The Inner Workings of the Guardian’s Defamation Dispute with Noel Clarke – Podcast | Noel Clarke

Noel Clarke cemented his fame after starring as Mickey in Doctor Who. He’s also recognized for his writing and directing in a series of films adapted from his experiences growing up in west London, such as Kidulthood, Adulthood, and Brotherhood.

In April 2021, Clarke received a special Bafta for his outstanding contribution to British film. Shortly after, allegations surfaced from over 20 women claiming instances of groping, harassment, or bullying.

Among them was Lisa Graham, who encountered Clarke while working at a Comic Con in Bournemouth. He made lewd comments about pregnant women, made sexual propositions, and touched her thigh.

Despite Clarke’s denial and a subsequent libel case, four years later Graham provided evidence to support the Guardian’s investigative reporting. The court ultimately upheld the Guardian’s defense, stating the newspaper’s reporting was both true and in the public interest.

Graham, journalists Sirin Kale and Lucy Osborne, and the Guardian’s editor-in-chief Katharine Viner discuss the implications and challenges they faced. The case also underscored the importance of investigative journalism.