Rachel Riley, star of Northern teatime favourite Countdown has been awarded £50,000 in damages from a blogger who described her as a “serial abuser.”
Riley replaced long-running co-host Carol Vorderman on the show in 2009, just in time for its move to the-then Granada Studios in Manchester. Prior to that the Channel 4 quiz show had shot at Yorkshire TV’s Leeds studio for 27 years. Since 2013 it has been resident at Manchester’s dock10 studio.
Political blogger Mike Sivier published an article on his website Vox Political in January 2019 with the headline: “Serial abuser Rachel Riley to receive ‘extra protection’ – on the grounds that she is receiving abuse.”
The headline referred to an online debate Ms Riley, 36, took part in about antisemitism in the Labour Party, and during which she exchanged messages with a user who later identified herself as a 16-year-old girl called Rose.
A judge previously ruled Sivier’s article would lead people to believe Ms Riley “engaged upon, supported and encouraged a campaign of online abuse and harassment of a 16-year-old girl,” which is not true.
Sivier had his claims of truth and honest opinion thrown out by a judge in January 2021, but was granted right to appeal on the grounds of public interest four months later. He said it was his “reasonable belief” the article was in the public interest.
However, Mrs Justice Steyn ruled in favour of Riley today, granting her the five-figure sum in damages as well as an injunction requiring Mr Sivier to remove the article and not repeat it.
