A gap in ITV's schedule this evening has prompted speculation that the celebrity at the centre of an injunction row will finally be named today.
The well-known man, who has always denied the claims, was seeking a High Court injunction to prevent a broadcast by ITN and publication of an investigation by the Guardian because of a risk that he would take his own life, following two previous suicide attempts.
Judge Denies Injunction
Judge Mr Justice Nicklin has now given his decision and denied an injunction last week. The man had the option to appeal, but it has been confirmed he has missed the deadline to appeal yesterday, which means the star could now be named by the Guardian and ITN.
In the ITV schedule tonight, there is no programme listed for 8.35pm, with a 30-minute gap currently in the schedule before programming begins again with It'll Be Alright On The Night at 9.05pm. This has prompted speculation that this gap is for a programme naming the celebrity which ITN may have been working on.
Legal Action Against Media Organisations
The man had brought legal action against Independent Television News (ITN), which produces news programmes for ITV, Channel 4, Good Morning Britain and Channel 5, and Guardian News and Media (GNM), publisher of The Guardian.
During a two-day trial in late October, the High Court in London was told by lawyers for the media organisations that the allegations they wanted to report involve the man's alleged "abuse of power and status" to contact young women and try to engage in "inappropriate and exploitative sexual activities".
Previously in the High Court, Sara Mansoori KC, for the unnamed "famous" man, said he denies the allegations of wrongdoing and that publication "would have a potentially fatal impact". She told the court: "The only reason they would not be fatal is because the claimant would be locked up and prevented from his desire to end his life."
Arguments in Court
In written submissions, the barrister said that this was not a case of a person "spuriously" claiming mental health concerns because they do not want something to be published. Ms Mansoori also said that the claimant "has no intention of returning to public life".
Gavin Millar KC, for ITN and GNM, had said the case risks "dragging judges into assessing the causes of suicidal ideation, which are for professionals and not for a judge". He added: "The obligation falls on the hospital to keep him safe, and that's that."
He later said: "Plainly the proposed publication would make a valuable contribution to a debate of public importance, about men using their power to be able to misconduct themselves against women in that area of society."
The barrister added in written submissions that the allegations were gathered after "a wide-ranging and rigorous investigation" and that there was a "strong" public interest in publishing them. He had said that they intend to publish "numerous allegations" that the man had abused his status "over the course of many years" to try to engage in "inappropriate and exploitative sexual activities with a large number of girls and young women".
