This week, Persephone Bridgman Baker was invited to appear as an expert on BBC Radio 4 to comment on the recent settlement of the libel claim concerning “The Lost King”, a film dramatisation of the discovery of the remains of Richard III in Leicester in 2012.
The claim, brought by Richard Taylor against the film’s producers including Steve Coogan, centred on the film’s portrayal of Mr Taylor’s role and behaviour in the Richard III project. Mr Taylor received substantial compensation and an additional printed statement is to be included at the start of the film in the form of a title card.
The case raises interesting questions about the intersection of defamation law and reputation in the context of the growing number of dramatisations described as being “based on true events.”
During the segment (which runs from 12:30 to 20:00), Persephone also reflected on her prior work representing Princess Diana’s former chauffeur in his successful claim against the BBC over false allegations made by journalist Martin Bashir to secure the Princess’s landmark Panorama interview, later dramatised in Netflix’s The Crown.
Commenting on the discussion, Persephone noted that this remains “a fascinating and developing area of libel law, as viewer appetite continues to grow for dramas inspired by real people and events.”
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