Journalist 'taken aback' by response to first Noel Clarke article, court told

A Guardian journalist who has worked on high-profile investigations into allegations of sexual misconduct by men said the volume of fresh leads received after writing about Noel Clarke was the most she had ever witnessed.

- Haroon Siddique

Lucy Osborne, who, with Sirin Kale, carried out the Guardian's investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct against the Doctor Who actor, told the high court that she was "taken aback" by how many people got in touch after publication of the first article.

Clarke, 49, is suing Guardian News and Media (GNM) over seven articles and a podcast published between April 2021 and March 2022 in which more than 20 women accused him of sexual misconduct.

Osborne, who has also worked on investigations about David Copperfield and the former Elite Models boss Gérald Marie, said in her witness statement: "I remember being taken aback by the number of possible leads we received following the first article.

"By way of example, at least 25 new sources came forward between publication of the first article and the fourth article - a 24-hour period. Following the fourth article we continued to receive many unsolicited messages from individuals with new leads to our personal emails, the investigations inbox and both mine and Sirin's social media accounts.