The art of winning in Defamation can often mean exploiting your opponents weaknesses (aka their maggoty cake) by using part 18 requests to zero in on the terrain they don’t want the court to spend time analysing.
Always use an experienced defamation solicitor to bring or defend your defamation claims.
One effective strategy to deploy is to make the litigation as much about the maggoty part of your opponent’s cake as possible. An experienced defamation solicitor can prepare formal request for information or clarification under Part 18 of the civil procedure rules (known as “Part 18 requests”), which can zero in on the weakest part of an opponent’s case. A party who receives such a request must provide answers signed by a statement of truth unless he challenges the questions via an application. When used effectively, a Part 18 request can force an opponent to either provide uncomfortable answers or admissions about their case (which can then be used against them at trial to undermine their credibility) or even to discontinue parts of their case, resulting in a costs order in in your favour relating to that issue
https://www.clarkewillmott.com/insights/defamation-litigation-strategy/