Comedian David Walliams took aim at former colleague Simon Cowell with a brutal swipe about his career as he appeared on stage during Advertising Week Europe 2025

David made a brutal dig at Simon's career
David made a brutal dig at Simon’s career (Image: ITV)

Comedian, and former Britain’s Got Talent judge, David Walliams made a brutal remark about Simon Cowell as he appeared on stage at Advertising Week Europe 2025. The former Little Britain star, 53, took to the stage to speak at the event alongside his comedy partner Matt Lucas.

Hosted by Melanie Rockcliffe, the event took place at 180 Strand, London. Whilst on stage at the event David joked about winning Best TV Judge at the National Television Awards four years running – an award which Simon, 65, has never received

Melanie said: “David Walliams, you were a judge on Britain’s Got Talent for a decade and won best judge at the national TV Awards four times.” In response David quipped: “Simon Cowell never won once. That’s all he does is judging. It was a tiny part of my career. For him, it was the focus and he still couldn’t win it.” Melanie asked: “He wasn’t happy with you was he?” To which David replied “no” but he did say “it was a fun show to do.”

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Off screen Simon and David would regularly socialise, enjoying dinners in up-market Mayfair restaurants(Image: INSTAGRAM)

The brutal remark comes after MailOnline recently revealed how David and Simon ‘are no longer on speaking terms at all’ as the feud between the pair became increasingly bitter. Sources close to the pair say Simon has now gone to extreme lengths to distance himself from David Walliams.

David sat alongside the likes of Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon on the BGT panel for over 10 years before his abrupt departure from the ITV show in December 2022.

His choice to leave the show came after “disrespectful comments” made by David about contestants during breaks in filming for Britain’s Got Talent were exposed. The ITV talent show’s judge apologised after he was reportedly recorded making derogatory remarks and sexually explicit comments about people auditioning for the show at the London Palladium in January 2020.

Simon and david were once the best of friends, whose cheeky on-screen banter helped keep Britain’s Got Talent among the best-rated shows on TV

David issued a statement addressing and apologising for his behaviour: “I would like to apologise to the people I made disrespectful comments about during breaks in filming for Britain’s Got Talent in 2020. These were private conversations and – like most conversations with friends – were never intended to be shared. Nevertheless, I am sorry.”

In a statement, ITV said: “We do not condone the language outlined in these allegations, and we have spoken to the producers of Britain’s Got Talent. Duty of care towards all participants on any of our programmes is always of paramount importance and we have protocols and guidelines in place for all our production partners.”

The Mirror has contacted a representative for both Simon and David for comment.

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