Nandy warns creative industry over abuse and NDAs after Walliams claims

The government has warned the entertainment and media industries to improve safeguarding and to deal with non-disclosure agreements after the Russell Brand and David Walliams cases. The Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy, is due to meet media bosses next week. BBC Two reported that the roundtable covers broadcasting, publishing, film and entertainment, and that Nandy will tell the sector to take responsibility or face intervention.

ITV reported that Nandy told MPs the government would not hesitate to take action if protections were inadequate, following Russell Brand's conviction and the allegations against Walliams. She said she was working with the Ministry of Justice on NDAs and that the issue would be part of next week's roundtable. BBC Two reported that participation in the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority is currently voluntary and that the government could make it mandatory if the industry did not act.

GB News reported that Equalities minister Bridget Phillipson said ministers were considering tighter restrictions or a ban on NDAs. GB News also reported that Walliams had unsuccessfully tried to block publication through the High Court. Mark Littlewood, director of the Popular Conservatives, told the channel that injunctions and D notices should be reserved for national security, not used to prevent embarrassment.

GB News reported that several women had accused Walliams of inappropriate sexual behaviour, including allegations involving teenagers. He strongly denies the claims. ITV reported that a three-year investigation by ITV News and The Guardian claimed he preyed on teenage girls and young women for sex. BBC Two broadcast an interview with Lily Crayton, who accused him of grooming her when she was 18 and of predatory behaviour. Walliams denies being a sexual predator and says he has not broken the law.

ITV also broadcast Walliams's response. He said he had behaved thoughtlessly towards some people he had casual sexual relationships with and did not always take their feelings into account. He said he was not a sexual predator and had not broken the law.

BBC Two collected testimony about the industry's culture. The comedian Kate Smurthwaite said Walliams's name came up repeatedly in female comedian WhatsApp groups, with warnings to avoid him. Zelda Perkins, who broke an NDA to expose Harvey Weinstein, said the proposed standards body must be mandatory because voluntary regulation would not reach the people who needed monitoring.

On Sky News, a panellist said reporting systems would not work unless the precarious nature of freelance employment in television was addressed. The panellist said short contracts and fear of being seen as difficult discouraged people from complaining. ITV reported that the host of the Guilty Feminist podcast said the Walliams allegations had been an open secret, which Walliams denies.

GB News and Sky News both noted a Metro front page about another mystery star seeking to block claims. Sky News also noted a Times report that female comedians had condemned gagging orders protecting famous men.