Judgment Day In Noel Clarke's £70 Million Libel Claim

The recent decision in Noel Clarke v Guardian News & Media (GNM) marks a dramatic close to a high-profile libel battle. On 22 August 2025, Mrs Justice Steyn handed down a 224-page landmark judgment dismissing Clarke's £70 million claim in its entirety. After six weeks of evidence, including live testimony from more than a dozen accusers, senior Guardian journalists, and Clarke himself, the judge concluded that GNM's multi-part investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct and bullying was both substantially true and published in the public interest.

The case began in April 2021, when The Guardian published its first article quoting 20 women who worked with Clarke and alleged unwanted sexual contact, covert filming and workplace bullying. Over the next two years, Clarke issued a strongly worded denial, brought defamation and data protection proceedings, and quantified his loss at more than £70 million. Pre-trial battles included Clarke's applications to strike