ITV’s brilliant new drama The Hack is set to revisit the controversial phone-hacking scandal, which resulted in a popular newspaper being shuttered and many key players facing jail-time.
David Tennant will play Nick Davies, the journalist who tirelessly worked to uncover the scandal, in which several journalists from the News of the World tabloid paper were found to have routinely hacked voicemail messages belonging to the rich and famous.
While editors at the News of the World initially dismissed hacking as the work of one rogue reporter, Davies’ consistent coverage proved it was actually common practice.
As Davies reported between 2009 and 2010, when the police raided the offices of the News of the World’s former royal reporter Clive Goodman, as well the home of private investigator Glenn Mulcaire, they found “11,000 pages of handwritten notes listing nearly 4,000 celebrities, politicians, sports stars, police officials and crime victims whose phones may have been hacked.”
Here is just a small sample of some of the most prominent celebs who were hacked by the paper belonging to the News International group.
Which celebrities were targeted in the phone hacking scandal?
Elle Macpherson
The Australian supermodel was named in an indictment (a legal document issued by the Crown Prosecution Service setting out the charges against a defendant for trial) at the trial of Goodman and Mulcaire, and was warned by police in 2006. Macpherson has always appeared quite guarded about the matter, only ever speaking out to The Telegraph newspaper about the event in 2011.
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“I made a decision not to become embroiled,” she said. “Contrary to any suggestions, I categorically deny receiving any compensation whatsoever. I really didn’t need to be jumping on a bandwagon or crusade. I don’t think I was aware of the magnitude at the time.”
Heather Mills
The animal rights campaigner, previously married to Paul McCartney, was popular tabloid fodder back in the mid-noughties following her split from the former Beatle. She approached Scotland Yard after having suspicions of her voicemails being compromised. The Metropolitan Police also confirmed that Mills’ name, or other details, were included in evidence.
In 2019, Mills settled a legal claim against News Group Newspapers (which included the now-defunct News of the World) for phone hacking.
A representative from News Group Newspapers issued an apology to Heather (and her sister Fiona) for “the distress caused to them by the invasion of their privacy by individuals working for or on behalf of the News of the World.
While the settlement amount has not been publicly disclosed, Mills issued a statement outside the High Court: “My motivation to win this decade-long fight stemmed from a desire to obtain justice, not only for my family, my charities and myself, but for the thousands of innocent members of the public who, like me, have suffered similar ignominious, criminal treatment at the hands of one of the world’s most powerful media groups,” she said.
Prince Harry
Prince Harry, and his brother Prince William, were initially made aware that they could be possible victims of phone hacking in 2006 – and the Duke of Sussex kept pushing for justice and answers. In court, he alleged journalists and private investigators working for News Group Newspapers (NGN) used unlawful techniques to pry on his private life and executives then allegedly covered it up.
When he launched his claim, the prince alleged that more than 200 articles published by NGN between 1996 and 2011 contained information gathered by illegal means.
In a settlement that was decided in January 2025, News Group Newspapers apologised for “serious intrusion” by The Sun between 1996 and 2011, and admitted “incidents of unlawful activity” were carried out by private investigators working for the newspaper, in a statement read out in court.
It also apologised for distress it caused Harry through the “extensive coverage” and “serious intrusion” into the private life of Princess Diana, Harry’s mother who died in 1997.
While no sum has been publicly disclosed, it has been reported by the BBC that NGN could have paid around £10 million in compensation and legal fees.
A source close to the Duke of Sussex said that the apology “provides all the insight you need.”
Prince William
Similarly to his brother, Prince William was informed by police that he was a victim of hacking in 2006. However, William opted to settle behind closed doors in 2020.
This claim was only ever made public as Prince Harry’s legal team presented this information in court documents in regards to his own legal case.
Again, the amount was not disclosed, but the Duke of Sussex’s legal team alludes to “a very large sum”.
Sienna Miller
The actress approached Scotland Yard after she believed her voicemails had been intercepted, and alleged that News Group Newspapers leaked her pregnancy.
While Miller was hoping to go to trial, she decided to settle for “substantial damages” due to fears that trial could be increasingly expensive.
