Lou Teasdale, a makeup artist who worked on Britain’s Got Talent, claimed on November 11 that it was standard protocol for young women to sign non-disclosure agreements and surrender their phones before being left alone with famous male television stars.
The disclosures follow joint investigations published this week by The Guardian and ITN accusing television star and children’s author David Walliams of preying on young women and girls as young as 15. Walliams served as a judge on the ITV talent show between 2012 and 2022.
Walliams denied all allegations in a letter to The Guardian, stating: “Looking back, I realise that at times I behaved thoughtlessly towards other people I had casual sexual relationships with. I realise I did not always take people’s feelings properly into account. That is something I regret.”
He added: “I am not a sexual predator. I have not broken the law, but I am devastated that some of the women I met 10 to 20 years ago have now expressed hurt or anger towards me.”
Ministers may now speed up changes to non-disclosure agreements following the case, according to legal and workplace reports.
The Skim-Reader Takeaways
- Lou Teasdale said that young women signed gag orders and handed over phones before meeting TV stars.
- David Walliams denied preying on teenage girls while maintaining he acted thoughtlessly in past relationships.
- Legal experts note that new workplace regulations taking effect in October 2026 place heightened responsibility on employers.
Women Signing NDAs for Privacy
Writing on Instagram, Teasdale said she worked in the entertainment industry for many years across multiple shows, including The X Factor. Without naming specific shows or men involved in the alleged protocol, she described an environment where privacy protections for famous men superseded safety for women.
“And I’ll tell you it is open and standard protocol for girls to sign NDAs and have their phones taken from them before they’re left alone with a famous man,” Teasdale wrote, according to The Independent. She added that she was not accusing individuals she worked with of wrongdoing, but rather addressing a legal culture that removes a woman’s voice and device.
“How can a man be expected to behave with any accountability when there is an agreement in place beforehand to remove the woman’s voice and the device that would keep her safe?” Teasdale asked in her statement. She also questioned whether victims who signed such agreements could safely report crimes.
Employers Preventing Harassment
The allegations arrive alongside stricter legal expectations for British employers. John Hayes, writing for Personnel Today, said that a new statutory duty took effect on October 30, requiring employers to take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace.
| Key Development | Context | Report Source |
|---|---|---|
| Allegations Published | Investigations into David Walliams regarding behaviour toward young women. | The Guardian / ITN |
| NDA Claims Made | Makeup artist Lou Teasdale described phone confiscation and gag orders. | The Independent |
| Statutory Duty Effective | New rules requiring employers to prevent workplace sexual harassment. | Personnel Today |
Legal professionals point out that standard settlement agreements typically permit individuals to disclose matters to spouses, partners, professional advisers, or medical support services. An agreement preventing such disclosures would attract interest from regulators like the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Both the BBC and Channel 4 previously issued apologies regarding how complaints about Russell Brand’s behaviour were handled at the time.
