David Tennant and Toby Jones to star in new ITV phone hacking drama

ITV has commissioned The Hack, a drama following the phone hacking scandal written by Jack Thorne.

A co-production with ITV Studios and Australia’s Stan, the seven-part programme is produced by the same team behind Mr Bates vs The Post Office. Starring David Tennant (Doctor Who), Robert Carlyle (Trainspotting) and Toby Jones (Mr Bates vs The Post Office), it will explore two real-life stories.

First is that of Nick Davies (Tennant), an investigative journalist who realises that reporters at News of the World are hacking people’s phones for stories. Then, there’s Daniel Morgan, a private investigator murdered in suspicious circumstances. An investigation into his death is being led by Dave Cook (Carlyle), former Detective Chief Superintendent of the Metropolitan Police. Jones appears as Alan Rusbridger, The Guardian’s former editor-in-chief.

Robert Carlyle, a white man in his sixties, stands by the River Thames, back turned to the Houses of Parliament, out of focus and on the other side of the river — Robert Carlyle as Dave Cook (credit: ITV)

Rounding out the case are Rose Leslie (Game of Thrones), Steve Pemberton (Inside No. 9) and Adrian Lester (Renegade Nell). Neil Maskell (Utopia), Pip Torrens (The Crown), Robert Bathurst (Toast of London) and Charlie Brooks (EastEnders) also make appearances.

David Tennant, a white man in his fifties, looks into the camera, unsmiling, wearing a blue shirt, stood in what appears to be a newsroom — David Tennant as Nick Davies (credit: ITV)

“This is a strange and deceptive piece of our recent history,” said Jack Thorne. “One with so many layers to it. I thought, as someone who is interested in politics, I understood everything that happened. I did not. It’s a fight for the truth that really shocked me. That is why it matters to tell this story now in an age where the truth seems more in danger than ever.”