Starring David Tennant, Toby Jones and Robert Carlyle alongside an ensemble cast, it is set between 2002 and 2012.
The series will examine both the work of journalist Nick Davies, who uncovered evidence of phone hacking at the News of the World, as well as the investigation into the murder of private investigator Daniel Morgan.
But what was the phone hacking scandal? Here is the true story behind the drama, explained.
What was the News of the World phone hacking scandal?
This is the scandal that developed from 2005 to 2007 around the interception of voicemails relating to the British royal family.
It was the prelude to the wider News International phone hacking scandal, which developed in 2009 and boomed in 2011.
During this time, it was realised that the phone hacking had taken place on a wider scale.
In August 2006, the News of the World’s royal editor Clive Goodman and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire were arrested by the Metropolitan Police and later charged with hacking the telephones of members of the royal family by accessing voicemail messages.
Clive Goodman previously stated that he hacked William’s phone on 35 occasions, his wife Catherine’s on 155 occasions, and Harry’s on 9 occasions.
In January 2007, both admitted the charges and were sentenced to four and six months imprisonment respectively.
Andy Coulson resigned as editor of the News of the World on the same day.
Both William and Harry brought claims privately against News Group Newspapers after a formal apology was not honoured.
In October 2019, Harry pursued his case separately with a new solicitor and sued the now-defunct News of the World and its sister paper The Sun “in relation to alleged phone-hacking”.
William reached an out-of-court settlement with the publishers in 2020, with Harry reaching an out-of-court settlement with the publishers in 2025 and received an apology.
What was the News International phone hacking scandal?
The News International phone hacking scandal was the wider uncovering of the employees of the now-defunct newspaper News of the World engaging in hacking phones in the pursuit of stories.
Robert Carlyle discussing The Hack, and the seemingly separate stories of Nick Davies and Dave Cook
The Hack, starts 24th September at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX#TheHack #RobertCarlyle pic.twitter.com/tEywPfsy97
— ITV (@ITV) September 18, 2025
During the investigations, which were conducted from 2005 to 2007, it was revealed that the paper’s phone hacking activities were targeted at celebrities, politicians, and members of the British royal family.
In July 2011, it was revealed that the phones of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler, relatives of deceased British soldiers, and victims of the London bombings on July 7, 2005, had also been hacked.
Public outcry ensued after the revelations against News Corporation and its owner, Rupert Murdoch.
This led to several high-profile resignations, including Murdoch himself as News Corporation director.
The commissioner of London’s Metropolitan Police, Sir Paul Stephenson, also resigned.
Advertiser boycotts also eventually led to the closure of the News of the World on July 10, 2011, after 168 years of publication.
Top 10 Best British TV Series
New ITV drama The Hack detailing phone hacking scandal story
The new ITV drama The Hack tells the story of investigative journalist Nick Davies, played by David Tennant, who uncovered evidence of phone hacking at the News of the World.
Running parallel will be the story of the investigation into the unsolved murder of private investigator Daniel Morgan, led by former Met Police Detective Chief Superintendent Dave Cook, played by Robert Carlyle.
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Toby Jones plays former Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian, Alan Rusbridger.
The seven-part series is written by BAFTA, Tony and Olivier award-winning screenwriter Jack Thorne and produced by the team behind Mr Bates vs The Post Office.
The Hack airs on ITV and ITVX on Wednesday, September 24, at 9pm.