QB-2022-001397 - [2025] EWHC 2193 (KB)

The initial contact was made by Ms El Hosaini to Homa Khaleeli, then the Guardian’s deputy features editor. On Thursday 1 April 2021, Ms Khaleeli told Mr Lewis that Ms El Hosaini and her husband, Mr Krishna Floyd, had information about Mr Clarke’s past conduct which was surfacing in the context of the announcement by BAFTA, on 29 March 2021, that he would be given the Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema Award at the ceremony on 10 April 2021. Mr Lewis spoke directly to Ms El Hosaini and Mr Krishna Floyd on 1 April 2021. He read the letter that they, together with Ms Akindude, had sent by email to their contacts at BAFTA, including the Chair of BAFTA, on 29 March 2021, and BAFTA’s response. The way in which the letter was written, being well-composed, careful and sensitive towards the alleged victims, reinforced the impression Mr Lewis had gained that they were “acting responsibly and with good intentions”.

Mr Lewis learned that a group of seven had recently coalesced. For source protection reasons, the only members of this group that Mr Lewis named were Ms El Hosaini and Mr Krishna Floyd. I find that Ms Akindude, who had been working with Ms El Hosaini, was part of the group. The three of them came together, following BAFTA’s announcement on 29 March 2021, with a group of four which I find consisted of Ms Lusi, ‘Maya’, Mr Proctor and ‘Imogen’. Mr Lewis was told that some members of the group of four had written to BAFTA anonymously. One such message was from Mr Proctor.

Following further exploratory conversations, and receipt from Ms El Hosaini of information from three anonymous alleged victims, on Tuesday 6 April 2021, Mr Lewis decided, in consultation with Mr Gibson, that the matter warranted investigation.