ITV has announced the all-star cast for its upcoming drama The Hack, with Doctor Who's David Tennant set to lead.
Tennant takes on the role of real-life investigative journalist Nick Davies, who uncovered evidence of phone hacking at Rupert Murdoch’s News of the World. The scandal led to the closure of the newspaper and the imprisonment of its ex-editor Andy Coulson.
This storyline will interweave with 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). The events take place between 2002 and 2012 in the show.
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Mr Bates vs The Post Office star Toby Jones has been cast as Alan Rusbridger, the former editor-in-chief of The Guardian, which covered the story in depth.
Other cast members include Game of Thrones star Rose Leslie, Inside No.9's Steve Pemberton, EastEnders' Charlie Brooks, Trigger Point's Adrian Lester, and The Crow Girl actors Eve Myles, Katherine Kelly and Dougray Scott.
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Rounding out the ensemble are Kevin Doyle, Neil Maskell, Lara Pulver, Lee Ingleby, Pip Torrens, Lisa McGrillis, Sean Pertwee, Robert Bathurst, Richard Pepple, Nadia Albina, Phil Davis and Ace Bhatti.
The seven-part series has already wrapped filming and is currently in post-production.
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The Hack is written by Jack Thorne, whose previous work includes Enola Holmes, His Dark Materials and the stage play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Thorne also serves as an executive producer on the series, while Sherwood's Lewis Arnold directs.
"This is a strange and deceptive piece of our recent history. One with so many layers to it. I thought, as someone who is interested in politics, I understood everything that happened. I did not," Thorne said in a statement.
"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.
"It is a true honour to be bringing this story to the screen alongside David, Robert, Toby, Lewis, Patrick, Joe and Abi. I hope we find a way to do justice to the complexity of what happened and of celebrating the incredible reporting that sits underneath it."
The Hack will air on ITV and STV and be available for streaming on ITVX and STV Player.
Social Executive, Entertainment Portfolio After completing her joint honours degree in Journalism and English Literature at Cardiff University, Iona joined Digital Spy as a Content Production Intern in 2022, where she wrote across both news and features, specialising in TV and movies. Following her internship, Iona continued contributing to the site as a freelance reporter, becoming social executive for the Hearst UK entertainment portfolio in summer 2025. Iona now leads the DS social channels, covering red carpets with stars such as Paul Mescal, Austin Butler, and more.
