The Hack on ITV1: The talented - and HUGE! - cast of phone hacking drama led by David Tennant
Helen Fear | 12:01am Wed 24 Sep | Updated 3:58pm Thu 25 SepThe Hack delves into a pretty murky time in newspaper history, and this ITV dramatisation of those historic events is brought to life by a cast heaving with talent. You’ve probably NEVER seen a TV series cast this impressive in your life!
The phone hacking scandal first emerged in 2011, and touched everyone’s lives in some way – whether you were an avid consumer of newspapers, a celebrity fan, or followed the tragic case of Millie Dowler.
This new seven-part series has all the credentials to be a gripping drama. BAFTA-winner Jack Thorne wrote the drama, which was produced by the team who brought us Mr Bates vs The Post Office. So we absolutely know we’re in good hands.
Here’s everything you need to know about the extensive cast list of The Hack on ITV. It’s led by David Tennant, Robert Carlyle and Toby Jones, but the ensemble cast includes dozens of famous faces.
The Hack on ITV cast: David Tennant plays Nick Davies
Who is Nick Davies? Nick Davies was an investigative journalist for The Guardian. As a reporter, he went on to “uncover evidence of phone hacking at the News of the World”. These included the July 2011 revelations of hacking into the mobile phone voicemail of the murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler.
What is David Tennant famous for? Scottish actor David Tennant, 54, is arguably one of the most bankable – and likeable – TV actors alive right now. He’s famous for playing the Doctor in Doctor Who, DI Alec Hardy in Broadchurch, and Phileas Fogg in Around the World in 80 Days.
He’s brilliant at playing the more eccentric characters, but was just as convincing as serial killer Dennis Nilsen in Des, or camp baddie Tony Baddingham in Rivals. This year, he has already played Ian Ventham in the Netflix crime drama The Thursday Murder Club.
It’s worth mentioning here that actor David Tennant was himself a victim of phone hacking. He accepted “substantial undisclosed damages” from the publishers of the now defunct News of the World over a phone-hacking claim.
Robert Carlyle portrays DCS Dave Cook
Who is DCS Dave Cook? Running parallel to the phone hacking scandal story is the investigation into the unsolved murder of private investigator Daniel Morgan. Former Met Police Detective Chief Superintendent Dave Cook led the investigation – and put his life at risk doing so. Describing his character, Robert said: “Dave Cook started off in the police in Glasgow and worked his way up through the ranks. He had worked on various high profile cases through the years and he was a top man. Absolutely honest, straight as a die. […] He was always a bit of a loner within the force.”
What else has Robert Carlyle been in? Scottish actor Robert, 64, is probably most famous for his film roles. He was part of some of the biggest movies in the 90s and 00s, including Trainspotting, The Full Monty, The World is Not Enough, and The Beach.
On TV, he played the lead role of Hamish Macbeth in the BBC cop drama, before going on to appear in SGU Stargate Universe, Once Upon a Time, and COBRA. He recently played Sam Hagen in Netflix‘s Toxic Town.
Beloved actor Toby Jones plays Alan Rusbridger [Credit: ITV]
Toby Jones plays Alan Rusbridger
Who is Alan Rusbridger? Alan Rusbridger is the former Editor-in Chief of The Guardian. The Hack Executive Producer Joe Williams says: “The relationship between Nick Davies and Alan Rusbridger is the beating heart of the series.” Meanwhile, actor Toby said: “I’ve known of Alan Rusbridger all my adult life. He’s a very influential figure.”
Toby Jones career: TV viewers will be very familiar with Toby Jones‘ TV work. He recently played Alan Bates, former sub-postmaster and fighter for justice, in Mr Bates vs The Post Office. London-born Toby, 59, is famous for playing the role of Lance in Detectorists between 2014 and 2017 – which won him a BAFTA in 2018.
More recently, Toby played DCS Dennis Hoban in Yorkshire Ripper drama The Long Shadow, and Ruth Ellis’ solicitor John Bickford in A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story.
