Actor Noel Clarke has been declared bankrupt after losing a legal battle over allegations of sexual misconduct. The 50-year-old Doctor Who star was ordered to cover at least £3 million in legal fees for the Guardian News group. The High Court Judge criticized Clarke’s case as “far-fetched and false” regarding the newspaper’s reporting on the misconduct claims, which Clarke denies.
Clarke, known for writing the screenplay for Kidulthood, faced a defeat in the libel case against The Guardian, which published several articles with misconduct allegations from multiple women. The actor expressed disappointment with the outcome, highlighting a years-long struggle against inaccurate and damaging reporting by a powerful media outlet.
Before filing for bankruptcy in December, Clarke faced a potential payment of up to £6 million to cover the legal costs. The bankruptcy declaration came after an initial £3 million legal costs fee was due. GNM had published multiple articles and a podcast detailing allegations of misconduct by women who had professional interactions with Clarke.
The court defended The Guardian’s reporting as truthful and serving the public interest. The judge dismissed Clarke’s claims, stating that the newspaper had valid defenses for the libel case. Despite Clarke’s assertions of innocence, the court upheld the newspaper’s reporting as justified.
The Metropolitan Police decided not to pursue a criminal investigation against Clarke in March 2022. However, Clarke initiated a libel case against The Guardian, accusing the publication of defamation and breaching data protection laws. The court proceedings involved arguments from both sides, with Clarke’s representative claiming The Guardian unfairly targeted his career while the publisher defended its reporting as thorough and in the public interest.