Noel Clarke to sue the Guardian for £10million damages over articles alleging sexual misconduct towards several women
- The actor has denied the allegations that were made across eight articles
Actor Noel Clark is to sue the Guardian newspaper for £10million in damages over articles about his alleged behaviour towards several women, claiming that ‘every existing or upcoming contract’ was cancelled the allegations surfaced.
In eight articles, 20 women who worked with Mr Clarke made allegations over sexual misconduct.
The actor, who has stringently denied the allegations, said the claims have had a ‘catastrophic’ effect on his career.
Documents have been lodged at London’s High Court as part of a defamation case against the Guardian, according to the BBC. A judge will now decided what damages he is entitled to – if he wins his case.
He is also claiming for general damages which include harm to reputation and special damagers which cover specific financial loss.
Noel Clark is to sue the Guardian newspaper for £10million in damages over articles about his alleged behaviour towards several women
In eight articles by the newspaper, 20 women who worked with Mr Clarke made allegations over sexual misconduct.
The claim says that ‘the impact on him financially has been devastating’ adding that ‘every existing or upcoming contract’ has been cancelled. It also says that he has not worked a single contract since the article was first published in April 2021.
There are a number of specific financial losses claimed by the actor, including for season four of Sky TV show Bulletproof, series two of ITV show Viewpoint and Channel 5 TV show Highwater. In total he is claiming for £10,140,000.60 in financial loss.
His lawyers are also claiming for aggravated damages on his behalf for what his lawyers described as the ‘relentless, targeted, vicious and persistent nature of the wholly unjustified defamatory campaign’ by the newspaper.
The case was scheduled to take place at the High Court tomorrow but the court was told the actor wanted new solicitors so it has been delayed.
As a result of this delay, the case will not be heard until October or early November later this year.
The court will decide whether the articles are defamatory or whether they were statements of facts and opinion.
Amongst the claims, includes loss of £595,000 fee for acting in 10 episodes of Sky TV show Bulletproof (pictured)
According to the BBC, The Guardian has not yet filed an official defence through the court and is not required to submit its defence before the autumn hearing is known, according to an order made in May by Mr Justice Murray.
The legal papers were recently obtained by the broadcaster, however, should have been made public more than six months ago.
Following the allegations in 2021, Mr Clarke had his Bafta membership suspended and the Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema award he had been given days before was revoked.
In March 2022 the Metropolitan Police said there as not enough evidence against him to warrant a criminal investigation.
The specific financial losses claimed by Noel Clarke:
These are the specific financial losses claimed by Noel Clarke, according to legal documents seen by the BBC.
Sky TV show Bulletproof, series 4:
- £595,000 – fee for acting in 10 episodes
- £90,000 – fee for writing two episodes
- £90,000 – fee for directing two episodes
- £250,000 (estimated) – anticipated royalties
ITV TV show Viewpoint, season 2:
- £270,000 – his fee
- £200,000 (estimated) – anticipated royalties
Channel 5 TV Show Highwater:
- £60,000 – producer bonus
BBC TV show Crongton
- Around £60,000 – producer bonus
StudioCanal movie Something in the Water
- Around £40,000 – producer bonus
Former production company Unstoppable
- £1.25million – minimum salary over 10 years (not including bonus rises)
- £7 million – projected value of shares
- £245,000 – Guardian allegations when first published
Total figure: £10,140,000.60
Source: Read Full Article