The Hack on ITV cast: Eve Myles plays Jacqui Hames
Who is Jacqui Hames? Jacqui was a presenter on BBC’s Crimewatch programme. She was also a Metropolitan Police officer, and wife of DCS Dave Cook. Talking about his onscreen wife, Robert Carlyle said: “Like a lot of the people who worked on Crimewatc. Jacqui was a good friend and colleague of Jill Dando, who was shot dead on her own doorstep in 1999.” DCS Cook appeared on Crimewatch in 2002 to appeal for information about Daniel Morgan’s murder.
What else has Eve Myles been in: We’d save more time telling you what Eve Myles HASN’T been in recently. Just this year, she’s appeared in The Crow Girl, The Guest, and Coldwater. That’s one busy lady. Before now, the Welsh actress, 47, was probably most famous for her roles in Torchwood, Keeping Faith, and Broadchurch.
Max Clifford is portrayed by Cold Feet star Robert Bathurst [Credit: ITV]
Robert Bathurst stars as Max Clifford
Who was Max Clifford? Max was a famous English publicist who was notorious for promoting “kiss and tell” stories in tabloid newspapers. He came to attention after creating the infamous ‘Freddie Starr ate my hamster’ headline for The Sun in 1986. Before his death in December 2017, Max was convicted of sex offences as part of Operation Yewtree. In December 2012, a judge sentenced Max to eight years in prison for eight counts of indecent assault on four girls and women aged between 15 and 19. He died in prison having suffered a heart attack.
What has Robert Bathurst been in? The Cambridge-born actor, 68, is best known for playing affable and usually posh characters – most famously David Marsden in Cold Feet. Other famous roles include Sir Anthony Strallan in Downton Abbey, Ed Howzer-Black in Toast of London, Mark Taylor in Joking Apart, and the Prime Minister in My Dad’s the Prime Minister. More recently, Robert played Russell Whitelaw in Casualty.
Who’s who in the cast of ITV drama The Hack: Steve Pemberton is Rupert Murdoch
Who is Rupert Murdoch? The Australian-born multi-billionaire, who is currently 94, is a former business magnate, investor, and media mogul. Described as an oligarch, he set up the company News Corp, which owned publishers including News of the World, The Sun, The Times, The Wall Street Journal, as well as book publishers HarperCollins, and the TV broadcaster Fox News. His “empire” included Sky, which he owned until 2018. Guardian journalist Nick worked hard to “find hacking victims brave enough to take on the Murdoch press”.
What is Steve Pemberton famous for? Lancashire-born comedian and actor Steve, 58, is probably best known for his brilliantly bonkers TV shows League of Gentlemen, Psychoville, and Inside No.9. All of which he co-wrote and starred in. He’s also famous for Mick Garvey in Benidorm. Steve can also play it straight, too. He portrayed Edward Buchan in crime drama Whitechapel, Kevin Weatherill in Happy Valley, and Titus Monroe in Harlan Coben’s Missing You.
Dougray Scott portrays Gordon Brown
Who is Gordon Brown? A British politician who served as a Labour MP for decades, until he became Prime Minister and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 to 2010. Previously, he was Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1997 to 2007 under Tony Blair.
What else has Dougray Scott been in? Scottish actor Dougray, 59, is a film and TV actor, perhaps most famous for playing Sean Ambrose in Mission: Impossible II. On TV, his biggest roles include Major Rory Taylor in Soldier Soldier, Ian Hainsworth in Desperate Housewives, Norman Godfrey in Hemlock Grove, and Vic Hill in Snatch.
Dougray is also famous for portraying Colonel Jacob Kane in Batwoman, DI Ray Lennox in Crime, Marcus Grainger in Vigil series 2, and DI Lou Stanley in The Crow Girl.
The Hack on ITV full cast list:
David Tennant stars as Nick Davies.
Robert Carlyle portrays DCS Dave Cook.
Toby Jones plays Alan Rusbridger.
Lee Ingleby is David Leigh.
Nadia Albina stars as Gill Phillips
Cara Theobold portrays Amelia Hill.
Terence Maynard plays Rufus Duffy.
