David Walliams has dated several beautiful women over the years - but he admits he remains unlucky in love because of one key sticking point.
The Little Britain actor settled down with model Lara Stone in 2010, and three years later the couple welcomed baby Alfred in 2013. However their marriage crumbled, with the stars divorcing in 2015.
David, 53, has since been romantically linked with a string of younger women, including Made In Chelsea star Ashley James, 37, Playboy model Emily Agnes, 33, and Miss Norway contender Sylvia Flote, 40. But there was one woman he fell for "like a ton of bricks" following his split from his ex-wife, however it wasn't meant to be.
The comedian has confessed he became besotted with Aussie soap star turned singer Natalie Imbruglia – but she unfortunately friend-zoned him. The pair, who have been pals for years, were frequently spotted out in London together in 2015, sparking romance rumours.
Now David has revealed he was hopelessly in love with Natalie, 49. The comic told the Mirror: "She's very much friend-zoned me. You know when that happens, that you have a huge crush on someone and you sort of imagine being married and what your kids look like and all that sort of thing? And you're just completely friend-zoned."
Thanks to David's camp demeanour and sense of humour, she reportedly didn't view him in the romantic sense - which he admits has happened on more than one occasion. He added: "We didn't go on any dates. We just became very good friends and we hung out together. But you know, it’s hard not to kind of fall for her like a ton of bricks because she is amazing. I think I'm seen as the sort of gay best friend by a lot of people."
Aside from his marriage to the Dutch fashion model, David has dated a Spice Girl, while rumours swirled he had a romance with a Pussycat doll. The Mirror takes a look at David's turbulent love life...
Lisa Snowdon
Before marriage and children, rumours of a mystery woman linked to Walliams surfaced. In 2006, David Walliams confessed in his book that he had been left heartbroken by a mystery woman - referring to her simply as 'Miss X'.
However, his secret was exposed when model and TV presenter Lisa Snowdon revealed that she was the secret romantic interest. "Yes, It’s me. I’m Miss X. I was hoping no one would realise. David and I are great friends and he’s such an amazing bloke, but there is no romance," she told the Sun at the time.
"David has made it clear he has feelings for me but we’ve got to a point where we can just have a platonic relationship". Referring to David as a "gentleman", the pair briefly dated in 2005 but it was reported that Lisa decided that she just wanted to be pals and nothing was going to happen romantically.
Geri Halliwell
Spice Girl Geri Halliwell was revealed as the next 'secret love'. David tried to spice up his life at the end of 2007 by dating the 90s icon. After being close friends for years, their friendship blossomed into a romance and their pals were sworn to secrecy.
The pair were said to be secretly dating for weeks before news of their relationship broke. A mole told the Mirror: "They have been secretly dating since the New Year and nobody knows. They are very tactile with each other and he's such a gent."
"They will be gutted when news of their relationship leaks as until now they've been able to carry on without anyone knowing." However, their time as a couple only lasted for six weeks. They remained friends, with Geri the pop sensation appearing on an episode of Come Fly With Me.
In 2008, Geri got engaged to shipping tycoon Fabrizio Politi - but the engagement only lasted for four months. She is now married to former racing driver Christian Horner OBE.
Lauren Budd
The comedian was photographed kissing, then 18-year-old, Lauren Budd in a nightclub in February 2009. The model said of David: "We have had a friendly kiss – nothing more. We love seeing each other and David is a complete gentleman."
David was 37 at the time. A spokesperson for Walliams confirmed they had split after just three months together.
Lara Stone
Four months after proposing to Dutch model Lara Stone, the couple married. They had started dating in 2009 and tied the knot at Claridge's Hotel in London in a lavish £80,000 ceremony on 16 May 2010.
By December 2012, the couple had announced her pregnancy, with David revealing he was "looking forward" to parenthood with his trademark humour. He said: "I’m looking forward to seeing the baby for the first time, seeing this little person who’s a mixture of you and the person you really love. But hopefully it will look like Lara and not Simon Cowell.”
On 6 May 2013 - almost three years to the day after their wedding - Lara gave birth to the couple's first child Alfred. But their happy marriage did not last. The couple separated in March 2015 and their five-year marriage was legally dissolved at a hearing in London in September that year.
David cited the Dutch model's "unreasonable behaviour" as grounds for divorce, with a decree nisi granted. According to insiders, he had been keen on working on their marriage and it was the model who wanted to legally separate.
"David didn't want to divorce and desperately hoped they could work things out," a source told The Sun. Lara is now married to David Grievson.
Ashley James
In 2015 Walliams was linked with Made in Chelsea star Ashley James. The couple were seen emerging from a restaurant called Sexy Fish and had reportedly "dined out twice in the past week". The Sunday Mirror revealed they were growing close, with a source saying: “They have great chemistry and have completely hit it off.
Chloe Ayling
By February 2017, David was rumoured to be secretly seeing British model Chloe Ayling after the comedian and writer was said to have got her attention via social media. “David orchestrated the meeting and arranged for her to visit his London home," a source reportedly told The Sun.
“It’s a case of waiting and seeing if their relationship grows from here.” After the relationship fizzled out, Chloe went on to enter the Celebrity Big Brother house in the summer of 2018.
Lou Teasdale
Jumping to early 2020, rumours surfaced of a link-up with David and Britain's Got Talent stylist Lou Teasdale. A source told The Sun: “He had a connection with Lou and they started dating in January.
“On paper, they’re a slightly incongruous couple, but they had a real giggle before David decided they weren’t a great fit and called time on things." Lou was close friends with Caroline Flack and was the main hair stylist on BGT.
Ashley Roberts
Pussycat Doll and a regular face on Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, Ashley Roberts, was next to take the eye of the BGT star. A source said he took to Instagram "with a vengeance," looking for suitable girlfriends after the split and started messaging women, including Ashley Roberts.
According to insiders, David had been sending Ashley flirty messages in a bid to woo her. The source told The Sun: “He thinks she’s gorgeous. He’s sent a couple of flirty messages and hopes to take her out once lockdown is over.”
Ashley split from boyfriend Giovanni Pernice after more than a year together. Latest reports about Williams' love life suggest he has signed up to the celebrity dating app Raya. The exclusive website has over 10,000 users and usually requires a reference to join.