The Hack


The Hack is a British true-crime television series detailing the News International phone hacking scandal. It stars an ensemble cast led by David Tennant, Toby Jones and Robert Carlyle with Steve Pemberton, Eve Myles, Dougray Scott, Lisa McGrillis and Adrian Lester, amongst others.

Premise

Set between 2002 and 2012, the series examines two intersecting real life stories, the work of Nick Davies, a journalist who uncovered evidence of phone hacking at the News of the World, a now defunct British newspaper owned by Rupert Murdoch; and the police investigation into the unsolved 1987 murder of Daniel Morgan, a private investigator with links to the News of the World.

Cast

The cast includes:
The opening episode also includes brief, non-speaking cameos from Harry Hill, Konnie Huq, Gabby Logan and Jonathan Ross.
Episode 3 features a cameo from Alastair Campbell as himself.

Production

The seven-part series was commissioned by ITVX and Australian streamer Stan. It is written by BAFTA-winning screenwriter Jack Thorne and Annalisa Dinnella. It is directed by Lewis Arnold. The series is produced by ITV Studios with AC Chapter One and One Shoe Films. Executive producers include Patrick Spence and Jack Thorne alongside Joe Williams for ITV Studios, Lewis Arnold and David Tennant. Abi Bach is the series producer.
Initially reported under the working title Mandrake, filming locations included Hemel Hempstead, Muswell Hill and Kilburn, London in February and March 2024.

Broadcast

All seven parts were released on ITVX on 24 September 2025. ITV and STV began linear broadcasts on the same date.

Reception

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported an 71% approval rating based on 11 critic reviews.
Julia Raeside writing in the i Paper gave the series five stars out of five, adding:
Vicky Jessop in the Evening Standard gave the series four stars out of five, calling it: a "welcome refresher on one of the biggest abuses of power of our time". Paul Hirons writing for the Killing Times also gave it four stars and called the series: "surprising, stylish, and brilliantly mounted". Lucy Mangan, writing in The Guardian, gave the show two out of five, criticising the "many breakings of the fourth wall by Tennant only undermines any sense that the writer trusts his story." Nick Hilton in The Independent gave three out of five, and noted: