Britain’s Got Talent executives are apparently preparing to go to battle with David Walliams, following reports that the former judge is suing the production firm behind the talent show.
This comes after Walliams was fired from the show following an expletive-laden outburst in which he made horrible remarks towards a participant was leaked.
According to reports on Tuesday, the 52-year-old comedian and children’s book is suing for’significant damages’ after leaving the talent competition in November and being replaced by Bruno Tonioli.
Last Thursday, Walliams allegedly filed documents in London’s High Court, accusing Fremantle of “a data protection breach over the leaked transcript.”
According to reports, Walliams was aware that his heinous statements may have been broadcast on the show.
A source said: ‘There has been much back and forth between David and Fremantle for the last ten months, since he was sacked from BGT.
‘He is saying that Fremantle breached his data rights but he was made well aware two years before he made the comments that they could be put out into the public domain.’
The insider continued to MailOnline: ‘It was a change to the show which was widely publicised to viewers, the press and the judges.
‘There is very little doubt amongst many working on the show that it was one of the freelance workers who leaked the transcript, perhaps someone who didn’t like David very much.’
According to the publication, BGT executives announced a radical format modification for the programme in April 2018, which may see all off-air remarks made by the judges revealed.
According to reports, a press release viewed by Walliams and the rest of the judging panel included a statement stating that their off-the-record talks and gossip may be made public at Fremantle’s discretion.
For the most current season, Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, and Alesha Dixon returned to the show without the Little Britain star, and while there has been extensive conjecture as to why he departed the show, there has never been any official confirmation.
Prior to the commencement of auditions, Walliams faced backlash as leaked tapes revealed his caustic statements about hopefuls.
He apologised for his offensive comments, stating: ‘I would like to apologise to the people I made disrespectful comments about during breaks in filming for Britain’s Got Talent in 2020.
‘These were private conversations and – like most conversations with friends – were never intended to be shared. Nevertheless, I am sorry.’
Britain’s Got Talent is available to watch on ITVX.
