17 May 2013 Last updated at 06:41 ET

Phone hacking: The main players

More than 4,000 people have been identified by police as possible victims of phone hacking at the News of the World (NoW), the now defunct tabloid newspaper owned by News International. Allegations have also been made that journalists from other papers may also have intercepted voicemails and used "blagging" techniques. Forty-six alleged victims of media malpractice have been given "core participant" status, meaning they can be represented by a barrister at the judicial inquiry and will be able to cross-examine witnesses.

Key alleged victims with core participant status
Phone hacking: Victims and possible victims
Name	Status	Connection to phone-hacking investigation
Bob, Sally and Gemma Dowler	Father, mother and sister of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler	Milly Dowler, killed in 2002, was a target of phone hacking. A lawyer for the Dowler family said the voicemail interception dated from a time when the NoW was under the editorship of Rebekah Brooks. In October 2011, News International agreed a £2m financial settlement with the Dowler family, with a further £1m to be donated to charities chosen by the family. Sally Dowler told the inquiry she could not sleep after she learned that a private detective had hacked her daughter's phone. Watch the Dowlers giving evidence
Gerry and Kate McCann	Father and mother of missing Madeleine McCann	The parents of Madeleine McCann, who went missing aged three on holiday in Portugal in 2007, are among the alleged hacking victims who requested to be core participants in the first part of the hacking inquiry. Gerry McCann told the Leveson Inquiry many of the stories were untruthful, sinister or, he believed, made up. While Kate McCann said seeing her private diary published in the NoW made her feel "totally violated". McCanns left 'distraught' by press Watch the McCanns giving evidence
Christopher Shipman	Son of mass murderer Harold Shipman	Among those granted core participant status in the inquiry. Awarded an undisclosed fee at the High Court after his emails and phone were hacked by the NoW.
Christopher Jefferies	Ex-landlord of murder victim Jo Yeates	Christopher Jefferies has been granted the right to be a core participant in the inquiry. Mr Jefferies described how his reputation was left in tatters after police wrongly arrested him over the murder of landscape architect Jo Yeates. In his statement to the Leveson Inquiry, he accused the newspapers of "allegations which were a mixture of smear, innuendo and complete fiction". Media vilified me, says Christopher Jefferies Watch Christopher Jefferies giving evidence
James and Margaret Watson	Father and mother of murdered schoolgirl Diane Watson	The parents of the murdered schoolgirl, killed by a fellow pupil in the 1990s, have core participant status. Margaret Watson told the Leveson Inquiry that the Herald newspaper and Marie Claire magazine published pieces which the couple believed had besmirched their 16-year-old daughter's name. They went on to tell how the articles had so upset their 15-year-old son, Alan, that he "could take no more" and was found dead with cuttings of the articles in his hand. Scots mother critical of press Watch the Watsons giving evidence
JK Rowling	Author	The Harry Potter creator has been granted the right to be a core participant. Ms Rowling told the Leveson Inquiry that children deserved privacy and that she had always tried to protect her family from the press, saying: "A child, no matter who their parents are, deserves privacy. Where children are concerned the issue is fairly black and white." JK Rowling tells inquiry of press intrusion Watch JK Rowling giving evidence
Sienna Miller	Actress	The actress formally settled for £100,000 damages and costs, after the NoW admitted liability over the hacking of several of her phones. News Group - which published the tabloid - formally apologised at London's High Court for what it called the "harassment and distress" it had caused. Ms Miller told the Leveson Inquiry that the media's intrusion had left her in a state of "complete anxiety and paranoia". Actress Sienna Miller gives evidence
Hugh Grant	Actor	The actor, who has been told by police his details were among those found by officers investigating hacking at the NoW, recorded a conversation between himself and Paul McMullan, the tabloid's former features editor. During the exchange - revealed by Hugh Grant in the New Statesman magazine - Mr McMullan discussed hacking by the media. He told the Leveson Inquiry he believed the Mail on Sunday had also hacked his phone. The newspaper denied his account and in a statement said: "The Mail on Sunday utterly refutes Hugh Grant's claim that they got any story as a result of phone hacking." Read the full New Statesman article Hugh Grant accuses Mail on Sunday Watch Hugh Grant giving evidence
Charlotte Church	Actress	The singer and her parents agreed damages and costs of £600,000 with News Group Newspapers in February 2012. The High Court agreed 33 articles in the paper had been due to her family's voicemails being hacked Church 'sickened' by NoW hacking
Paul Gascoigne	Ex-footballer	The former England player reached a settlement with NoW publisher News Group, for which he received £68,000. His had been one of the test cases due to be heard in the High Court and intended to create a framework for action from some 91 alleged victims. Paul Gascoigne becomes hacking test case
