The Hack - Season 1

Investigative journalist Nick Davies receives an anonymous tip-off regarding Rupert Murdoch's News of the World. Following the trail, he discovers damning evidence that proves phone hacking at the paper was not the work of 'one rogue reporter', as has been claimed for years but was endemic. Nick and his long-time editor and friend Alan Rusbridger decide to risk their careers and their newspaper to go up against one of the most powerful media organisations in the world.

In 2002, DCS Dave Cook, is assigned to investigate the unsolved murder of private detective Daniel Morgan - the most investigated killing in the history of the Met. As he's drawn deeper into the case, Dave finds himself under surveillance by The News of the World and learns they are business associates of some of those suspected to be involved with the murder. The investigation and the resulting pressure awakens recent traumas and puts pressure on his home life and marriage. With his private and work life now under pressure, Dave begins to pursue the case ruthlessly and attempts to turn the tables on the suspects. As the investigation runs into set-backs, Dave takes up matters with the News of the World's powerful editor, Rebekah Wade.

With the story now in the open, News International fight back and threaten Nick and Alan with a smear story. As Nick leaps to his editor's defence, a new clue surfaces that could further prove phone hacking by senior Murdoch editors. He teams up with lawyer Charlotte Harris to persuade her clients to take legal action that could get more evidence disclosed in court. Meanwhile, Nick reaches out to his old friend, DCS David Cook, and attempts to secure further disclosures from the Metropolitan Police. As he does, he uncovers the cosy relationship between the tabloid press and Scotland Yard.

DCS Dave Cook is dragged back into another re-investigation of Daniel Morgan's murder, after new intelligence comes to light. The re-investigation forces Dave to work with an unlikely ally from within the tabloids, The Sun journalist Mike Sullivan, whose articles bring forward another new lead: a career criminal named Gary Eaton who claims to know who planned the murder. But as the caseload increases and the challenges of handling the unstable Eaton mount, Dave's marriage becomes strained, his health suffers, and he believes he might once again be under surveillance. Under such extreme pressure, Dave pushes further to get the case across the line.

With Andy Coulson now in Downing Street, Nick and Alan team up with the New York Times in an effort to make the hacking scandal catch fire. As new leads are uncovered, Nick and Charlotte work together to find hacking victims who might be brave enough to take on the Murdoch press. Meanwhile, Dave is challenged in the witness box at the Morgan murder trial over his handling of supergrass witnesses. With the case at risk, Dave takes new measures to help Nick in his quest to expose wrongdoing at the News of the World.

As the hacking scandal slowly builds momentum, Nick meets with Dave's new ally, Gordon Brown, who persuades him that there is still work to be done. He teams up with fellow Guardian journalist, Amelia Hill, who has a source within the Met's new hacking investigation. Meanwhile, a tip-off from Charlotte Harris leads Nick to wonder if hacking was far more egregious than just celebrities and politicians. The shocking information he discovers next has the potential to blow the hacking scandal wide open.

With the Leveson inquiry into press standards and ethics finally underway, and Rupert Murdoch set to appear before a parliamentary Select Committee, Nick is hopeful for proper accountability and change within Fleet Street. Before long, a pushback begins, as Alan's home is potentially compromised, Amelia is threatened with prosecution over her source, and Dave finds himself under investigation from his former employers. With the Leveson Inquiry more important than ever, Jacqui prepares to give evidence on the human cost of hacking, while Nick delivers a rallying call to arms for open, public-interest journalism.