Showbiz agent who was ignored by broadcasters wanted £10,000 for story on Walliams' 'inappropriate behaviour'

Detailed summary

A showbusiness agent who told Newsnight that he had reported David Walliams' behaviour to 'authorities and broadcasters' had in fact tried to sell the story to this newspaper for £10,000.

Published: 23:20 GMT, 14 November 2026 | Updated: 02:03 GMT, 15 November 2026

A showbusiness agent who told Newsnight that he had reported David Walliams' behaviour to 'authorities and broadcasters' had in fact tried to sell the story to this newspaper for £10,000.

Dermot McNamara tried to negotiate the fee with The Mail on Sunday in 2022 – shortly after the disgraced comedian was sacked as a judge on Britain's Got Talent.

Mr McNamara insisted he would not allow the story about Walliams' alleged behaviour towards his female friend to be published unless the cash was handed over.

And last December, after Walliams, 55, was sacked by his publisher HarperCollins following allegations of inappropriate behaviour and harassment involving junior female staff, Mr McNamara once again insisted a payment of 'at least £6,000' would have to be paid for her story to be made public.

He also appeared to initiate a bidding war, saying that journalists at a rival newspaper were offering him money for information on the woman. The MoS declined to engage further.

Dermot McNamara tried to negotiate the fee with The Mail on Sunday in 2022 – shortly after the disgraced comedian was sacked as a judge on Britain's Got Talent

Mr McNamara – who describes himself as a 'talent agent, publicist and producer' on his X biography – failed to declare his financial request when he appeared on BBC Two's Newsnight, where he was interviewed by host Victoria Derbyshire.

His appearance was just hours after The Guardian and ITV News revealed Walliams was the 'well known' individual who had tried to obtain an injunction to prevent the reporting of allegations against him.

Opening of the article, excerpted from Daily Mail. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.