Man wins 'substantial damages' over portrayal in Steve Coogan Richard III film

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In a recent legal battle, a university academic has emerged victorious after a court ruled in his favor regarding his portrayal in a film about the discovery of Richard III’s remains. Richard Taylor, deputy registrar of the University of Leicester at the time, took legal action against comedian Steve Coogan, Baby Cow Productions, and Pathe Productions for defamatory character depiction in the film entitled “The Lost King.”

The court ruled that the film had portrayed Mr. Taylor in a negative light, causing damage to his reputation by depicting him as “misogynistic” and “weasel-like.” Mr. Taylor expressed his satisfaction with the court’s decision, emphasizing that the film was a misleading and untrue portrayal of him and the events surrounding the search for Richard III back in 2012. Despite the legal victory, Mr. Taylor acknowledged the collaborative efforts involved in the search and the positive teamwork experience.

The focus of the film was on historian Philippa Langley’s role in the search for Richard III, involving archaeologists from the University of Leicester. While the lawsuit was set to go to trial, both parties reached a settlement before that, with the defendants agreeing to pay substantial damages and add a disclaimer to the film stating that the portrayal of Mr. Taylor was fictional and did not represent the reality.

Following the settlement, Mr. Taylor, now the chief operating officer at Loughborough University, criticized the defendants for accepting misleading accounts and failing to verify facts. He highlighted Philippa Langley’s significant contribution to the project while clarifying that her involvement did not extend to leading the archaeological search or scientific analysis. Additionally, the legal win serves as a reminder to filmmakers and producers about the consequences of misrepresenting individuals in films and television productions

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More

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