View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
February 13, 2003updated 17 May 2007 11:30am

Media scrum at High Court as Hollywood couple star in Strand

By Press Gazette

Zeta-Jones and Douglas get more exposure than they could have imagined

Hollywood came to London’s ancient High Court this week, writes Roger Pearson. But the Catherine Zeta-Jones/Michael Douglas court room spectacular had a major irony to it as the superstars took centre stage in their claim over Hello!’s unauthorised use of photographs of their wedding.

It resulted in probably more unauthorised photos of them being published in the press than the couple could ever have dreamed of in their wildest nightmares.

A strict ban still applies to photography within the precincts of our courts. And, while the biggest camera battery ever mounted at the courts was stationed outside the precincts, there is no question the subject matter was certainly inside those precincts and therefore technically forbidden material.

That, however, while it was a rule obeyed by photographers 20 years ago, proved no deterrent to the serried ranks of snappers lining up their lenses through the court railings on Monday.

Many years ago one Lord Chief Justice ordered that the film should be taken from a photographer who he saw firing off at a litigant as he left the courts and was walking along the Strand. Now though we live in more relaxed times.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

The treatment of the media too, as the couple took centre stage, also broke new ground.To cope with the media attention staff at the Lord Chancellor’s Department took it upon themselves to set up an official media “box office” issuing tickets to the press benches on the basis of non-monetary “bids”.

Tickets have been issued in the past but on a more easy-going, haphazard basis. This week, however, a spokesman for the Lord Chancellor’s Department said: “We are getting more organised.”

Similar measures were in force for video-link evidence from the US on Tuesday, though the interest in that was far less and the Lord Chancellor’s “ticket attendants” at the door were probably unnecessary.

When the couple arrived at court, staff too rose to the occasion. They were given unprecedented VIP treatment – royalty would not have done better – as they swept into the court complex in a blacked out Mercedes limousine through a side entrance usually reserved for judges and court staff. They were then ushered into the court building through private corridors normally reserved for court staff.

Oh, and the case itself. Well that continues. In her evidence Zeta-Jones told the judge of her fight to prevent unauthorised use of her image and said: “I have tried to keep the media at a distance as far as possible, given the business I am in.”

On Monday, however, she probably found herself far closer to the world’s press than she has ever been. And judging from some of the following days papers, with headlines like the Daily Mirror’s “Ah Diddums” leading the way in deriding her court room performance, probably too close for comfort.

Roger Pearson

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network