Walliams investigation, UK media abuse

On 8 November 2026, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said exploitation and abuse remain in media and public life after Russell Brand's conviction. She said women who come forward are too often unprotected by institutions and that power imbalances make speaking up costly. Nandy told the industry to introduce systems to protect whistleblowers and praised the BBC for joining a whistleblowing body.

Three days later, UK ministers gave the entertainment industry an ultimatum to improve protections or face action. Nandy is expected to meet TV, film and publishing leaders next week, with legislation possible if voluntary action is insufficient. One option is mandatory membership of the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority. On 13 November, the Metropolitan Police opened an investigation into David Walliams after allegations of serious sexual offenses, separate from media reports accusing him of grooming and assaulting teenage girls, which he denied. Police are urging potential victims to come forward.