Showbiz agent ignored by broadcasters wanted £10,000 for story of David Walliams' 'inappropriate behaviour'

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Hind, K. (2026, November 14). Showbiz agent ignored by broadcasters wanted £10,000 for story of David Walliams' 'inappropriate behaviour'. Daily Mail. https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16292959/Showbiz-agent-ignored-broadcasters-story-David-Walliams-inappropriate.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490

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Quick Summary

Dermot McNamara, a showbusiness agent who claimed on BBC's Newsnight that he had reported David Walliams' inappropriate behavior to authorities and broadcasters, attempted to sell the story to The Mail on Sunday for £10,000 in 2022. McNamara tried to negotiate a payment of at least £6,000 again last December when Walliams was fired by his publisher over similar allegations. The article highlights McNamara's undisclosed financial demands during his appearance on Newsnight, revealing his attempt to capitalize on the story about Walliams' alleged misconduct towards a female friend.

Written by AI on 2026-11-15, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

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Story summary

Dermot McNamara, a showbusiness agent, attempted to sell a story about comedian David Walliams' alleged inappropriate behavior to The Mail on Sunday for £10,000 in 2022. McNamara had previously told ITV News and Newsnight that he had reported Walliams' behavior to authorities and broadcasters. However, he insisted on receiving payment before releasing the story. After Walliams was fired by his publisher HarperCollins over similar allegations involving junior female staff, McNamara again demanded at least £6,000 for the story. McNamara also claimed that journalists from a rival newspaper were offering him money for information about the woman involved. The Mail on Sunday declined to engage further with McNamara.

Written for “David Walliams Showbiz Scandal” on 2026-11-15, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

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Story

David Walliams Showbiz Scandal

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Katie Hind

18 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction

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.

2026-11-14 · assertive framing · Showbiz agent ignored by broadcasters wanted £10,000 for story of David Walliams' 'inappropriate behaviour'

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Lawyers warned the young woman in the letter that she could ‘face serious consequences’ if she was to make her story of the friendship – which included a meeting at the star’s £3.5million north London mansion –public.

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Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.

All 18 articles by Katie Hind →

Claims (13 extracted, 0 hedged)

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. asserted

he → tell → 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. asserted

comedian → try → 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. asserted

cash → insist → friend

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. asserted

journalists → sack → woman

The MoS declined to engage further. asserted

MoS → decline → ?

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. asserted

he → try → 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. asserted

who → reveal → him

Mr McNamara told how he reported the star's behaviour towards his friend to both 'authorities and broadcasters'. asserted

he → tell → authorities

Asked if any action was taken, he said: 'Not that I'm aware of... asserted

I → ask → ?

He was still allowed, by the sounds of it, to be involved with other young women.' asserted

He → allow → women

He also told how Walliams' behaviour had a 'profound effect' on his friend's mental health, making it a 'struggle to see him in the media, getting jobs... raising money for charity, allowed in classrooms [and] children's bedrooms with his books'. asserted

it → tell → books

The young woman, now in her mid-20s, is understood to be one of those whose story appears in The Guardian and ITV News investigation, David Walliams: Power and Silence, which alleged the Little Britain star targeted girls as young as 15 for sex. asserted

star → understand → sex

Mr McNamara declined to comment. asserted

McNamara → decline → ?

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Showbiz agent ignored by broadcasters wanted £10,000 for story of David Walliams' 'inappropriate behaviour'

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