David Walliams takes legal action against the company responsible for Britain's Got Talent

David Walliams, a former judge on ITV's Britain's Got Talent, has taken legal action against production company FremantleMedia, citing data protection concerns. The exact details of the case have not been disclosed. Walliams, known for his work as an actor, comedian, and author, served as a judge on the talent show from 2012 to 2022. In November, he publicly apologized for making disrespectful comments about two contestants during filming in 2020. It was reported by The Guardian that a leaked transcript revealed derogatory and sexually explicit remarks made by Walliams about contestants during the show's recording in January 2020. Walliams labeled the comments as private conversations never meant to be shared and expressed remorse for his actions. FremantleMedia's subsidiary, Thames TV, categorized Walliams' remarks as private but deemed his language inappropriate. Earlier this year, it was announced that Bruno Tonioli would be joining Britain's Got Talent for its 2023 season, effectively replacing Walliams. Walliams, who gained fame alongside Matt Lucas on BBC comedy Little Britain, is widely recognized as one of the UK's most successful entertainment figures. Throughout his tenure on Britain's Got Talent, he received the National Television Awards for Best Judge multiple times. Additionally, Walliams has achieved considerable success as a bestselling author, with notable works like Gangsta Granny and The Boy in the Dress. Walliams filed the legal case under his real name, David Edward Williams, but his spokesman has not commented on the matter. FremantleMedia, one of the country's largest TV production companies responsible for programs such as Family Fortunes, QI, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, and Britain's Got Talent, declined to comment on the issue.