The Prime Minister says the sector should “look at itself” following Russell Brand’s conviction and allegations against David Walliams, which Mr Walliams denies. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy told MPs ministers “would not hesitate” to act if protections prove inadequate.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said the media industry needs to “look at itself” and “step forward” to protect women and girls after Russell Brand’s rape conviction and fresh allegations against David Walliams. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, he said “a lot of these issues are for the media industry” to address first. In the Commons, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said ministers “would not hesitate” to take action if the industry’s safeguards fall short. Mr Walliams has been accused of sexual misconduct and of abusing his power to groom teenagers as young as 15. He denies any wrongdoing.
What the Prime Minister said
Asked how far the Government was prepared to go to force the television and entertainment industries to change, Mr Burnham replied: “The Culture Secretary has been very clear about that.”
He told reporters: “The media industry will need to look at itself and ensure whether it is taking all of the steps needed to protect the safety of women and girls who work within the industry, or who are within the orbit of the industry, because very serious issues indeed fall out of these cases.”
He added: “As a government that is absolutely determined to do everything that we can to prevent violence, sexual violence against women and girls, we will take every possible step. And we will look at all of the issues that arise from this, but let’s be clear: a lot of these issues are for the media industry, and it’s for the media industry to step forward and address them themselves first.”
Nandy’s warning to MPs
Ms Nandy criticised inaction by the BBC after reviews into the behaviour of other high-profile broadcasters over the past decade. She pointed to the reviews into Jimmy Savile, Huw Edwards and Tim Westwood as examples where similar recommendations had been made, according to Hansard. That suggests a possible focus on enforcing existing recommendations rather than commissioning more investigations.
She said she would discuss the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) at a meeting with media and entertainment executives next week. A government roundtable involving media, entertainment and sport is planned for the week beginning 16 November.
Conservative MP Rebecca Paul raised the BBC’s earlier review of Brand during the debate. It identified eight complaints or concerns, only one of which had been formally reported, and that complaint was not handled effectively. Staff felt unable to challenge Brand’s influence. Ms Paul also cited the experience of the producer Lucie Kon in reporting antisemitic behaviour at the BBC, and asked for stronger investigation standards as part of the BBC charter renewal.
In an interview broadcast on 8 November, Ms Nandy told Reuters that people working in the industry had privately approached her with allegations since she entered government, and that complainants could face serious professional and personal consequences for speaking out.
Possible compulsory standards body
Screen Daily reported on 12 November that ministers are considering requiring entertainment companies to take part in the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA). No compulsory membership has been announced. The Guardian reported on 11 November that ministers are also looking at measures covering film and publishing, with sporting organisations potentially brought into the discussions.
According to CIISA’s own published information, it began accepting registrations on 1 April 2026. Annual fees range from £100, for organisations with UK turnover of £100,000 or less, to £50,000, for those with turnover of £500m or more. It says it operates on a not-for-profit basis. Registering signals a commitment and is not independent certification of compliance. Its reporting portal is open to everyone, including complaints about unregistered businesses. It has named anonymous reporting as a priority for 2026-27, and plans a public register in the final quarter of 2026, which it says is not a guarantee that a company meets its standards.
“A cultural problem”
Media minister Ian Murray said on Wednesday that there is a “cultural problem” that needs to be “stamped out” after the allegations against Mr Walliams. He said NDAs are a “major part of the problem”, and referred to Brand, who was jailed for 10 and a half years at Southwark Crown Court on Monday. “If you’re up against a major star such as Russell Brand, it’s very frightening to be able to report that,” he said. Equalities minister Bridget Phillipson paid tribute to the “bravery” of victims who have shared their experiences in recent days.
The Guardian and ITV News named Mr Walliams in an investigation the day after Brand was sentenced. The Guardian said it involved more than 100 interviews over three years, along with correspondence and other documents. A High Court judge, Mr Justice Nicklin, rejected Mr Walliams’ attempt to block publication on 3 November, following a hearing on 27 and 28 October. The judge was deciding whether the reporting could lawfully be restrained and did not rule on whether the allegations were true. ABC News reported that Mr Walliams did not appeal before the 9 November deadline, which allowed publication on 10 November.
ITV News reported that a former HarperCollins employee who gave evidence to the publisher’s internal inquiry signed a separation agreement containing a non-disclosure clause and received a five-figure payment. It also reported that another woman said a letter from Mr Walliams’ lawyers frightened her after she posted warnings online about her experience. The Metropolitan Police said they had approached the Guardian and ITV News so that potential complainants could be told how to report criminal allegations, ABC News reported. Mr Walliams has not been charged with any offence, and the published material did not establish a formal criminal investigation into him.
Fallout for Walliams
The Independent reported on 12 November that Sky will no longer distribute the family film Fing!, based on Mr Walliams’ 2019 book, in the UK and Ireland. ABC News reported that Australian streaming service Stan has removed it from its schedule, while the cinema distributor Transmission Films was still preparing a theatrical release. The Guardian reported that the American distributor Angel Studios has removed him from its marketing and will delete his cameo. ABC News also reported that his literary agency, Independent Talent Group, no longer represents him, and that the BBC has begun reviewing and removing programmes featuring or written by him from its platforms.
What the law already provides
The Employment Rights Act 2025 has already brought in some changes, according to the legislation and the Department for Business and Trade. From 6 April 2026, reports that sexual harassment has occurred, is occurring or is likely to occur gained explicit whistleblowing protection, though workers must still meet the legal tests. On 1 October 2026, the usual tribunal claim deadline rose from three months to six. From 30 October 2026, employers must take “all reasonable steps” to prevent sexual harassment, and are responsible for preventing harassment by third parties such as clients and contractors.
The government published a timetable on 5 November targeting September 2027 for further restrictions on NDAs. Those reforms are intended to make contract terms unenforceable where they stop eligible workers disclosing certain harassment or discrimination. They would also cover disclosures about how an employer handled complaints. The legislation allows further regulations extending protection to people outside conventional employment. No blanket extension to all freelancers has been confirmed. The main restrictions are not yet in force.
