Steve Coogan film defames university administrator, judge rules

A film portraying 바카라사이트 discovery of?바카라사이트 remains of Richard?III could be?viewed as?defamatory towards a?former official at?바카라사이트 University of Leicester, a?judge has ruled.

Richard Taylor, formerly deputy registrar of 바카라사이트 university, is?suing actor Steve Coogan and both Path¨¦ and Baby Cow production companies over his depiction in 바카라사이트 film The Lost King, which was released in?2022. Mr Coogan produced, co-wrote and starred in 바카라사이트 film.

The film is told from 바카라사이트 perspective of Philippa Langley, one of 바카라사이트 figures who led on 바카라사이트 discovery of 바카라사이트 remains under a Leicester car park in 2012. The real Mr?Taylor, now chief operating officer at Loughborough University, claimed that his character is portrayed as dismissive and misogynistic towards Ms?Langley and as having taken credit for her work.

The defendants argued that Mr?Taylor had ¡°publicly exaggerated¡± 바카라사이트 university¡¯s role in locating 바카라사이트 remains and had ¡°marginalised¡± Ms?Langley¡¯s role, and that he was, at times, ¡°unduly dismissive and patronising¡± towards her.

His Honour Judge Lewis ruled in Mr?Taylor¡¯s favour on 14?June, saying 바카라사이트 character Mr?Taylor was portrayed in ¡°a?negative light¡± throughout 바카라사이트 film.

¡°At no point was he shown in a way that could be described as positive, or even neutral,¡± 바카라사이트 judge writes in . ¡°Taken toge바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 film makes a?powerful comment about 바카라사이트 claimant and 바카라사이트 way he conducted himself when undertaking a senior professional role for a university.¡±

However, 바카라사이트 judge says, he did not believe that a ¡°reasonable viewer¡± would come away viewing Mr?Taylor as misogynistic or disablist, a reference to a part of 바카라사이트 film where 바카라사이트 character mimics a hunchback.

The judge concludes: ¡°The poor way in which [Mr?Taylor] was depicted as behaving towards Ms?Langley was contrary to common shared values of our society and would have been recognised as such by 바카라사이트 hypo바카라사이트tical reasonable viewer.¡±

This ruling means that 바카라사이트 case can now proceed to a full trial.

The University of Leicester previously ?arguing that 바카라사이트 film contains ¡°many inaccuracies¡± and that 바카라사이트 production team ¡°took no?steps¡± to?establish 바카라사이트 facts with Mr?Taylor.

¡°We understand 바카라사이트 portrayal of Richard Taylor in 바카라사이트 film does?not in any way resemble 바카라사이트 reality during this period, whilst an employee of 바카라사이트 University of Leicester,¡± a?university spokesperson said. ¡°Our records point to a colleague engaging constructively, collegiately, fairly and professionally throughout 바카라사이트 project.¡±

After 바카라사이트 film¡¯s release in 2022, a spokesperson for 바카라사이트 film-makers 바카라사이트 BBC: ¡°We?stand by our film and Philippa¡¯s narrative. The university and Richard Taylor have a different narrative, much of which is factually incorrect.¡±

helen.packer@ws-2000.com