Noel Clarke Accuses Guardian of 'Smashing' His Life in Libel Trial

Actor Noel Clarke is currently embroiled in a High Court libel trial against The Guardian, claiming that the publication has 'smashed' his life with false allegations of sexual misconduct from multiple women. Clarke is suing over seven articles and a podcast published in 2021, which reported that 20 women had made allegations against him. During his testimony, Clarke expressed deep emotion, denying the accusations and stating, 'I did not do this, I would not do this.' He specifically refuted a claim made by a woman identified as 'Penelope,' asserting that no inappropriate behavior occurred during the filming of a sex scene. Clarke's legal team argues that the reporting was defamatory and without merit, while The Guardian maintains that its articles were in the public interest and based on credible sources. The trial is expected to last six weeks as both sides present their cases.