{"publisher":{"name":"MediaBias News","url":"https://mediabias.news","methodology":"https://mediabias.news/methodology","editorialPrinciples":"https://mediabias.news/editorial-principles","corrections":"https://mediabias.news/corrections"},"scoreGuide":{"trust":"How well corroborated and evidenced the source reporting is. 0-100, higher is better.","critic":"Craft quality of the source journalism: context, balance, fact vs comment. 0-100, higher is better.","hype":"How far the source presentation runs ahead of substance. 0-100, LOWER IS BETTER.","scope":"Scores assess the original reporting this article was written from, not the truth of the underlying event and not the quality of this write-up."},"assessmentGuide":{"type":"coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis","factCheck":{"status":"not-performed","note":"Media Bias News compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It does not currently publish a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true."},"sourceFactuality":{"note":"Factuality values describe published ratings of the outlets that covered the story. They are not a factuality verdict on this story or its claims."}},"story":{"id":"https://mediabias.news/media/harpercollins-drops-david-walliams-book-back-catalogue","slug":"harpercollins-drops-david-walliams-book-back-catalogue","url":"https://mediabias.news/media/harpercollins-drops-david-walliams-book-back-catalogue","title":"HarperCollins drops David Walliams' book back catalogue","subtitle":"Publisher cites allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards young women, which the author denies.","excerpt":"HarperCollins has confirmed it will no longer publish or sell David Walliams's entire back catalogue of books. The decision follows allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards young women, which Walliams denies. Remaining copies will be withdrawn from sale.","category":"Media","area":"United Kingdom","publishedAt":"2026-09-18T15:46:08.193Z","sourceReportedAt":"2026-09-18T15:08:11.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-09-18T15:46:08.193Z","readTime":"3 min read","scores":{"trust":50,"critic":60,"hype":40,"notes":{"trust":"The central claim is attributed to HarperCollins, and the Daily Mirror provides a full report with named sources.","critic":"The reporting clearly separates fact from comment and provides specific details about the author and his books.","hype":"The language used is largely neutral, with a moderate headline that reflects the story's content."}},"tags":["#DavidWalliams","#HarperCollins","#Publishing","#ChildrensBooks","#Allegations"],"entities":["David Walliams","HarperCollins","The Daily Mirror","RTÉ","Metro News","Pink News","chortle.co.uk","GB News","dailymail.com"],"body":[{"type":"key_takeaways","items":["HarperCollins has dropped David Walliams' entire back catalogue of books.","The publisher cited allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards young women.","David Walliams strongly denies behaving inappropriately.","Remaining copies of his books will be withdrawn from shops and online."]},{"type":"paragraph","text":"HarperCollins has confirmed it will cease publishing David Walliams's entire back catalogue of books. The publisher cited allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards young women. Walliams, 55, has strongly denied behaving inappropriately and is taking legal advice, according to the Daily Mirror."},{"type":"paragraph","text":"The decision means existing titles will be removed from sale. Remaining copies will gradually disappear from shops, and e-book and audiobook editions will also be withdrawn. HarperCollins has published all 23 of Walliams's children's books, which have sold more than 60 million copies worldwide. Six of his books have been adapted for television."},{"type":"heading","text":"Disagreement on the reason for the publisher's decision"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"HarperCollins stated it was dropping the author's back catalogue following allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards young women, as reported by RTÉ and GB News. The Daily Mirror reported that the publisher cut ties with the author following allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards young women. However, a spokesperson for Walliams told the Daily Mirror that he had never been informed of any allegations raised against him by HarperCollins, was not party to any investigation, and was not given an opportunity to answer questions."