“After careful consideration, and under the leadership of its new CEO [Kate Elton], HarperCollins UK has decided not to publish any new titles by David Walliams,” a spokesman for the publisher told the BBC.

The broadcaster also reported that it’d asked for comment from representatives of Walliams, whose books have sold more than 60 million copies across 55 languages worldwide.

The 54-year-old toured New Zealand last year, including a surprise appearance on Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking Breakfast.

Walliams had met Hosking and his wife, Kate Hawkesby, in London the previous year, joking with the radio host, “I remember Kate, but not you … still married?”

Before his Kiwi tour, Walliams told ZB’s Real Life with John Cowan he’d bring spontaneity, adult themes and rude humour to his live shows.

“A couple of Little Britain characters appear in the show. It’s not crude, but obviously, there’s some… adult themes and slightly rude things.”

He was “constantly reminding myself how lucky I am”, Walliams told Cowan.

“We went from playing to three people, to playing to 10,000 people. People don’t really see the journey. They’re obviously not really aware of you until you’re successful.

“But we remember, and it’s a pretty amazing journey.”