Allegations against David Walliams published; Jonathan Ross says he was unaware of conduct

Allegations that David Walliams used his power and celebrity status to prey on young women and teenagers for sex have been published by the Guardian and ITV News, which said the reporting followed a three-year joint investigation. Walliams, 55, denies any wrongdoing. A court also rejected a legal attempt by Walliams to prevent publication of the allegations.

The reports have prompted a series of responses across television, publishing and government. Independent Talent Group, a literary agency, has dropped Walliams, saying it was "deeply disturbed" by the allegations. Fremantle UK, the producer of Britain's Got Talent, said it was "disturbed and concerned" by the claims against Walliams, who was a judge on the show from 2012 to 2022.

The broadcaster Sky will no longer hold the licence for Fing!, a film written by and starring Walliams that had been expected for release next year. The BBC is removing some programmes, including Little Britain, while it reviews all material featuring or written by Walliams. Walliams's membership of the Labour Party has been suspended. Downing Street, the office of the prime minister, described the allegations as "deeply troubling."

Culture secretary Lisa Nandy has promised to meet senior figures from the media and entertainment industries to "draw a line in the sand" over claims of abuse of power.

Jonathan Ross, the presenter, said he was "as horrified by the revelations about David Walliams and the crimes of Russell Brand as the rest of the nation." He said he was "genuinely unaware" of the conduct of both men.

Ross's name has also come up in relation to a joke he made at the British Comedy Awards in 2004, when he said the awards, then 15 years old, were "probably going home with David Walliams." Ross said the line had been submitted to him by the awards' script-writing team. He said he believed the punchline referred to Walliams having publicly dated younger women, exaggerated for comic effect. Ross said that had he suspected the joke referred to actual events, he would have refused to use it, and would not have continued a personal or professional relationship with Walliams.