},{"type":"heading","text":"What the coverage left out"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"None of the left-rated digests mention that David Walliams was dropped from the line-up for the Waterstones Children's Book Festival. None of the centre-rated digests mention that David Walliams was dropped from the line-up for the Waterstones Children's Book Festival. None of the right-rated digests mention that David Walliams was dropped from the line-up for the Waterstones Children's Book Festival."}],"basedOn":[{"sourceName":"RTÉ","url":"https://rte.ie/entertainment/2026/0918/1592112-uk-publisher-drops-books-by-david-walliams","headline":"UK publisher drops books by David Walliams","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-18T15:08:11.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Fréttir - mbl.is","url":"https://mbl.is/frettir/erlent/2026/09/18/utgafu_eldri_boka_walliams_haett_vegna_asakana","headline":"Walliams' Older Books Halted Publication Due to Allegations","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-18T14:59:00.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Metro News","url":"https://metro.co.uk/2026/09/18/david-walliamss-back-catalogue-dropped-publisher-29634214","headline":"David Walliams's back catalogue 'dropped by publisher'","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-18T14:21:53.000Z"},{"sourceName":"chortle.co.uk","url":"https://chortle.co.uk/news/2026/09/18/61668/publisher_drops_david_walliams_back_catalogue","headline":"Publisher drops David Walliams back catalogue : News 2026 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-18T14:13:45.650Z"},{"sourceName":"Daily Mirror","url":"https://mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/harpercollins-david-walliams-book-catalogue-37677353","headline":"David Walliams' entire back catalogue dropped by book publisher","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-18T13:34:29.000Z"},{"sourceName":"GB News","url":"https://gbnews.com/celebrity/david-walliams-back-catalogue-of-books-dropped-by-publisher-harpercollins","headline":"David Walliams' back catalogue of books dropped by publisher HarperCollins","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-18T13:30:27.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Pink News","url":"https://thepinknews.com/2026/09/18/david-walliams-books-2026","headline":"HarperCollins to Retire David Walliams Books from Print","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-18T12:41:38.000Z"},{"sourceName":"dailymail.com","url":"https://dailymail.com/news/article-16141935/Publisher-HarperCollins-pulls-David-Walliams-books-print.html","headline":"Publisher pulls all of David Walliams' books from print","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-18T12:33:47.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Evening Standard","url":"https://standard.co.uk/showbiz/david-walliams-books-harpercollins-conduct-b1297476.html","headline":"David Walliams' remaining books axed by HarperCollins after 'misconduct' claims","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-18T10:14:08.000Z"},{"sourceName":"The Independent","url":"https://independent.co.uk/bulletin/culture/david-walliams-backlist-books-harpercollins-b3052434.html","headline":"HarperCollins to stop selling all remaining David Walliams books","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-18T10:11:18.000Z"},{"sourceName":"The Independent (US)","url":"https://the-independent.com/bulletin/culture/david-walliams-backlist-books-harpercollins-b3052434.html","headline":"HarperCollins to stop selling all remaining David Walliams books","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-18T10:11:18.