Steve Coogan has written a defiant op-ed defending the creative decisions on The Lost King after paying “substantial damages” to settle a defamation complaint against the movie.
In a piece for The Guardian newspaper, Coogan said the 2022 film, chronicling the extraordinary discovery of King Richard III’s remains under a car park, would remain intact following the legal battle with Richard Taylor, a former employee at the University of Leicester.
Taylor claimed that the Baby Cow and Pathé Production film portrayed him in an unflattering light. In June 2024, a UK High Court judge determined that actor Lee Ingleby’s depiction was defamatory in a preliminary judgment, meaning the claim could be heard as a full trial. This week’s settlement ended the case before it officially began, with Taylor’s lawyers claiming victory.
As part of the settlement, a title card will be added to the film in England and Wales, which reads: “Whilst in this film there is a character called Richard Taylor who is shown to be an employee of the University of Leicester, the portrayal of him is fictional and does not represent the actions of the real Mr Taylor, who was employed by the University of Leicester as its Deputy Registrar, and acted with integrity during the events portrayed.”
Coogan said he was pleased the story would remain untouched: “Richard Taylor wanted to have the film altered or withdrawn. He didn’t get that. I’m pleased to say not one frame of the film has changed bar a clarification in the pre-title sequence.”
The Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa star added that producers were forced to settle due to the ill health of Philippa Langley, whose recollection of events around the finding of King Richard III’s remains was the basis for the film. Written by Coogan and Jeff Pope, The Lost King starred Sally Hawkins as Langley.
“I was looking forward to our day in court together, a chance for a judge to look at all the evidence and come to a fair conclusion,” he wrote. “But Philippa’s absence meant we had lost our star witness and would have gone to trial with one hand tied behind our backs. No one wants to pressurise a woman who is unwell into doing something which could well make matters worse. Sometimes you have to fall on the sword.”
Coogan continued: “Our intention with The Lost King was only ever to give a voice to Philippa and her crowning achievement. That is something to celebrate … The Lost King is available for all to see. I’m sure people will watch it and draw their own conclusions.”
Taylor, who now works for Loughborough University, was critical of Coogan’s actions during the making of the feature, saying filmmakers were “dismissive” of his representations. “Steve Coogan’s never anything other than certain of his own righteousness, and I think he still thinks he was right in doing this,” Taylor said. He added that he has yet to receive an apology.
Coogan’s Guardian op-ed was headlined: “I won’t apologise for The Lost King – Leicester University’s treatment of Philippa Langley is a profound injustice.”
