GMTV star wins libel damages

April 10, 2008

Mirror titles apologise to Kate Garraway for 'affair' slur

GMTV presenter and Strictly Come Dancing star Kate Garraway received substantial undisclosed damages and an apology from the publisher of the Daily and Sunday Mirror today for false allegations that she was having an affair with her Strictly Come Dancing partner Anton du Beke.

 

Articles published by MGN Limited in February in both newspapers had falsely claimed that Ms Garraway had cheated on her husband, former political lobbyist, Derek Draper, with her dance instructor from the hit BBC1 dance show.

 

Her solicitor, Rachel Atkins, told Mr Justice Eady at the High Court in London that contrary to the allegations, “the claimant and her husband are and were as faithful, happy and in love at the time of the publication as they had ever been.

 

“The plain truth was that the claimant and Anton Du Beke became friends during ‘Strictly Come Dancing’. Since then they often worked and spent time together,” Ms Atkins added.

 

In a statement released after the hearing, Ms Garraway said: “I am glad that this matter is now over. The way my friendship with Anton was twisted into something sordid was terribly upsetting.

“I wanted everyone to know that what had been written was completely wrong. The accusations threatened to cast a shadow over the wonderful time I had on Strictly Come Dancing, but now I can feel good about it all again.”

Mr Draper added: “I have always been glad that Kate and Anton became such good friends and felt sick when that was distorted into something else entirely.”

The newspapers’ lawyer Elizabeth Prochaska apologised for the distress and embarrassment caused by the articles.

 

5RB‘s Matthew Nicklin (instructed by Schillings) acted for Ms Garraway.

 

Click on the icon below for the full Statement in Open Court.

 

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