Ex-'Enders star wins libel damages

Former EastEnders star Mohammed George has accepted libel damages over a tabloid report which claimed that he had to be removed from the soap's 25th anniversary party.

George, who played Gus Smith in the BBC show, took legal action against Express Newspapers after the allegation was printed in the Daily Star Sunday earlier this year.

The article in question suggested that the actor was "turfed out" from the birthday bash by security guards after he arrived drunk and was aggressive towards BBC staff.

However, George's counsel Lucy Moorman told the High Court today that the newspaper now accepted the claims were "entirely untrue".

PA quotes Moorman as saying: "In particular, the defendant accepts that Mr George had not been drinking alcohol when he arrived at the party so he was not drunk, that he was not aggressive or threatening to anyone and that, although he left the party early, he did not have to be forcibly ejected."

Express Newspapers has apologised over the matter and agreed to pay George's legal costs along with undisclosed damages.