Elisabeth Hopper is Caroline Davies.
Lara Pulver portrays Jo Becker.
Joseph May stars as Don Van Natta.
Eve Myles plays Jacqui Hames.
Neil Maskell is Glen Campbell.
Lisa Dillon portrays Clare Rewcastle Brown.
Lisa McGrillis plays Sarah Montague.
Alec Newman stars as John Mullin.
Stephanie Levi-John is Alice.
Oliver Milburn portrays Nick Ross.
Ace Bhatti plays Rahul Shah.
Nicholas Rowe stars as Jeremy Paxman.
Robert Bathurst is Max Clifford.
Ron Cook portrays Max Mosley.
Georgia Jay is Sienna Miller.
Cal MacAninch plays Tommy Sheridan.
Steve Pemberton is Rupert Murdoch.
Jordan Renzo is James Murdoch.
Rosalie Craig stars as Rebekah Wade/Brooks.
Pip Torrens plays Stuart Kuttner.
Steven Waddington portrays Mike Sullivan.
Mark Stobbart stars as Andy Coulson.
Sean Pertwee is Sean Hoare.
Nigel Lindsay portrays Jules Stenson.
Katherine Kelly plays Sheridan.
Sophie Bould stars as Jean Davies.
Jonathan Coy is Micheal Davies.
Dougray Scott portrays Gordon Brown.
Daniel Ryan is Tom Watson.
Patrick Baladi stars as John Whittingdale.
Lucy Russell plays Tessa Jowell.
Jason Done is Philip Davies.
Alastair Campbell plays himself!
Kevin Doyle stars as John Yates, Assistant Commissioner of Scotland Yard.
Rebecca Front portrays Sue Akers.
Gavin Spokes is Dick Fedorcio.
Silas Carson plays Sam Eldwick.
Nick Harris stars as Andy Baker, Com.
Robert Glenister is DCI Callum Lockhart.
Richard Pepple portrays DI Graham Twyler.
James Alexandrou plays DS Richard Brightly.
Natalie Gavin stars as DC Susan Gangridge.
Abhin Galeya is DS Hari Desai.
Barry Sloane portrays DS Ezra Slater.
Nabil Elouahabi plays DC Buzz Aldrin.
Alex Lanipekun stars as DS Paul Trofa.
Tori Allen-Martin is DS Tanya Roy.
Who else is in the cast of The Hack on ITV?
Andrew Whipp stars as Jonathan Rees.
Ian Burfield portrays Sid Fillery.
Jay Simpson plays Glenn Vian.
Ricci Harnett is Garry Vian.
Rocky Marshall stars as Jimmy Cook.
Nancy Sullivan plays Jimmy Cook’s wife.
Katie Brayben is Lindsey Wright.
Neal Barry plays Keith Sharpe.
Lucy Speed stars as Molly Hatby.
Nicola Stephenson portrays Cynthia Edmonds.
John Dagleish is James Ward.
Charlie Brooks stars as Kim Vian.
Paul Kaye portrays Gary Eaton.
Danusia Samal plays Keima Payton.
Michael Elkin stars as Liam Sayles.
Rose Leslie is Charlotte Harris.
Jonathan Aris plays Mark Thomson.
Andrew Lancel portrays John Kelly.
Jamie Parker plays Robert Mortimer.
Roger Ringrose is Justice Maddison.
Simon Paisley Day portrays Harry Draperson.
Phil Davis plays Alastair Morgan.
Eileen Nicholas stars as Isobel Morgan.
Adrian Lester is Mr Apollo.
Harry Hill plays Mr Apollo #1.
Konnie Huq stars as Mr Apollo #2.
Gabby Logan portrays Mr Apollo #3.
Jonathan Ross is Mr Apollo #4.
George Russo stars as Glenn Mulcaire.
Rachel Atkins portrays Patricia Thorncroft.
Jade Harrison plays Julie Anne Cleveland.
Lucy Black is Sally Dowler.
Colin R Campbell stars as Bob Dowler.
Andy Jaye plays the Press Awards Announcer.
