The Hack on ITV: All the celebrities targeted in the phone hacking scandal
Helen Fear | 12:01am Wed 24 SepJournalists working for the News of the World hired private investigators to illegally hack into the private phones of Cabinet Ministers, MPs, actors and sports stars.
Journalists hacked into voicemail messages of celebrities by using a default factory-set PIN number.
Seven-part drama The Hack reveals that “hacking phones at the News of the World had been endemic”. The newspaper “picked up their leads by intercepting voicemails”. In what became a huge public scandal, evidence showed that the tabloid had hacked thousands of people. Victims who’d had their “privacy stolen” by this “widespread criminality” included Cabinet Ministers, MPs, actors and sports stars.
So who were the celebrities targeted in the phone hacking scandal? Here’s a comprehensive run-down of the victims, some of whom went on to received damages from the publisher.
Which celebrities were targeted in the phone hacking scandal?
David Tennant portrays Nick Davies in The Hack. Nick was the Guardian journalist who uncovered foul play in News of the World’s practices. And it’s a subject close to David’s heart. The Scottish actor was actually one of the celebrities targeted in the phone hacking scandal.
The Doctor Who star subsequently accepted substantial undisclosed damages from the publishers of the now defunct newspaper. He was among six people to settle claims in January 2018.
Elle Macpherson was one of the very first celebrities to be linked to the phone hacking scandal. The supermodel sacked her former advisor, Mary-Ellen Field, after suspicions she was leaking personal details to the press. It later became clear that the information had been obtained by News of the World through intercepting voicemail messages.
Speaking about the phone hacking scandal, the Australian told the Telegraph: “I don’t think I was aware of the magnitude at the time.”
Other claimants included Olympic medallist Colin Jackson, actress Sophia Myles, party planner Fran Cutler, fashion designer Jess Morris (who was dating Welsh actor Rhys Ifans), and footballer David James’ ex-wife, Tanya Frayne.
Party planner Fran was famously friends with Sadie Frost, model Kate Moss, Noel Gallagher’s ex-wife Meg Matthews, and fashion designer Pearl Lowe.
Who else did News of the World hack?
There were literally hundreds of celebrities who had their privacy invaded in the phone hacking scandal. Some of the most famous names, included Chris Tarrant.
The TV presenter joined a growing list of public figures who took legal action for alleged phone hacking by the News of the World. Chris’ lawyer wrote to the Metropolitan police after he found out that NOTW’s private investigator Glenn Mulcaire had his mobile phone number and three other mobile numbers linked to him, including that of his estranged wife, Ingrid.
Heather Mills, known for being the ex-wife of Paul McCartney, reached a settlement and received an apology from News of the World and its publisher, News Group Newspapers (NGN). The case resulted in a substantial payout.
Actress Sienna Miller was another high-profile victim. Her case led to News Group (the newspaper’s parent company) formally apologising and paying her significant damages.
The News of the World also targeted footballer and celebrity Wayne Rooney. At the time, he said on Twitter: “Scotland Yard detectives came to see me earlier and showed me some documents. Looks like a newspaper have hacked into my phone.”
His wife Coleen added on Twitter: “Newspapers hacking into phones! Desperate and disgusting!”
Phone hacking scandal celebrities: All the high-profile victims of the criminality
TV personality Ulrika Jonsson claimed that journalists from the News of the World had hacked into her phone messages. She subsequently started legal proceedings against the tabloid in May 2011, and reached a settlement with the newspaper’s owner, News International. Ulrika received compensation for the distress caused.
Coronation Street actor Jimmi Harkishin, who plays Dev Alahan, was also amongst a number of celebrities to settle phone-hacking claims with News Group Newspapers.
Other soap stars included Kym Marsh, Kate Ford, Samia Ghadie, Alan Halsall, and his ex-wife Lucy-Jo Hudson.
Former world heavyweight champion Bruno was also among the number who received a settlement. At the time he said that no-one believed he had been hacked.
He said: “For years I said I was being hacked. But people just said, ‘Poor old Frank, he’s really lost it this time’.”
He continued: “No amount of money will never pay for the stress this caused, the sleepless nights, and the countless rows I had with people who I thought had leaked stories to the press.”
Other cases settled were:
Ben Freeman, who played Scott Windsor in ITV’s Emmerdale.
Samuel Preston, ex-singer of band The Ordinary Boys.
Comedia Vic Reeves and his model wife Nancy Moir.
TV presenter Kate Thornton.
Singer and all-round legend Sir Elton John.
Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay.
Singer and soon-to-be Celebrity Traitor Charlotte Church.
Singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor.
Footballer David Beckham and his singer wife Victoria Beckham.
Actor Jude Law.
Was actor Hugh Grant a victim of the phone hacking at News of the World?
TV and film actor Hugh Grant was arguably one of the most vocal celebrities who spoke out against the News of the World phone hacking scandal.
Hugh Grant did not go away quietly after becoming a victim of phone hackers. He settled a case against Murdoch’s News of the World for hacking his phone. But that wasn’t all.
The Four Weddings star later accepted “an enormous sum of money” to settle a lawsuit accusing The Sun tabloid – the same publishers as NOTW – of unlawfully tapping his phone, bugging his car and breaking into his home to snoop on him.
In a witness statement, Hugh admitted that he could never figure out who broke into his fourth-floor apartment in 2011. The door had been pried off its hinges and the interior looked like there had been a fight, but nothing was missing. Two days later, The Sun had a story detailing the interior and “signs of a domestic row”.
He said he was astonished when a private investigator hired by The Sun disclosed that people working for the newspaper had broken into his apartment and placed a tracking device on his car.
Hugh said: “[Rupert] Murdoch’s settlement money has a stink and I refuse to let this be hush money. I have spent the best part of 12 years fighting for a free press that does not distort the truth, abuse ordinary members of the public or hold elected (members of Parliament) to ransom in pursuit of newspaper barons’ personal profit and political power.”
Grant said he would direct the money to groups like Hacked Off, which was formed after phone hacking revelations in 2011 brought down News of the World.
The Royal Family were also victims
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and his brother Prince Harry were both victims of the criminality.
Britain’s phone hacking scandal actually began in 2005 when Prince William received a tip from a journalist. In November of that year, an article appeared in the News of the World written by royal editor Clive Goodman. The story claimed that Prince William was in the process of borrowing a portable editing suite from ITV royal correspondent Tom Bradby.
Following the publication, the Prince and Bradby met to try to establish how the details of their arrangement had been leaked – they were the only two people who knew about the agreement. Shortly after, the pair realised that their voicemails were being accessed.
Just this year, the Duke of Sussex – aka Prince Harry – received “substantial damages” and an apology after a long-running legal battle over claims of unlawful intrusion into his life.
Prince Harry 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.
NGN apologised for “serious intrusion” 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 his late mother, Princess Diana.
Who else did News of the World target, including tragic case of Milly Dowler?
The News of the World also hacked the phones of Prince Williams’ staff at Clarence House in the hope they’d discover private information.
They also targeted thousands of others public figures, including those listed below.
English publicist Max Clifford.
Footballer Gordon Taylor, who is one of the five famous people named in episode one of The Hack.
English table tennis player Sky Andrew is also one of the five names mentioned at the beginning of The Hack.
Simon Hughes, former MP and now a Sir.
John Prescott MP, former Deputy Prime Minister.
Metropolitan Police Commander Ali Dizaei.
Former Sky Sports pundit, and ex-footballer Andy Gray.
Boris Johnson MP and Mayor of London.
Former footballer Paul Gascoigne.
In the most shocking phone hacking revelation, it became apparent that murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler had also had her phone hacked. Tragically, the News of the World newspaper accessed her voicemail after she was reported missing. This gave her parents false hope she was still alive.
The hacking revelations led to the closure of the NoW in 2011.
What other celebrities received damages after phone hacking scandal?
It wasn’t just the News of the World either. Comedian Steve Coogan received a six-figure sum in damages from Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) after it admitted to unlawful phone hacking.
More than 40 celebrities had already settled phone-hacking claims against MGN. These included Lord Archer, footballer Kevin Keegan, and actresses Patsy Kensit, Sadie Frost, and Michelle Collins. MGN also targeted TV presenter Davina McCall and actors Nigel Havers and Rhys Ifans.
What was the Leveson Inquiry?
The Leveson Inquiry was a “judicial public inquiry” into the culture, practices, and ethics of the British press. The inquiry followed the News International phone hacking scandal. Lord Justice Leveson was appointed chair of the inquiry in July 2011, hence the name.
A series of public hearings were held throughout 2011 and 2012. Dozens of public figures – including Sienna Miller – gave evidence at the time.
The inquiry found that when chasing stories, journalists had caused “real hardship and, on occasion, wreaked havoc with the lives of innocent people”. This happened to both famous people and members of the public.
In brief, a new self-regulation body was recommended.
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