Noel Clarke: judge rejects attempt to strike out Guardian’s defence in libel claim

A judge has ruled against former Doctor Who actor Noel Clarke’s request to have The Guardian’s defence struck out in a court case between the two parties.

The film-maker is suing Guardian News and Media (GNM) for defamation after a number of articles published by the newspaper in 2021. The articles featured claims from several women who accused him of verbal abuse, bullying, and sexual assault. BAFTA suspended his membership and Outstanding Contribution To Cinema award shortly after the articles were published.

At the time, Clarke released a statement saying: “I vehemently deny any sexual misconduct or wrongdoing and intend to defend myself against these false allegations”.

In 2022 he would bring a defamation lawsuit against BAFTA, but he later dropped the case.

On Wednesday (January 29), Clarke attempted to get GNM’s defence struck out, but was rejected by the judge. His legal team had made claims that the organisation’s journalists had deleted messages that were a perversion of the course of justice, something the defence denied.

The Guardian‘s barrister Gavin Millar KC called the accusation an attempt to discredit The Guardian’s journalists, and that all pertinent data had been retained or disclosed, which it said were 3,000 documents.

The case is scheduled to proceed at the beginning of March, lasting for six weeks. Clarke was one of the original cast members of the revamped Doctor Who, debuting in 2005 in the show opposite stars Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper. He would play the character of Mickey Smith in 15 episodes between 2005 and 2010.

In addition, Clarke is known for starring in films such as Kidulthood and its sequels, which he directed. He also had a small role in 2013 blockbuster Star Trek: Into Darkness. He has not been seen in any projects since 2021.

The post Noel Clarke: judge rejects attempt to strike out Guardian’s defence in libel claim appeared first on NME.