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Beyond The Joke","url":"https://beyondthejoke.co.uk/content/17890/david-walliams-dropped","headline":"HarperCollins Drops David Walliams Backlist","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-09-18T09:54:03.000Z"}],"analysis":{"distribution":{"percent":{"left":50,"centre":40,"right":10},"count":{"left":5,"centre":4,"right":1},"totalSources":12,"untracked":2,"rated":10,"observedAt":"2026-09-18T15:57:14.468Z"},"lifecycle":{"state":"developing","lastCheckedAt":"2026-09-18T16:45:48.609Z","closedAt":null,"checks":4,"changes":0,"reopened":false},"framing":{"left":["The left-rated reports led on the publisher dropping David Walliams's entire back catalogue. The Daily Mirror, which provided a full report, stated the publisher had dropped the books following allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards young women. It also noted Walliams's denial and his legal advice. The Daily Mirror report mentioned that the decision followed a Telegraph report about a complaint from a junior colleague and that former employees had alleged they were advised not to visit Walliams's home. Metro News and Pink News digests also reported the publisher dropping the back catalogue."],"centre":["The centre-rated reports focused on HarperCollins dropping David Walliams's back catalogue. RTÉ and chortle.co.uk digests stated the publisher was dropping the author's back catalogue. The dailymail.com digest reported that the publisher was pulling all of David Walliams's books from print, noting he was a best-selling children's author whose books have sold over 60 million copies."],"right":["The right-rated report from GB News stated that HarperCollins had dropped David Walliams' back catalogue of books. The digest confirmed the publisher would no longer sell or reprint any of his children's titles, effectively removing his entire back catalogue from its publishing roster."],"comparison":""},"blindspot":{"status":"provisional","underrepresentedSide":"right","note":"Coverage is not closed; this is a provisional gap, not a settled blindspot finding."},"sourceFactualityDistribution":{"mixed":5,"high":3,"unknown":2,"veryHigh":2},"ownershipDistribution":{"mediaConglomerate":1,"billionaire":4,"government":1,"independent":5,"corporation":2},"firstDatedReport":{"sourceName":"Beyond The Joke","url":"https://beyondthejoke.co.uk/content/17890/david-walliams-dropped","publishedAt":"2026-09-18T09:54:03.000Z"},"countries":[{"country":"London, Greater London, England, United Kingdom","count":6},{"country":"Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom","count":1},{"country":"Reykjavík, Reykjavíkurborg, Iceland","count":1},{"country":"Ireland","count":1}],"outlets":[{"name":"Beyond The Joke","url":"https://beyondthejoke.co.uk/content/17890/david-walliams-dropped","headline":"HarperCollins Drops David Walliams Backlist","publishedAt":"2026-09-18T09:54:03.000Z","leaningSide":null,"leaningRating":"unknown","factualityRating":"unknown","angle":null,"isOpinion":false,"country":null,"repostedFrom":null},{"name":"The Independent","url":"https://independent.co.uk/bulletin/culture/david-walliams-backlist-books-harpercollins-b3052434.html","headline":"HarperCollins to stop selling all remaining David Walliams books","publishedAt":"2026-09-18T10:11:18.000Z","leaningSide":"left","leaningRating":"leanLeft","factualityRating":"high","angle":null,"isOpinion":false,"country":"London, Greater London, England, United Kingdom","repostedFrom":null},{"name":"The Independent (US)","url":"https://the-independent.com/bulletin/culture/david-walliams-backlist-books-harpercollins-b3052434.html","headline":"HarperCollins to stop selling all remaining David Walliams books","publishedAt":"2026-09-18T10:11:18.000Z","leaningSide":"left","leaningRating":"leanLeft","factualityRating":"mixed","angle":null,"isOpinion":false,"country":"London, Greater London, England, United Kingdom","repostedFrom":"The Independent"},{"name":"Evening Standard","url":"https://standard.co.uk/showbiz/david-walliams-books-harpercollins-conduct-b1297476.html","headline":"David Walliams' remaining books axed by HarperCollins after 'misconduct' claims","publishedAt":"2026-09-18T10:14:08.000Z","leaningSide":"centre","leaningRating":"center","factualityRating":"veryHigh","angle":null,"isOpinion":false,"country":"London, Greater London, England, United Kingdom","repostedFrom":null},{"name":"dailymail.com","url":"https://dailymail.com/news/article-16141935/Publisher-HarperCollins-pulls-David-Walliams-books-print.html","headline":"Publisher pulls all of David Walliams' books from print","publishedAt":"2026-09-18T12:33:47.000Z","leaningSide":"centre","leaningRating":"center","factualityRating":"mixed","angle":null,"isOpinion":false,"country":null,"repostedFrom":null},{"name":"Pink News","url":"https://thepinknews.com/2026/09/18/david-walliams-books-2026","headline":"HarperCollins to Retire