Marina Hyde said on her podcast with Richard Osman: ‘Someone at some level in Britain’s Got Talent was trying to get rid of him.’
21:02, 12 Nov 2026Updated 21:03, 12 Nov 2026
David Walliams on Britain’s Got Talent in 2020(Image: Dymond/Thames/Syco/REX/Shutterstock)
People within Britain’s Got Talent “leaked” the controversial comments that led to David Walliams‘ departure from the ITV show, it was claimed this week.
The Little Britain star, 55, left the telly hit in 2022 after derogatory comments he made about contestants came to light.
He was recorded during filming breaks at the London Palladium calling one contestant a ‘c***’ and said of another: “She thinks you want to f*** her, but you don’t.”
Walliams – accused of allegedly using his status as a celebrity to prey on vulnerable teenagers and young women for sex, which he denies – was the subject of a discussion on The Rest is Entertainment podcast.
To see more of the stories you love from The Mirror and to find them easily in Google then make us your preferred source. Free and easy-to-do, just click on the link here to find more from The Mirror at the top of your feed.
Marina Hyde, who hosts with TV star Richard Osman, said: “Did we also know that people were trying to get rid of him?
“Operatives, I don’t know who and I don’t know at what level… who leaked those comments? They were trying to get rid, someone at some level in Britain’s Got Talent was trying to get rid of him.”
Walliams sued the show’s makers Fremantle for misuse of private information and for breaching data protection laws and the case was settled in 2023.
Speaking about when the remarks came to light, Hyde, 52, added: “Those comments were leaked, they dropped him and rather than leave that – which you might have thought, you are a hugely bestselling author, perhaps why would you wish to excavate it? – he sued them in the High Court in 2023.
She added: “He clearly thought they had leaked it deliberately. Eventually they settled amicably. I can assure you that would not have been at all amicable on either side.”
Walliams was a judge on Britain’s Got Talent for a decade, joining the show in 2012 on the panel alongside Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon and Amanda Holden. When he left in 2022 he was replaced by Strictly Come Dancing judge Bruno Tonioli.
The show, which is still a bit hit for ITV, is due to return next year. Since 2026, YouTuber and musician KSI has taken Bruno’s spot on the judging panel after the Italian star ran into scheduling conflicts.
The Mirror has contacted reps for Britain’s Got Talent.
David Walliams’ vile comments that saw him leave Britain’s Got Talent were ‘leaked’ says Marina Hyde
Marina Hyde said on her podcast with Richard Osman: ‘Someone at some level in Britain’s Got Talent was trying to get rid of him.’
21:02, 12 Nov 2026Updated 21:03, 12 Nov 2026
David Walliams on Britain’s Got Talent in 2020(Image: Dymond/Thames/Syco/REX/Shutterstock)
People within Britain’s Got Talent “leaked” the controversial comments that led to David Walliams‘ departure from the ITV show, it was claimed this week.
The Little Britain star, 55, left the telly hit in 2022 after derogatory comments he made about contestants came to light.
He was recorded during filming breaks at the London Palladium calling one contestant a ‘c***’ and said of another: “She thinks you want to f*** her, but you don’t.”
Walliams – accused of allegedly using his status as a celebrity to prey on vulnerable teenagers and young women for sex, which he denies – was the subject of a discussion on The Rest is Entertainment podcast.
To see more of the stories you love from The Mirror and to find them easily in Google then make us your preferred source. Free and easy-to-do, just click on the link here to find more from The Mirror at the top of your feed.
Marina Hyde, who hosts with TV star Richard Osman, said: “Did we also know that people were trying to get rid of him?
“Operatives, I don’t know who and I don’t know at what level… who leaked those comments? They were trying to get rid, someone at some level in Britain’s Got Talent was trying to get rid of him.”
Walliams sued the show’s makers Fremantle for misuse of private information and for breaching data protection laws and the case was settled in 2023.
Speaking about when the remarks came to light, Hyde, 52, added: “Those comments were leaked, they dropped him and rather than leave that – which you might have thought, you are a hugely bestselling author, perhaps why would you wish to excavate it? – he sued them in the High Court in 2023.
She added: “He clearly thought they had leaked it deliberately. Eventually they settled amicably. I can assure you that would not have been at all amicable on either side.”
Walliams was a judge on Britain’s Got Talent for a decade, joining the show in 2012 on the panel alongside Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon and Amanda Holden. When he left in 2022 he was replaced by Strictly Come Dancing judge Bruno Tonioli.
The show, which is still a bit hit for ITV, is due to return next year. Since 2026, YouTuber and musician KSI has taken Bruno’s spot on the judging panel after the Italian star ran into scheduling conflicts.
The Mirror has contacted reps for Britain’s Got Talent.
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