Actor and filmmaker Noel Clarke has been declared bankrupt following the collapse of his high-profile libel case against Guardian News and Media (GNM).
High Court Judge Dismisses "Far-Fetched" Case
The 50-year-old star, known for roles in Doctor Who and for writing Kidulthood, pursued legal action against the publisher over a series of articles in 2021. These reports contained allegations of sexual misconduct from multiple women, which Clarke has consistently denied.
In a damning judgment delivered in August, Mrs Justice Steyn dismissed Clarke's claim. She ruled that GNM had successfully defended its reporting by establishing both truth and public interest defences. The judge stated that Clarke had maintained a "far-fetched and indeed a false case" by challenging the credibility of the newspaper's witnesses.
Millions in Legal Costs Lead to Bankruptcy
The financial consequences of losing the case were severe. At a subsequent costs hearing in September, the High Court ordered Clarke to make an interim payment of £3 million towards GNM's legal fees. The court heard that the publisher's total legal bill was conservatively estimated to exceed £6 million.
Clarke failed to make the initial £3 million payment, which was due late last year. He subsequently filed for bankruptcy in December 2025 and was formally declared bankrupt on 11 December 2025.
Clarke's Stance and The Guardian's Defence
Following the verdict last year, Clarke issued a statement expressing his disappointment. He claimed the stories, which he said originated from anonymous emails, were designed to damage his career and portrayed him as a "monster". His barrister, Philip Williams, told the trial that The Guardian had acted as "judge, jury and executioner" of his client's career.
GNM, which published seven articles and a podcast on the allegations, robustly defended its journalism. Gavin Millar KC, for the publisher, stated that The Guardian "did not simply accept what was said to it" and had devoted significant resources to verifying the claims. The Metropolitan Police confirmed in March 2022 that it would not be launching a criminal investigation into the allegations.
The case underscores the significant financial risks involved in pursuing libel actions against major media organisations, even for high-profile individuals.
