Today the producers of ’The Lost King’, including Steve Coogan, have finally accepted that their film is an untrue and defamatory portrayal of me and the search for Richard III. It is a reckless hit job on my reputation and that of my academic colleagues.

The producers will pay substantial damages to me and cover the very significant costs of my legal team, and have agreed to make key changes to the film.

Whilst it is clear to me that the Defendants were misled as to the events of the discovery, they made a deliberate choice to accept those accounts, failing to speak or check basic facts.

This irresponsible failure erased the critical contribution that my academic colleagues made in leading the archaeological search and conducting the scientific analysis that led to the discovery of Richard III.

That Steve Coogan, a man who has publicly condemned the media for misrepresentation and intrusion including, stridently, at the Leveson Inquiry, should be at the centre of broadcasting defamatory misrepresentations about others, in my opinion is hypocrisy of the highest order.

The BBC’s role as owner of Baby Cow and funder of the film also deserves scrutiny. The Director General received in writing the concerns about the film from my MP but took no action that I am aware of.

This outcome belongs to the team of academics, volunteers and experts whose skill, dedication, and integrity helped make this extraordinary achievement possible, and showed British universities at their collaborative best.

This has been a long and gruelling battle. I am grateful to my family, my colleagues, and my legal team for standing by me in defending my name and our universities – and, in a small way, pushing back against the post-truth culture that pervades today.

@RichardTaylor_ Well done. :)

@mungotalks thank you Joanne. I think you've followed this from the public start in 2012!

@RichardTaylor_ A pleasure to see 'the little guy' come out on top here after a tenacious campaign to obtain justice from Steve Coogan and Pathe Productions.

@cultfree54 Thanks Tom

@RichardTaylor_ Well done, Richard.

@david_fowey Thank you David.

@RichardTaylor_ Wow, Richard, sounds awful, sorry you had to go through this! Well done on getting some restitution though.

@DrCherryCanovan Thanks Cherry!

@RichardTaylor_ Well done 👏🏻

@uk_mchale Thanks Stuart

@RichardTaylor_ Nice one Richard!

@mister__roy Thanks Roy. Hope you're well

@RichardTaylor_ Great result and well done to you for sticking with it.

@JustineClaire65 Thank you!

@RichardTaylor_ Great news Richard. Very pleased for you and all involved.

@EmmaJ70 Thank you Emma!

@RichardTaylor_ Well done!

@SheronBoyle1 Thank you

@RichardTaylor_ Well done. Holding truth to those with power in the entertainment and media business. About time media personalities were held to account for their words

@Kokothecat2 thank you

@RichardTaylor_ Really really pleased to read this, congratulations to you

@MrsHenders4652 Thank you, that’s very kind

@RichardTaylor_ Keep Winning Richard!

@RichardTaylor_ BBC - at the heart of the big lies

@RichardTaylor_ And excellent news.

@RichardTaylor_ congratulations

@RichardTaylor_ All together now... "I've been suing Steve Coogan as the Man with No Name...." https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/art...