David Tennant To Sue Over Alleged Phone Hacking

Has issued a claim for compensation from defunct News of the World

Chiswick-based actor David Tennant is suing the owners of the defunct News of the World over alleged phone hacking.

His lawyers issued a claim for compensation at the High Court in London on Thursday.

The actor (Dr Who, Broadchurch) is one of nine clients being represented by law firm Collyer Bristow. Another is former Formula One driver Eddie Irvine.

It is believed other law firms have also issued compensation claims against News UK, which owned the News of the World.

The paper closed in 2011, following the disclosure that the phone of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler had been hacked. It was then revealed that the phone voicemails of a number of high profile individuals had been hacked.

A compensation scheme had been opened by the newspaper but this has now closed. Law firms have now resorted to litigation.

The NoW scandal led to the establishment of the Leveson Inquiry into press ethics, an MPs' inquiry and the launch of three police investigations into alleged widespread phone hacking and corruption.

Former News of the World editor Andy Coulson - who later became director of communications for then Prime Minister David Cameron - was jailed for 18 months for conspiracy to hack phones.
Hugh Grant and Charlotte Church were among those who settled claims against the paper over phone-hacking.

April 1, 2017