Noel Clarke accused of sexual harassment on set of Doctor Who

The BBC has become embroiled in fresh allegations of sexual harassment levelled against the actor Noel Clarke after new claims that he pestered and inappropriately touched women.

A number of sources have alleged that they were harassed by Mr Clarke during filming of the flagship drama Doctor Who.

The new claims come a week after Mr Clarke was stripped of a Bafta award and ITV, Sky and the BBC cut ties with him following the publication of testimony from 20 women accusing him of groping, sexual harassment and bullying.

Mr Clarke vehemently denies any allegations of sexual misconduct, criminal wrongdoing or sexually inappropriate behaviour, including the latest accusations.

The BBC said it would investigate any new allegations and urged witnesses to come forward about incidents on the set of Doctor Who.

Among Mr Clarke’s latest accusers is Joanne Hayes, a costume assistant who claims that he sexually harassed her in his trailer in August 2004.

Mr Clarke allegedly told her that he “liked girls with long hair, as it gave him something to hold on to when doing them from behind”.

Ms Hayes, who had very long hair, said that as she made to leave the trailer because she felt uncomfortable, Mr Clarke repeated the comment and laughed.

Ms Hayes told The Guardian that she did not report the incident to her BBC bosses because “at that time the culture was very different”. However, she said the experience left her feeling “uneasy near him” and she avoided him as best she could.

Mr Clarke’s lawyers said he strongly denies the allegation and said the incident described did not take place.

Another woman, a runner and driver on the early seasons of the revived Doctor Who, claims that while she was driving Mr Clarke he would touch her inappropriately, repeatedly ask her to go to his hotel room for sex and make sexually explicit remarks to her.

Jenna (not her real name) said she complained to an assistant director on the BBC show, and as a result was put on different duties.

Mr Clarke strongly denied the allegations. His lawyers said any suggestion that he would be allowed to behave that way because of his perceived power was “entirely implausible” because he was near the start of his career.

They said Mr Clarke was not aware of any complaint in relation to his alleged behaviour and that it “beggars belief” that the corporation would have allowed Clarke to behave in the way that is alleged.

Another former runner on Doctor Who alleges Clarke sexually harassed her and another female coworker in a bar at the Holland House Hotel in Cardiff, in the mid-2000s, following a work event.

Monica (not her real name) claims that when the women rejected Mr Clarke’s advances he became “rude” and “aggressive” and that the next day he spread false rumours about them on set.

Clarke strongly denied the allegation. His lawyers said there would have been no real need or purpose for him to be in the hotel bar because he does not drink.

Mr Clarke is also accused of behaving inappropriately at Bournemouth Film and ComicCon in May 2016.

Lisa Graham, a volunteer assigned to help Mr Clarke sign autographs and take photographs with fans, alleges that he sexually harassed her and touched her inappropriately under a table.

Ms Graham says she mentioned the alleged harassment to her supervisor, who she says did not appear to take it seriously.

Mr Clarke’s lawyers said he had no specific recollections of discussions with Ms Graham, but wholly denied he would have conducted himself in the way she alleged.

The BBC said it was not made aware of the allegations at the time. A spokesperson said: “We’re shocked to hear of these allegations. To be absolutely clear, we will investigate any specific allegations made by individuals to the BBC, and if anyone has been subjected to or witnessed inappropriate behaviour of any kind we would encourage them to raise it with us directly.”

Asked if it would be withdrawing episodes of Doctor Who featuring Mr Clarke the BBC said it did not routinely remove past content.

But  the corporation emphasised that it would no longer be working with the actor. A spokesperson said: "We will not be progressing any projects with Noel Clarke at this time.”