Former Doctor Who actor Noel Clarke has been formally declared bankrupt following a costly and unsuccessful legal battle against The Guardian newspaper.
Legal Defeat and Financial Collapse
The 50-year-old actor, known for playing Mickey Smith in the iconic BBC series, was declared bankrupt on December 11. This financial collapse comes just months after he lost a High Court libel case against Guardian News and Media (GNM).
Clarke had sued the publisher over seven articles and a podcast published in April 2021, which detailed allegations of sexual misconduct from 20 women who knew him professionally. He consistently denied all claims, with his legal team arguing the newspaper had acted as the 'judge, jury and executioner' of his career.
A 'Far-Fetched' Case and Multi-Million Pound Costs
In a damning judgment in August, Mrs Justice Steyn ruled in favour of The Guardian, stating its reporting was both true and in the public interest. She described the case maintained by Clarke as 'far-fetched' and 'false'.
The financial consequences were severe. The judge ordered Clarke to pay an interim costs payment of £3 million ahead of a detailed assessment. The Guardian informed the court its total legal bill was estimated at over £6 million, a figure the judge described as a conservative estimate.
At a hearing in September, Mrs Justice Steyn stated the £3 million sum was 'appropriate and no more than what ought to be reasonably ordered'. She noted it was substantially lower than the defendant's likely final recovery.
Career in Ruins and Protests of Innocence
Clarke, who also starred in and wrote the Kidulthood film trilogy, saw his career disintegrate after the allegations were published. Despite the court's findings, he continues to protest his innocence.
In a statement, he said: 'For almost five years, I have fought against a powerful media outlet and its extensive legal teams over inaccurate and damaging reporting... I have never claimed to be perfect. But I am not the person described in these articles.' He claimed the media had 'ripped through' his family's life.
A source told The Sun the actor had 'blindly pushed on regardless' with the case despite knowing he could not meet the costs if he lost.
The Kensington-based actor filed for bankruptcy in December after the initial £3 million costs payment became due. The court will now assess whether the full £6 million legal bill is justified if both parties cannot agree on the final sum.
