David Walliams illustrated books on display as publisher HarperCollins phases out the author's back catalogue in 2026 based on allegations

Close-up editorial photograph showing a selection of illustrated children's books by British author and comedian David Walliams, displayed together with a front-facing copy of Grandpa's Great Escape. Other visible titles include The World's Worst Children, Mr Stink, Demon Dentist, Ratburger and Bad Dad. Bright turquoise, yellow, red, blue and green covers and spines feature bold typography and cartoon illustrations characteristic of his fiction. The front cover of Grandpa's Great Escape depicts a propeller aircraft and characters. Mr Stink is presented as a special book and CD gift edition. The display illustrates developments in British publishing after decisions by HarperCollins UK to end its publishing relationship with Walliams. In December 2025, HarperCollins announced that it would publish no further new titles by the author. On 18 September 2026, the publisher confirmed it would also cease publishing his existing backlist, with print, e-book and audiobook editions being phased out. The decisions followed reports of allegations of inappropriate conduct towards female publishing employees, which Walliams has strongly denied. HarperCollins described employee wellbeing as an important concern without detailing internal matters. In a related development, Alton Towers confirmed that its World of David Walliams attraction would permanently close from 3 November 2026. The books offer imagery for reporting of changing author-publisher relationships, the commercial fate of established book series, bookselling and stock availability, reputation management, workplace complaints and the wider children's literature market. The photograph provides a record of these published editions and illustrates coverage of the withdrawal of the HarperCollins back catalogue and the continued circulation of existing copies. The arrangement also highlights the strong visual identity of the author's books, familiar across British children's bookshops and libraries.