that some of the women I met 10 to 20 years ago have now expressed hurt or anger towards me.
Why This Matters
The unsealing of David Walliams’ identity following a failed legal injunction underscores ongoing media and legal developments surrounding historical conduct within the British entertainment industry. The immediate scrutiny of archival television footage—such as the 2004 British Comedy Awards broadcast—highlights the retroactive evaluation that broadcast networks, producers, and public figures face when past television humour intersects with contemporary reporting on inappropriate behaviour and power imbalances.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Jonathan Ross say during the 2004 British Comedy Awards?
During the ceremony, Ross delivered a script-provided punchline regarding the ceremony’s anniversary, joking: The comedy awards is 15 years old – 15 years old! And like most 15-year-olds, it’s drunk, it’s unpredictable, and it’s probably going home with David Walliams,
Ross has since labelled it a tasteless joke he would not make today and clarified that he believed it was an exaggerated reference to Walliams publicly dating younger women.
What are the specific allegations against David Walliams?
David Walliams was named in a joint investigation by The Guardian and ITV News involving claims of grooming and sexually inappropriate behaviour, including an allegation involving a 15-year-old. Walliams’ legal team and personal statement deny all allegations of sexual contact with the minor, deny any grooming, and state that no laws were broken.
Where can affected individuals seek confidential support?
Individuals affected by issues related to sexual misconduct and distress can contact The Survivors Trust for free at 08088 010 818. Operational hours are 10:00 am–12:30 pm, 1:30 pm–3:00 pm, and 6:00 pm–8:00 pm Monday through Thursday; 10:00 am–12:30 pm and 1:30 pm–3:00 pm on Fridays; 10:00 am–12:30 pm on Saturdays; and 6:00 pm–8:00 pm on Sundays.
