The High Court has today given judgment in Noel Clarke v Guardian News and Media Ltd [2025] EWHC 2193 (KB), following the six-week trial that took place earlier this year.
The claim was for libel in respect of eight articles published by the Guardian, the first of which was titled: “‘Sexual predator’: actor Noel Clarke accused of groping, harassment and bullying by 20 women”.
The issues for determination at trial were (1) whether seven of the eight articles caused serious harm to the Claimant’s reputation under s.1 of the Defamation Act 2013, and (2) whether the Defendant had met the requirements of s.2 of the 2013 Act (the truth defence), and s.4 (the publication on matter of public interest defence).
The Court held that the claim in respect of the second to eighth articles failed for failure to satisfy the serious harm requirement under s.1 of the Defamation Act 2013, and that the Defendant had succeeded in establishing the truth and public interest defences.
5RB’s Alex Marzec and Ben Gallop appeared for the Defendant, led by Gavin Millar KC and instructed by Wiggin LLP.