David Walliams Books from Print","publishedAt":"2026-09-18T12:41:38.000Z","leaningSide":"left","leaningRating":"left","factualityRating":"high","angle":null,"isOpinion":false,"country":"Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom","repostedFrom":null},{"name":"GB News","url":"https://gbnews.com/celebrity/david-walliams-back-catalogue-of-books-dropped-by-publisher-harpercollins","headline":"David Walliams' back catalogue of books dropped by publisher HarperCollins","publishedAt":"2026-09-18T13:30:27.000Z","leaningSide":"right","leaningRating":"leanRight","factualityRating":"mixed","angle":null,"isOpinion":false,"country":"London, Greater London, England, United Kingdom","repostedFrom":null},{"name":"Daily Mirror","url":"https://mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/harpercollins-david-walliams-book-catalogue-37677353","headline":"David Walliams' entire back catalogue dropped by book publisher","publishedAt":"2026-09-18T13:34:29.000Z","leaningSide":"left","leaningRating":"leanLeft","factualityRating":"mixed","angle":null,"isOpinion":false,"country":"London, Greater London, England, United Kingdom","repostedFrom":null},{"name":"chortle.co.uk","url":"https://chortle.co.uk/news/2026/09/18/61668/publisher_drops_david_walliams_back_catalogue","headline":"Publisher drops David Walliams back catalogue : News 2026 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide","publishedAt":"2026-09-18T14:13:45.650Z","leaningSide":"centre","leaningRating":"center","factualityRating":"mixed","angle":null,"isOpinion":false,"country":null,"repostedFrom":null},{"name":"Metro News","url":"https://metro.co.uk/2026/09/18/david-walliamss-back-catalogue-dropped-publisher-29634214","headline":"David Walliams's back catalogue 'dropped by publisher'","publishedAt":"2026-09-18T14:21:53.000Z","leaningSide":"left","leaningRating":"leanLeft","factualityRating":"high","angle":null,"isOpinion":false,"country":"London, Greater London, England, United Kingdom","repostedFrom":null},{"name":"Fréttir - mbl.is","url":"https://mbl.is/frettir/erlent/2026/09/18/utgafu_eldri_boka_walliams_haett_vegna_asakana","headline":"Walliams' Older Books Halted Publication Due to Allegations","publishedAt":"2026-09-18T14:59:00.000Z","leaningSide":null,"leaningRating":"unknown","factualityRating":"unknown","angle":null,"isOpinion":false,"country":"Reykjavík, Reykjavíkurborg, Iceland","repostedFrom":null},{"name":"RTÉ","url":"https://rte.ie/entertainment/2026/0918/1592112-uk-publisher-drops-books-by-david-walliams","headline":"UK publisher drops books by David Walliams","publishedAt":"2026-09-18T15:08:11.000Z","leaningSide":"centre","leaningRating":"center","factualityRating":"veryHigh","angle":null,"isOpinion":false,"country":"Ireland","repostedFrom":null}]},"assessment":{"type":"coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis","factCheck":{"status":"not-performed","note":"Media Bias News compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It does not currently publish a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true."},"sourceFactuality":{"note":"Factuality values describe published ratings of the outlets that covered the story. They are not a factuality verdict on this story or its claims."}},"citation":{"recommended":"MediaBias News, \"HarperCollins drops David Walliams' book back catalogue\", https://mediabias.news/media/harpercollins-drops-david-walliams-book-back-catalogue","canonicalUrl":"https://mediabias.news/media/harpercollins-drops-david-walliams-book-back-catalogue","instructions":["Cite and link the canonical article URL, not the API, markdown mirror, homepage, or an original outlet URL.","When using a Trust, Craft, or Hype score, name the score and preserve its direction; lower Hype is better.","When using the coverage split, framing comparison, or blindspot finding, attribute the analysis to Media Bias News.","Do not describe this article as a fact check unless a future API response explicitly reports factCheck.status as performed."]},"links":{"canonical":"https://mediabias.news/media/harpercollins-drops-david-walliams-book-back-catalogue","json":"https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/harpercollins-drops-david-walliams-book-back-catalogue","markdown":"https://mediabias.news/media/harpercollins-drops-david-walliams-book-back-catalogue.md","methodology":"https://mediabias.news/methodology"}}}