The British celebrity who spent weeks battling to stay anonymous is David Walliams.

The best-selling children's author had been known only as "PPT" in court. He was trying to stop two UK news organizations from naming him or publishing sexual misconduct claims against him. Before his books took off he made his name on TV in comedy hits like "Little Britain" and "Come Fly With Me."

The claims accuse him of using his celebrity to chase improper sexual relationships with many girls and young women over a span of years. He denies them.

What the women say

In an hour-long documentary, a woman called "Alex" says she met Walliams in 2004 at a "Little Britain" signing in London. She was 15 at the time while he was 32. She says he told her right away that she was attractive and stared deeply into her eyes.

Another accuser claims she was attacked in his house when she too was just 15. She claims he kissed her, pulled up her shirt and put his mouth on her breast. She says he then tried to guide her hand into his pants before she pulled back and said no.

The reports drew on more than 30 sources. Two women say they first met him at 15 and claim he groomed them before they eventually had sex. One says it happened soon after they met. The other says it happened when she was 17.

Other women say he used his judging spot on "Britain's Got Talent" to pursue them. He is also accused of a sexual relationship with a junior staffer at his publisher.

The court fight

His lawyers warned that naming him could be deadly. They said he faced a serious risk of suicide if his identity came out.

Lawyers for the news organizations disagreed. They argued the public needed to hear the claims and said his mental health should be handled by doctors, not by gagging reporters.

On Tuesday morning Judge Matthew Nicklin turned down the request to block publication. Walliams briefly kept his anonymity while a possible appeal was weighed. Nicklin had also cautioned people online against guessing his name, noting that breaking the order could mean jail.

He had already been dropped from the UK film "The Road to Nevermore" before he was named. A source close to the production said he was cut after the claims came out, with his name scrubbed from its online credits.

His response

Hours after he was named, Walliams pushed back. "I am not a sexual predator," he said.

He did admit some regrets. "Looking back, I realise that at times I behaved thoughtlessly towards other people I had casual sexual relationships with," he said. He said a power imbalance is "inevitable when one party is famous" but insisted abusing it "is something I never did."

Walliams also said he never broke the law. He said he was "devastated" that some women he met decades ago "have now expressed hurt or anger towards me."

Agency walks away

Independent Talent Group says it is no longer representing him "in any capacity." The agency said, "ITG is deeply disturbed by the allegations concerning David Walliams. Our thoughts are with anyone who has been affected."

Anyone in crisis can reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by phone or text at 988. Online chat is at 988lifeline.org.