Portrayal of character in Steve Coogan’s film The Lost King is defamatory, judge rules

Sally Hawkins and Steve Coogan as Philippa and John Langley in The Lost King. Coogan co-wrote the script of the 2022 film with Jeff Pope. Photograph: Graeme Hunter

The portrayal of a former university official in Steve Coogan’s film about the discovery of the remains of Richard III is defamatory, a high court judge has ruled.

Richard Taylor, a former deputy registrar at the University of Leicester, is suing Coogan, the production company Baby Cow and the distributors Pathe.