Simon Cowell reportedly distanced himself from David Walliams around four years ago, despite their previously close working relationship on Britain’s Got Talent.
The pair became familiar faces on the programme through their playful exchanges, with Walliams frequently making exaggerated romantic advances towards Cowell during broadcasts and public appearances.
However, sources close to the show‘s creator have claimed that Cowell eventually became concerned about Walliams’ behaviour and no longer considered him a good person.
The development has attracted renewed attention following allegations that Walliams abused his position on Britain’s Got Talent and engaged in inappropriate and exploitative sexual activities involving a large number of young women and girls.
Walliams has not been part of the judging panel since 2022, when he left following the emergence of recordings in which he made disparaging comments about contestants during off-camera conversations.
One contestant was reportedly described using an offensive term, while another woman was discussed in sexually derogatory language.
Friends of Cowell have reportedly said he has had no contact with Walliams since his departure from the programme and has no intention of reconnecting with him. They also claimed Cowell was pleased that the comedian had left and that the show had continued without him.
Cowell Once Described Walliams as a ‘Psychopathic Child’
Comments Cowell made during a 2018 interview have resurfaced as attention turns to their relationship.
Asked what kept him returning to Britain’s Got Talent, Cowell said he enjoyed the unusual performers and described the programme as a fun show with a good atmosphere.
When the interviewer suggested that Cowell had his best friends on the judging panel, he corrected the description, saying they were not his best friends, although he liked them.
Asked whether there had been any tension, Cowell singled out Walliams, describing him as someone he was dealing with like a “psychopathic child”.
Walliams Once Pulled Down His Trousers in Front of Cowell
An incident during filming also showed Walliams taking his on-screen antics further by pulling down his trousers in front of Cowell.
The moment followed a reminder from presenter Stephen Mulhern about an earlier audition when Walliams had unexpectedly undone his trousers while the judges were dancing.
Walliams decided to recreate the incident, attempting to crawl across the judges’ desk before repeating the gesture directly in front of Cowell.
The audience reacted with shocked screams, while Cowell leaned back with his head in his hands. Fellow judge Alesha Dixon shouted at Walliams to stop.
Repeated Kisses and Romantic Jokes on the Show
Walliams regularly made theatrical romantic gestures towards Cowell during his time on the programme, including kissing him on several occasions.
One incident occurred in 2018 after Cowell awarded his Golden Buzzer to Jack and Tim Goodacre, a father-and-son singing and guitar duo from Norwich.
As the audience celebrated the decision, Walliams approached Cowell and kissed him on the cheek.
The gesture was part of the pair’s recurring on-screen comedy routine, although Cowell sometimes appeared uncomfortable with the attention.
Cowell Said He Felt Uncomfortable During Jonathan Ross Appearance
Their unusual exchanges were also evident during a 2012 appearance on The Jonathan Ross Show, where they discussed Britain’s Got Talent.
As the pair joined the programme, Walliams sat very close to Cowell on the sofa, prompting Cowell to tell him to move over.
When presenter Jonathan Ross asked how he was finding the situation, Cowell replied that he was “very uncomfortable”.
Walliams then began massaging his co-star’s shoulders, prompting Cowell to question why he had agreed to appear alongside him.
Cowell also reminded Walliams that he was married. Ross joked that Cowell might have been more comfortable with the situation if Walliams had been single, but Cowell rejected the suggestion.
He later acknowledged that agreeing to the appearance was one of the moments in his life he regretted.
Walliams Made Jokes About Calling His Wife Simon
During a 2012 interview about the talent show, Walliams made further jokes about his fascination with Cowell.
He said his wife became jealous because he regularly returned home discussing things Cowell had done during filming.
Walliams also claimed he had altered wedding photographs by replacing his wife’s head with Cowell’s and joked that he sometimes asked his wife whether he could call her Simon when they went to bed.
He continued by suggesting that he could give Cowell a massage, joking that the music executive would not know who was doing it if he closed his eyes.
The interviewer eventually interrupted the exchange and suggested that the discussion move on.
Cowell Previously Complained About Walliams’ Growing Ego
Cowell had also spoken about Walliams’ personality and increasing prominence in a promotional video for the 2015 series of Britain’s Got Talent.
He said the judges generally got along but described Walliams as difficult at times.
Comparing their relationship to Frankenstein and his monster, Cowell said Walliams was becoming increasingly famous and that his ego was growing.
He also described the comedian as uncontrollable.
Cowell Accused Walliams of Crossing the Line Over Amanda Holden Joke
Another exchange occurred during a May 2018 broadcast of the programme’s live spin-off, when the judges were asked to write answers to questions about Cowell on individual whiteboards.
Walliams made several crude remarks during the segment. When asked what Cowell wanted to be as a young boy, he wrote “a little girl”. Asked about Cowell’s best attribute, he wrote “his penis”.
The most contentious response came when presenter Stephen Mulhern asked who would serve as Cowell’s deputy if he were absent.
Walliams displayed an answer naming fellow judge Amanda Holden, adding the words “because they did it”, implying that she and Cowell had been intimate.
Cowell responded by telling Walliams that he had crossed the line. He also called him a “smutty little man” and told him to get out.
The resurfacing of these exchanges has brought renewed attention to the relationship between the two former colleagues as allegations concerning Walliams continue to generate scrutiny.
