Hugh Grant wins libel pay-out

Hugh Grant has reached an out-of-court libel settlement over claims about the end of his relationship with Jemima Khan.

Associated Newspapers, which publishes the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers, has agreed to pay the actor undisclosed damages which will be donated to the Marie Curie Cancer Trust.

Articles in both papers suggested Grant's relationship with Jemima Khan was destroyed by a flirtation with a film executive and his conduct over Liz Hurley's wedding.

The 46-year-old star was not at London's High Court for the hearing.

But his solicitor Simon Smith told Mr Justice Gray that the publication of numerous false allegations in quick succession caused hurt, embarrassment and distress to Grant and damage to both his personal and professional reputations.

Associated Newspapers offered its apologies and agreed not to repeat the false allegations.

As well as the damages, which Grant made clear from the outset would be donated to charity, it also agreed to reimburse his legal costs in full.

Afterwards, Grant said in a statement: "I took this action because I was tired of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday papers publishing almost entirely fictional articles about my private life for their own financial gain.

"I'm also hoping that this statement in court might remind people that the so-called 'close friends' or 'close sources' on which these stories claim to be based almost never exist."

Hugh was in the news earlier this week, for being rather violent to a photographer with a tub of baked-beans.