ITV has commissioned The Hack, a seven-part drama co-produced by ITV Studios and Australia’s Stan, exploring the phone hacking scandal. Written by BAFTA, Tony, and Olivier award-winning screenwriter Jack Thorne, the series features David Tennant, Robert Carlyle, and Toby Jones in leading roles. It is produced by the team behind Mr Bates vs The Post Office.
Set between 2002 and 2012, the drama intertwines two real-life stories: investigative journalist Nick Davies (played by David Tennant) uncovering phone hacking at News of the World, and the parallel investigation into the unsolved murder of private investigator Daniel Morgan, led by former Met Police Detective Chief Superintendent Dave Cook (played by Robert Carlyle). Toby Jones portrays Alan Rusbridger, former Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian.
Commissioned for ITV by Director of Drama Polly Hill, The Hack will air on ITV and STV, with streaming available on ITVX and STV Player. Currently in post-production, filming took place in 2024.
The series is directed by BAFTA-winning Lewis Arnold (Time, Sherwood, The Long Shadow) and executive produced by BAFTA and RTS award-winning Patrick Spence (Mr Bates vs The Post Office, A Spy Among Friends, Adult Material), Managing Director of AC Chapter One.
Jack Thorne (His Dark Materials, Help, National Treasure, Enola Holmes) also serves as an executive producer alongside Joe Williams (Mr Bates vs The Post Office, Lupin), Lewis Arnold, and David Tennant. Abi Bach (The Honourable Woman, Black Earth Rising, And Then There Were None) is the Series Producer.
Additionally, Annalisa Dinnella (Sex Education, Ralph & Katie) has written one episode and co-written two others with Jack Thorne.