The new drama The Hack revisits one of the most controversial stories in modern British media – the phone-hacking scandal that engulfed Rupert Murdoch’s empire.
A Scandal That Rocked Britain
Set between 2002 and 2012, the seven-part series dives deep into the shocking revelations of journalists illegally listening to voicemails of celebrities, royals, and even victims of crime.
David Tennant plays investigative journalist Nick Davies, the reporter who uncovered the scandal for The Guardian. Robert Carlyle appears as detective Dave Cook, who became entangled in the fallout. What started as stories of gossip reporting soon exploded into a tale of corruption, cover-ups, and power struggles inside some of the most influential institutions in Britain.
Executive producer Patrick Spence explained that the team wanted to tell a story people thought they knew but didn’t. In researching, they found connections not only to the Murdoch-owned News of the World but also to the unsolved murder of private investigator Daniel Morgan. The result is a drama that exposes how far power can reach when accountability is missing.
A Personal Story for Tennant and Carlyle
For Tennant, the story is more than just a role. He revealed that he was one of about 1,600 people who quietly settled out of court with the publishers of News of the World. He described the scandal as a moment of history that he “lived through and had a glancing blow with.” Though cautious about details, he admitted the project feels deeply personal.
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Robert Carlyle also shared that the scandal had touched his own life. At the time, he and his wife noticed private details appearing in the press. They even fell out with friends, believing those friends were leaking information. Only later did they realize the likely source was phone hacking. “We went, ‘Oh Jesus Christ – I think that’s what it was,’” Carlyle recalled.
Carlyle also spoke about the toll the scandal took on detective Dave Cook, the man he portrays. Cook’s career, health, and marriage all suffered. During filming, Carlyle observed how Cook still struggles with vertigo, an illness that developed during the years of stress. For both actors, portraying these roles meant stepping into very real pain that people continue to carry.
The Bigger Battle Over Truth
The Hack is not only about celebrity gossip gone wrong. It raises questions about truth, trust, and how journalism works under pressure. Tennant said that shortcuts in newsrooms, driven by commercial pressures, created a culture where illegal actions became normalized. “You can see how a shortcut would be so appealing,” he explained. “But that’s where our story really connects – when you hear the stories of how lives were ruined.”
Both Tennant and Carlyle spoke about the wider message. They believe the scandal highlights how truth-telling is under attack more than ever. Carlyle noted how journalists can spend years investigating, only for their work to be dismissed with one word: “Fake.” That, he said, undermines trust in honest reporting.
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The series also touches on unfinished business. The Leveson Inquiry, launched to investigate the press after the scandal, was meant to have a second stage examining ties between journalists and police. That second inquiry was never held, with governments quietly shelving it. Former Labour deputy leader Tom Watson, who was also hacked, called the decision a “bitter blow to the victims of press intrusion.”
By weaving together the personal experiences of victims, the work of investigative reporters, and the hidden influence of powerful executives, The Hack aims to remind audiences why truth matters. It is a drama about speaking truth to power and the courage it takes for individuals to stand up against those who believe they can get away with anything.
