Edmonds accepts damages for libel

Edmonds has returned to television with Deal Or No Deal

Deal or No Deal presenter Noel Edmonds has accepted undisclosed libel damages from The Mail On Sunday newspaper for allegations about his private life.

The 57-year-old's lawyer, John Kelly, told the High Court in London that Edmonds "sought no publicity" about his separation and divorce last year.

The court heard that the October 2005 story alleged that Edmonds seduced a married woman, Marjan Simmons.

The newspaper accepted that allegations made in the story were untrue.

Associated Newspapers, publishers of The Mail On Sunday, agreed to pay Edmonds "substantial" damages and settle the legal costs incurred by the libel action.

The newspaper's lawyer, Adam Cannon, said: "The defendant offers its apologies to the claimant and his family for the distress and embarrassment caused by the article. "

Mr Kelly said that the story had not been put before Edmonds, who presents the hit Channel 4 quiz show, or his representatives prior to publication.

"Had they done so they would have been informed of their utter falsity," he said.

Damage

The court heard false allegations made by the paper that Edmonds had behaved "improperly and indecently", forcing Ms Simmons to leave her husband and take her children with her from the family home.

The newspaper story also falsely alleged the presenter "exerted undue influence over her when she was vulnerable", Mr Kelly said in court.

He added that the paper alleged Edmonds used a romantic liaison with Ms Simmons as part of a public relations initiative to relaunch his career.

"In order to achieve this he had set up a photographer to take photographs of himself and Ms Simmons leaving a restaurant in Nice so as to obtain publicity for his new relationship.

"The publication of these allegations has caused damage to the claimant's personal and professional reputations, in addition to obvious distress to both himself, his family and Ms Simmons," said Mr Kelly.