When the comedian Lucy Beaumont revealed she had intervened to support a junior TV worker concerned about David Walliams’ behaviour, she feared it would brand her as a troublemaker and ensure she would never work in television again.
The immediate response to her actions, however, has been more heartening. Her book Drinking Custard: The Diary of a Confused Mum sold out online soon after she talked about her fears for her career. There was also a flurry of online posts from fans buying tickets to her current tour, with many posting messages of praise and support.
Walliams, one of Britain’s best-known television personalities and top-selling children’s authors, has been accused by multiple women of using his power and celebrity status to prey on young women and teenagers for sex. He denies any wrongdoing.
Many TV insiders share Beaumont’s belief that there is still a professional price paid in the industry for speaking out against the behaviour of high-profile figures. However, Beaumont revealed she had spoken to the Guardian and ITV News in their three-year joint investigation.
Beaumont has explained that she was approached by a young TV worker, who alleged that he was asked to take young women to Walliams’ dressing room. Similar allegations emerged during the Guardian’s investigation. Beaumont did not witness any such behaviour herself.
Beaumont said that she was speaking out even though “I know everyone I know knows this, and I don’t hear anybody talking about it”.
“And honestly, I don’t think I’ll work in telly again, I honestly don’t,” she told Sky News this week, joking that she would become a pilates teacher instead.
Beaumont expressed her fears about the impact on her career despite having established herself in the comedy and television worlds. She has appeared on the biggest show on TV, the BBC’s Celebrity Traitors, as well as Taskmaster and Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel.
However, after talking about her involvement in highlighting concerning behaviour, Beaumont’s book sold out in paperback and hardback on Amazon, while a flurry of fans booked tickets for her shows, citing her decision to speak out.
Beaumont said in a Guardian article this week that she had been receiving thousands of messages in response to her intervention. “I’ve been flooded with support because people felt something,” she wrote. “They feel the same about these young women as I do and for a lot of women watching and reading, they’ve been in their shoes.”
She said she did not believe there was a widespread problem with harassment in the television world, but said she had spoken to journalists because there was “no HR department in TV”.
“The reason high-profile people aren’t saying anything is because they lose work, you’re seen as, you might be a trouble-causer,” she said. “I will slowly start getting less work, we’re all paid really well … no one wants to mess that up.”
Beaumont has said she used to work in schools and had been trained in safeguarding issues. “Whenever I’ve heard a rumour about anyone, I’ve done everything I can,” she said.
The comedian has previously raised concerns about the behaviour of some men on the comedy circuit. In ۲۰۲۳, she told a podcast that “predatory male behaviour” had held her back.
“I’ve had quite a few incidents where if you’re in any other workforce you would go to HR, but there isn’t one,” she said. “I think it’s just everywhere and it’s not talked about enough.”
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Support for anyone affected by sexual abuse issues is available in the UK from Rape Crisis on ۰۸۰۸ ۵۰۰ ۲۲۲۲ in England and Wales, ۰۸۰۸ ۸۰۱ ۰۳۰۲ in Scotland, or ۰۸۰۰ ۰۲۴۶ ۹۹۱ in Northern Ireland. The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (Napac) offers support for adult survivors on ۰۸۰۸ ۸۰۱ ۰۳۳۱. Samaritans can be contacted on freephone ۱۱۶ ۱۲۳. Other international helplines are available for people affected by sexual abuse and childhood abuse, and people in crisis.
