The 51-year-old comedian, actor and children’s author said in a statement: “I would like to apologize to the people I made disrespectful comments about during breaks from filming Britain’s Got Talent 2020. “These were private conversations and – like most conversations with friends – were never meant to be shared. However, I’m sorry.” The remarks are understood to have been both derogatory and sexual, referring to one contestant as a “c***” and telling another: “She thinks you want to tease her but you don’t”. Pictured: BGT judges Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon, Amanda Holden and Walliams with Ant & Dec in 2019 The comments were part of a leaked transcript, seen by The Guardian, which was from a taped audition show at the London Palladium in January 2020. Walliams has been a judge on the show since 2012, alongside fellow judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon. It has not been implied that any of the other judges made inappropriate comments about the contestants.
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Williams’ remarks were the only inappropriate comments seen by the Guardian in the leaked transcripts, which covered three episodes of the show. They seem to have been picked up by the microphones at the judges desk in the center of the room. Responding to the comments, BGT creator Simon Cowell and his company Syco Entertainment said they did not condone Walliams’ remarks and made it clear that Cowell was not aware of the remarks at the time. Walliams, who has been named best judge at the National Television Awards three times during his 10-year run on the show, has often been praised for his chemistry with Cowell. Thames TV, the production company behind Britain’s Got Talent, said in a statement to Sky News: “Although it concerned a private conversation almost three years ago, the language used was inappropriate. “Although it was private, they have spoken to those involved and reminded them of their responsibilities and the show’s expectations of future professional conduct.” Thames is also understood to have provided training to his on-screen judges in recent years, dealing with issues of language and respect around contestants and audience members. An ITV spokesman said: “We do not condone the language described in these allegations and have spoken to the producers of Britain’s Got Talent. “The duty of care to all participants in any of our programs is always of the utmost importance and we have protocols and guidelines in place for all of our production partners.” ITV has been in the spotlight in recent years, with questions about the channel’s duty of care to contestants following the death of Jeremy Kyle Show contestant Steve Diamond a week after appearing on the talk show, and the deaths of two former contestants on Love Island. Sophie Gradon and Mike Thalassitis, who both committed suicide.
