Behind the scenes of the Guardian’s libel battle with Noel Clarke – podcast

The actor claimed accusations against him by more than 20 women were false and part of a conspiracy. The Guardian’s editor-in-chief, Katharine Viner, and journalists Sirin Kale and Lucy Osborne on why the news organisation risked millions to defend its reporting

Noel Clarke became a household name playing Mickey in Doctor Who and established himself as a writer and director with a trilogy of films inspired by his upbringing in west London – Kidulthood, Adulthood and Brotherhood.

In April 2021, he received a special Bafta for outstanding contribution to British film. A few days later, the Guardian ran a series of articles – and an episode of this podcast – containing accusations by more than 20 women that he groped, harassed or bullied them.