Edmonds accepts libel damages
Wednesday, 12 Apr 2006 17:39
Edmonds accepts libel damages
Noel Edmonds has today accepted undisclosed libel damages from The Mail on Sunday over a story published in October last year alleging he had seduced a married woman.
The story also alleged that the Deal or No Deal game show host "exerted undue influence over her when she was vulnerable".
But at the hearing today at London's high court, The Mail On Sunday newspaper accepted allegations in the story, which involved married Marjan Simmons, were untrue.
Edmonds, 57, who has just recently signed a deal with Channel 4 to become one of the highest paid people on TV, accepted "undisclosed" but "substantial" damages.
Adam Cannon, lawyer for the paper's publisher, Associated Newspapers, agreed to pay damages and to settle the legal fees incurred.
"The defendant offers its apologies to the claimant and his family for the distress and embarrassment caused by the article," Cannon said.
The lawyer for Edmonds, John Kelly, said his client was not informed of the story prior to its printing.
"Had they done so they would have been informed of their utter falsity," he added.
"The publication of these allegations has caused damage to the claimant's personal and professional reputations, in addition to obvious distress to both himself, his family and Ms Simmons."
