Actor Noel Clarke’s libel claim against the Guardian newspaper’s publisher is set to go to trial in 2025 for up to six weeks, the High Court has heard.
The 48-year-old is suing Guardian News and Media (GNM) over a series of articles, including one from April 2021 which said 20 women who knew Mr Clarke in a professional capacity had come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct.
In a statement at the time he “vehemently” denied “any sexual misconduct or criminal wrongdoing”.
The Doctor Who actor is bringing a libel and data protection claim against the publisher and is seeking £10 million in special damages, with further damages expected to be sought over loss of future earnings.
GNM is defending the claim on the grounds of truth and public interest.
At a preliminary hearing on Monday, lawyers for GNM said that the full trial of the claims is due to start in March 2025.
Ben Gallop, for the publisher, said in written submissions: “There are substantial disputes of fact which will require a full six-week trial to determine, at which the parties between them expect to call the oral evidence of around 45 witnesses.”
During a hearing in March, the High Court in London was told that some of the women who made the disputed allegations against Mr Clarke could give evidence.
In a judgment last year, Mr Justice Johnson said that seven of the articles “mean that there are strong grounds to believe that the claimant is guilty of various forms of sexual harassment” with the eighth meaning “grounds to investigate”.
The judge also ruled all of the articles could be defamatory, which had not been disputed by GNM over seven of the pieces.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article