Steve Coogan and the producers of The Lost King have agreed a settlement for “substantial damages” to a man who sued for defamation over his portrayal in the 2022 film about the discovery of Richard III’s remains.
Lawyers for Richard Taylor, a former employee at the University of Leicester, claimed victory and called the settlement a “defamation David and Goliath moment.” Taylor had sued after claiming actor Lee Ingleby’s representation of him in the pic was damaging.
Coogan’s BBC Studios-backed indie Baby Cow and Pathé Productions made the film, which tells the story of how the king’s bones were discovered underneath a car park in Leicester, England. Coogan wrote the film with Jeff Pope and it depicted Philippa Langley (Sally Hawkins)’s search to find the king’s skeleton in 2012.
Taylor claimed the portrayal consistently showed him in a negative light and painted his actions around the discovery as “devious.” In June last year, the UK High Court ruled it was defamatory in a preliminary judgement, meaning the claim could be heard as a full trial. The new settlement ends the case before it officially begins, with Taylor’s lawyers claiming victory.
In a statement read in court today in London, William Bennett, KC for Taylor, said: “The defendants have now settled Mr Taylor’s claim in the libel against them for the publication of the film by paying him substantial damages.
“Furthermore, they have agreed to make changes to the film in order to withdraw the allegations complained of and to pay him his legal costs.”
Justice Collins Rice then addressed Taylor, saying: “These were momentous historical events and finding yourself represented in a feature film about them must be an unsettling experience, even in the best of circumstances. I hope that this very clear statement and the settlement… will help Mr Taylor put this particular experience behind him.”
A statement for Coogan, Baby Cow and Pathé read: “As a distributor and producer recognised for bringing complex, real-life stories to audiences, we are deeply aware of the responsibility that comes with such portrayals and approach each project with care, integrity, and a commitment to authenticity. We remain incredibly proud of this film and are pleased this matter has now been settled.”
We understand there will be no material edits to the film, but that a card will be added to the film in England and Wales, which reads: “Whilst in this film there is a character called Richard Taylor who is shown to be an employee of the University of Leicester, the portrayal of him is fictional and does not represent the actions of the real Mr Taylor, who was employed by the University of Leicester as its Deputy Registrar, and acted with integrity during the events portrayed.”
The card will follow the existing one and say the film is the ‘true story’ of Langley’s experience.
‘David and Goliath moment’
Daniel Jennings, defamation partner at Shakespeare Martineau, which represented Taylor, said: “This is a defamation David and Goliath moment and confirms what Mr Taylor has always believed: That his portrayal in The Lost King was damaging, harmful and untrue. Individuals often feel unable to speak up against large corporations and well-known personalities, but this win demonstrates that there is recourse when wrongs have been committed.”
Jennings criticized film and TV makers for rushing to create productions based on real-life stories that have made headlines. He added that the settlement “could be the first of many defamation rulings if our appetite for ‘true accounts’ continues to gather pace.”
“Mr Taylor’s win should act as a real warning for anyone looking to use those tactics. The law is very clear and there are defined routes to compensation for individuals who find themselves misrepresented.”
Today’s ruling may have ramifications for other similar cases. Notably, Netflix drama Baby Reindeer, which states it tells the “true story” of creator and star Richard Gadd’s experience with a stalker. Fiona Harvey, who was identified as the ‘stalker,’ is in the process of suing Netflix, although this is in the U.S. A judge last year ruled that claim could move to trial and both sides are now preparing their cases.
