David Tennant stars as Guardian journalist Nick Davies in ITV's new series 'The Hack', a dramatisation of the News International phone hacking scandal. The show, written by Jack Thorne of 'Adolescence' fame, explores the tabloid malfeasance uncovered by Davies from 2009 onwards, including illegal surveillance and toxic power plays.
The first episode sees Davies breaking the fourth wall, introducing viewers to his investigation with quirky touches like Tube adverts coming to life and celebrity cameos. However, the drama also includes a subplot about Davies' home life, with his ex-wife and bullied son, which some may find trite.
Comparisons to ITV's 'Mr Bates vs the Post Office' are inevitable; both feature Toby Jones (playing former Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger) and cover technology-based scandals. Yet 'The Hack' is more complex, with journalists, police, and politicians cast as both heroes and villains.
The second episode shifts to a hardboiled police procedural style, focusing on the murder of Daniel Morgan and Met DCS Dave Cook, played by Robert Carlyle. The series promises further stylistic surprises, possibly including the Leveson inquiry as a musical.
Tennant's performance is praised for making the sprawling story engaging. With Steve Pemberton appearing as Rupert Murdoch, the drama aims to highlight how the scandal revealed the true workings of power in the UK, offering a small measure of justice by revisiting these events.
