Episode 4

Image for Episode 4Not currently available on BBC iPlayer

Duration: 49 minutes

As quickly as papers rush to press with the latest celebrity sex scandal or expose, lawyers are scrambling to court to either try and stop the stories appearing or to set the record straight when the damage is done.

But what goes on in the normally very private world of a libel battle, and just how easy is it to clear your name, restore a reputation or defend yourself against things said?

Is the fight always worth it, and is it just the rich and famous with the money and means that get to do battle?
Through extraordinary access inside Britain's biggest law firms, we follow the legal twists and turns of a number of libel and privacy battles as they play out over the course of 2 years, charting the emotional and financial toll on claimants and defendants.

Last on

Wed 4 May 2011 22:45 BBC One Northern Ireland only

See all previous episodes from See You in Court

  • Picture Shows: Simon Singh at the High court, London

    Picture Shows: Simon Singh at the High court, London

    ©Gavin Rodgers/Rex Features

  • Episode 4

    Almost two years in the making, See You in Court features unprecedented access to those affected by libel cases and explores how splashes in the media affect the individuals at the heart of them. London has become known as the "libel capital of the world" with people coming from far away to use the British courts and legal system to sue if they feel their privacy has been invaded or their reputation damaged. But what exactly is a reputation, how much is one worth and is it just the rich and famous that get to fight over them?

    In this week's episode we follow science writer Simon Singh and his court battle with the British Chiropractic Association and family man Tristan Rogers who finds himself in hot water, having to defend comments he posted on an online property forum.

Credits

Series Producer
Ross Wilson
Director
Ross Wilson
Producer
Lindsey Douglas

Broadcasts

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