The publisher of the Guardian newspaper wants Noel Clarke to pay £3 million of its legal costs, after a judge found its reporting into allegations of sexual misconduct against the actor was substantially true. The barrister also said Clarke had originally asked for damages of £10 million, which then increased to £40 million, then £70 million, as the case progressed. In written submissions, he said his legal team had resigned after he had been unable to provide funding for the hearing. He also asked the court to hold payment of costs pending an appeal. The actor, who told the court he used ChatGPT to help prepare his response to Mr Millar, described the proposed costs order as “excessive”, “inflated” and “caused by their own choices”.