Noel Clarke: I look forward to next step in libel case against the Guardian

Actor Noel Clarke has said he will pursue his libel case against the Guardian at the High Court next year.

It comes after a judge ruled the meaning of seven articles to be that there were strong grounds to believe he was guilty of sexual harassment.

In 2021 and 2022, the paper published a series of stories in which 20 women made accusations of sexual misconduct.

The actor and writer, who denies the allegations, is suing the newspaper and is seeking £10m in damages.

The Guardian said its investigation was "deeply reported and researched", and it would defend it "robustly".

At a hearing last week, lawyers for Mr Clarke and the paper made submissions about what the average reader would understand the articles to mean.

The Guardian argued that the articles would be read as "reporting reasonable grounds to suspect" that Mr Clarke had abused his power, bullied or sexually harassed women, rather than a direct allegation of guilt.

Mr Clarke's lawyers said the impression that an ordinary reader would take away was one of guilt.

Legal ruling

On Wednesday, Mr Justice Johnson ruled that the meaning of seven articles was that "there are strong grounds to believe that the claimant is guilty of various forms of sexual harassment".

And he said an eighth meant there were grounds to investigate Mr Clarke.

The judge also ruled that all of the articles were defamatory of the actor, something the Guardian had not disputed about seven of the eight pieces.

Mr Clarke is known for writing and starring in 2006 film Kidulthood and its sequels, as well as for roles in TV Shows like Doctor Who, Bulletproof and Viewpoint.

In a statement, he said: "I have always disputed the content of the eight Guardian articles and I am satisfied that the High Court has now found that all eight articles issued by the defendant were defamatory in law.

"I look forward to now receiving the Guardian's defence and progressing my claim for defamation in the High Court next year."

The Guardian said: "We welcome this judgment on meaning. The Guardian's investigation was deeply reported and researched, and we intend to defend our journalism robustly."

After the allegations against Mr Clarke were published, Bafta suspended his membership as well as the outstanding British contribution to cinema award he had been presented with days earlier.

The Metropolitan Police said in March 2022 there was not enough evidence against him to warrant a criminal investigation.