Libel damages for ex-Eastenders actorFRIDAY 21/10/2005 10:54:47
Former EastEnders star Chris Parker accepted £50,000 libel damages today over a claim that he was fired from the TV show.
The 22-year-old actor and presenter, who played Spencer Moon in the BBC soap, had brought proceedings at London`s High Court over a December 2004 report in The Sxn.
His solicitor, Jonathan Coad, told Mr Justice Gray that the article, subheaded `Axe for EastEnder after suicide bid`, alleged that he "got the boot after refusing to see the show`s psychologist".
He said that it claimed that Mr Parker had been unceremoniously sacked from the cast after having unreasonably refused to comply with an instruction to see a BBC psychologist.
"These allegations were entirely without foundation, and caused both the claimant and his family considerable anger and distress.
"The allegations also amounted to a serious slur on the claimant`s professional and personal reputation."
In fact, said Mr Coad, as the BBC stated in a press release, the actor`s departure was by agreement.
As the BBC had confirmed, it was Mr Parker who asked the BBC to be released from his contract.
The BBC did not want him to leave EastEnders and, after trying to persuade him to stay, agreed only reluctantly to allow him to do so.
Mr Parker`s departure, both from EastEnders and from his contract with the BBC was therefore not only by agreement, but also on the most amicable of terms.
Mr Coad said that News Group Newspapers and TV editor Emily Smith now accepted that there was no truth whatsoever in the allegations and acknowledged the considerable damage they had done to Mr Parker.
They withdrew the allegations unreservedly, apologised to Mr Parker and had agreed to pay him substantial damages and his costs.
Mr Parker`s lawyers confirmed afterwards that the damages sum was £50,000.
A smiling Mr Parker said that he was "really happy" with the settlement.
He said that he was now working on a show with Gail Porter.
http://www.utvlive.com/newsroom/indepth.asp?id=9358&pt=e
