At the time, it felt thrilling rather than strange.
Britain’s Got Talent was one of the biggest shows on television, and David Walliams was one of its most recognisable faces.
So when the comedian invited a teenage fan backstage during the semi-finals in May 2015, it seemed like a golden moment.
She was 17. He was 44. She and a friend posed for selfies, enjoyed cupcakes and fizzy drinks, and soaked up the excitement of being treated like VIPs inside his dressing room.
From Starstruck Fan to Familiar Face
What began as a one-off backstage treat quietly turned into something longer lasting.
Over the next year, Walliams stayed in touch with the teenager, offering encouragement about her career ambitions and keeping up regular contact.
He phoned her on her 18th birthday, introduced her to members of his family, and even welcomed her into his London home.
At the time, the attention felt flattering.
She was young, ambitious, and thrilled to be noticed by someone she admired on television.
A Friendship That Raised No Alarms Back Then
Looking back now, she says the oddest part is how normal it all seemed.
Producers saw her backstage. Staff came in and out.
No one questioned why teenage girls were spending time alone in a judge’s dressing room.
For her, it felt like an exciting brush with fame rather than something to scrutinise.
That perspective would change years later.
Social Media Posts That Told a Different Story
In 2020, long after the friendship had faded, the woman shared a series of reflective posts online.
One showed her and three other young girls in Walliams’s dressing room during that 2015 semi-final. This time, the caption wasn’t glowing.
She questioned why she ever thought it was normal for a middle-aged man to invite multiple 16- and 17-year-old girls into a private space with no adults present.
She also expressed disbelief that so many people working on the show had seen it happen and said nothing.
Messages, Meetings and Missed Red Flags
In another post, she spoke about Walliams texting her frequently and suggested that inviting young girls into his dressing room was something people backstage were aware of.
At the time, these comments went largely unnoticed.
Walliams was still a hugely popular judge and a celebrated children’s author, with books like Gangsta Granny and Billionaire Boy dominating bestseller lists.
Nothing about her posts led to formal complaints, and she has never accused him of criminal behaviour.
How It All Began at a BGT Audition
The connection started months before the semi-final.
She had applied for tickets to a BGT audition in Birmingham and was moved to the front row, just behind the judges.
She and Walliams chatted briefly, and later that day he followed her on Twitter.
For a teenager, it was overwhelming.
Friends recall her feeling giddy and stunned that a TV star had noticed her.
Invitations That Kept Coming
Walliams later invited her to the Wembley semi-final, arranging tickets through his assistant.
She travelled more than 100 miles with a friend and stayed overnight in a budget hotel.
Word spread quickly among her friends, and the trip became a major talking point.
That evening, she told Walliams she hoped to work in television.
He encouraged her to apply for work experience at his production company and even chased her up when she hadn’t sent the application.
Dinners, Shows and Family Introductions
Over the following months, Walliams invited her to further BGT auditions in Birmingham, meals at his hotel, and performances of Gangsta Granny at the theatre.
He sent her a Christmas card featuring himself and his young son and surprised her with a birthday phone call where he sang to her.
She later wrote online that she had met his mother and sister, something she saw at the time as proof of a genuine friendship.
A Night in London and a Spa Day
In early 2016, she and a friend stayed overnight at his London home.
They visited Buckingham Palace, ate dinner together, watched a film, and enjoyed a spa afternoon at a luxury hotel — paid for by Walliams, something she later mentioned publicly.
Not long after, the friendship naturally fizzled out.
Reassessing the Past With Older Eyes
Years later, distance brought clarity. Friends of the woman believe Walliams may have been lonely at the time, following the breakdown of his marriage in 2015.
Whatever the reason, she now says the age gap and power imbalance make her uncomfortable when she looks back.
She stresses that she has not accused him of the behaviour alleged by others but says the experience no longer feels innocent in hindsight.
New Allegations Cast Old Memories in a Harsh Light
Her reflections resurfaced after recent claims that Walliams behaved inappropriately toward young women at his publisher, HarperCollins — allegations he strongly denies.
The company has since decided not to publish new books by him, reportedly following internal complaints.
Walliams’s representatives say he was never informed of any investigation and denies any wrongdoing.
The production company behind Britain’s Got Talent has also rejected any suggestion of impropriety by its staff.
What Lingers After the Spotlight Fades
For the woman at the centre of this story, the issue isn’t about fame or scandal.
It’s about how something that once felt exciting now leaves a lasting sense of unease.
What once seemed like a fairytale brush with celebrity has, over time, become a reminder of how differently moments can look when revisited years later — and how questions that were never asked at the time can echo long after the lights go down.
What’s Next
As scrutiny around power, age, and accountability in entertainment continues to grow, stories like this raise difficult questions about backstage culture — and whether silence from those in charge allowed situations to go unchallenged for far too long.
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