Reading a prepared statement outside the courtroom in 2021, Miller said: “I wanted to expose the criminality that runs through the heart of this corporation. A criminality demonstrated clearly and irrevocably by the evidence which I have seen. I wanted to share News Group’s secrets just as they have shared mine.
“Unfortunately,” she continued, “that legal recourse is not available to me or to anyone who does not have countless millions of pounds to spend on the pursuit of justice. Such is our world. Until someone comes along who can confront the Murdochs’ endless means, all that I have left are these words. And they are the truth.”
Ulrika Jonsson
The TV presenter was one of seven public figures who received compensation from News Group Newspapers back in 2012.
Jonsson was joined by Former Liberal Democrat MP Mark Oaten, former army officer James Hewitt, 7/7 survivor Paul Dadge, as well as reality TV stars Abi Titmuss and Calum Best, and theatrical agent Michelle Milburn
In a statement, the media group said at the time: “News International can confirm that seven claims against News Group Newspapers and Glenn Mulcaire have been settled following discussions with News Corporation’s Management and Standards Committee, acting on behalf of NGN.
“NGN has agreed to pay appropriate sums by way of compensation and costs and have expressed regret for the distress caused.”
Charlotte Church
The singer, who shot to fame when she was just 11 years old, discovered her voicemail messages were targeted repeatedly over a number of years and that the newspaper had “unlawfully obtained” and published “private medical information” about her and her mother.
It is thought the singer was paid £600,000, which was to cover legal fees and damages, with Church’s voicemails being hacked as early as 2002.
Maria Church, Charlotte’s mother, was also reportedly coerced to discuss her suicide attempt with the paper.
The High Court heard: “Maria in particular is a vulnerable person, with a complex medical history. The News of the World found out about this and published private details of her hospital treatment.
“At her lowest moment, the News of the World issued her with an ultimatum and coerced her into giving them an in-depth interview about her self-harming and attempted suicide. She felt she had no choice but to give the interview and was deeply traumatised by the publication of the story in the News of the World.”
Elizabeth Hurley
The Inheritance star settled phone-hacking claims against News Group Newspapers in 2019, just one week before she was meant to go to trial.
NGN said “sincere apologies” had been offered “for the distress caused by the invasion of privacy”.
“News Group Newspapers has settled cases relating to voicemail interception at the News of the World which closed in 2011,” a company spokesman said.
They added, however, that NGN made “no admission of liability” with regards to “any allegations of illegal information gathering at the Sun newspaper”.
Jude Law
In 2013, The Talented Mr Ripley actor was awarded £130,000 after News Group Newspapers accepted that 16 articles about him were published based on information that had been obtained illegally.
Hugh Grant
The actor, who has been incredibly vocal about his dislike of tabloid journalism, settled a privacy case against News Group Newspapers in 2024.
Grant claimed journalists had used private investigators to tap his phone and burgle his house. However, as part of the settlement, NGN denied the claims against it and the out-of-court settlement was reached “without admission of liability”.
Grant added that the price of going to court would be exceedingly expensive, even if he was to win.
“I would love to see all the allegations that they deny tested in court,” he wrote on Twitter.
“But the rules around civil litigation mean that if I proceed to trial and the court awards me damages that are even a penny less than the settlement offer, I would have to pay the legal costs of both sides.
“My lawyers tell me that that is exactly what would most likely happen here. Rupert Murdoch’s lawyers are very expensive. So even if every allegation is proven in court, I would still be liable for something approaching £10 million in costs. I’m afraid I am shying at that fence.”
Elton John
Alongside Heather Mills and Elizabeth Hurley, Elton John and his husband Davind Furnish settled out of court with News Group Newspapers in 2019.
NGN said “sincere apologies” had been offered “for the distress caused by the invasion of privacy”.
“News Group Newspapers has settled cases relating to voicemail interception at the News of the World which closed in 2011,” a company spokesman said.
They added, however, that NGN made “no admission of liability” with regards to “any allegations of illegal information gathering”.
The Hack starts Wednesday at 9pm on ITV1 with the full box set on ITVX
Kimberley Bond is a Multiplatform Writer for Harper’s Bazaar, focusing on the arts, culture, careers and lifestyle. She previously worked as a Features Writer for Cosmopolitan UK, and has bylines at The Telegraph, The Independent and British Vogue among countless others.
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