Breaking: UK police launch investigation into David Walliams

London's Metropolitan Police have launched an investigation into children's author and comedian David Walliams, after the entertainer was accused of grooming and preying on teenage girls earlier this week.

In a statement released on Friday afternoon, local time, The Met said it had received several allegations of "serious sexual offences" involving Mr Walliams.

It described the claims as "non-recent", and said they were separate to those that appeared in media reports earlier this week.

"We would encourage anyone who has been the victim of a sexual offence to come forward and speak to us, no matter when it happened," Detective Superintendent Mike Cagney, who is leading the investigation, said.

"We know reporting allegations of this nature can be daunting, but specialist officers are on hand to provide support, answer questions and guide you through the process."

Earlier this week, UK newspaper The Guardian and broadcaster ITV published a joint investigation, in which Mr Walliams, 55, was accused of grooming, and sexually assaulting, young girls.

He denies the allegations and unsuccessfully attempted to block the publication of the story via a legal challenge.

The Met said it was reviewing the reports as part of its probe, to "establish whether there is any evidence of offences".

Mr Walliams is a household name in Britain, and well known in many countries elsewhere, for his screen work and children's books.

He rose to particular prominence for his role as co-creator and star of the sketch comedy television show Little Britain and was also a judge on Britain's Got Talent from 2012 to 2022.

His children's books have sold more than 60 million copies worldwide, although late last year Mr Walliams' UK publisher HarperCollins dropped him after reports surfaced he had harassed some of its junior employees.