Sheryl Gascoigne	Paul Gascoigne's ex-wife	Sheryl Gascoigne is among those granted core participant status. She told the Leveson Inquiry that she was followed constantly over a number of years by press photographers, even while heavily pregnant. She said victims of media intrusion were deterred from taking action against the press by factors such as cost and that even after winning a libel battle, the resulting payout may only cover 70% of the cost of bringing the case. Watch Sheryl Gascoigne giving evidence
Max Clifford	Publicist	Named in the original indictment at the 2007 trial of Clive Goodman and Glenn Mulcaire. Later sued the NoW for breach of privacy and received a settlement worth a reported £1m. Has defended ex-News International chief Rebekah Brooks, saying he does not believe she was involved. Listen to Max Clifford defend Rebekah Brooks
Sky Andrew	Sports agent	The agent received £75,000 in damages following an out-of-court settlement with NoW publisher News Group. His had been one of the test cases of alleged NoW hacking victims that was due to be heard at the High Court in 2012. NoW investigator 'pinged phones'
Ulrika Jonsson	TV presenter	One of a number of figures to settle legal claims over phone hacking with NoW publisher News Group. NoW phone-hacking claims settled
Abi Titmuss	Model	Among those granted core participant status in the inquiry. One of a number of figures to settle legal claims over phone hacking with NoW publisher News Group. NoW phone-hacking claims settled
Calum Best	Son of the late footballer George Best	Among those granted core participant status in the inquiry. One of a number of figures to settle legal claims over phone hacking with NoW publisher News Group. NoW phone-hacking claims settled
Max Mosley	Ex-Formula 1 boss	Launched legal action over NoW revelations about his sex life. Among those given core participant status. He told the Leveson Inquiry the invasion of privacy was "worse than burglary" because the damage could never be repaired. Max Mosley describes outrage at story Watch Max Mosley giving evidence
Kieren Fallon	Jockey	Launched legal action against the NoW after police confirmed his personal details had been in the possession of Glenn Mulcaire, a private detective employed by the tabloid who went to prison for phone hacking.
Lord Prescott	Ex-deputy prime minister	Among high-profile figures who successfully sought a judicial review of the Metropolitan Police's handling of the original hacking inquiry. Lord Prescott, Labour MP Chris Bryant, ex-Scotland Yard boss Brian Paddick, journalist Brendan Montague and one man known only as HJK all claim their human rights were breached because officers failed to carry out an effective investigation. They won the right to a full hearing, and the review later ruled that the Met Police failed to warn people they were the victims of phone hacking by the News of the World. He received £40,000 in damages at the High Court over NoW hacking. Police failed over hack warnings
Tessa Jowell	Former culture secretary	The former cabinet minister has accepted £200,000 in damages from News Group Newspapers after her phone was hacked "wholesale" by the NoW. Her lawyers said £100,000 of the settlement would be paid directly to a charity of her choice.
David Mills	Lawyer and estranged husband of Tessa Jowell	One of the eight claimants with whom News International has offered to settle, but a deal is not likely before the test cases have been heard.
Brian Paddick	Ex-Metropolitan Police deputy assistant commissioner	One of several high-profile figures, along with Lord Prescott, who sought a judicial review of the police's handling of the original hacking inquiry. That review later ruled the Met Police had failed to warn people they were the victims of phone hacking by the News of the World. Police failed over hack warnings
Simon Hughes	Liberal Democrat deputy leader	The Lib Dem MP received £45,000 in damages plus costs after settling with NoW publisher News Group out of court. He was named as a hacking victim in the 2007 trial of Clive Goodman and Glenn Mulcaire. Watch Simon Hughes talk about the hacking
Chris Bryant	Former Labour minister	One of several high-profile figures who sought a judicial review of the police's handling of the original hacking inquiry. That review later ruled the Met Police had failed to warn people they were the victims of phone hacking by the News of the World. He was also awarded £30,000 at the High Court over hacking by the NoW. Police failed over hack warnings
Mark Oaten	Former Liberal Democrat MP	The former politician dropped out of the Liberal Democrat leadership race in 2006 amid reports about his private life. Among those granted core participant status in the hacking inquiry. He has settled legal claims over phone hacking with NoW publisher News Group. NoW phone-hacking claims settled
Denis MacShane	Independent Labour MP	Among those granted core participant status in the hacking inquiry. Writer and campaigner Joan Smith told the Leveson Inquiry she believed her phone was hacked while she was in a relationship with the MP Denis MacShane. He received £32,500 at the High Court over NoW hacking. Read Joan Smith's evidence
Other alleged victims
Name	Job/status	Connection to phone-hacking scandal
Sara Payne	Mother of murdered eight-year-old Sarah Payne	Worked closely with the NoW to campaign for better child protection laws, and has been told by detectives that she may have had her voicemails intercepted. Said to be "absolutely devastated" by the news. Given an undisclosed payout at the High Court over NoW hacking. Jude Law, Lord Prescott and Sarah Payne get payouts
Clarence Mitchell	Spokesman for missing Madeleine McCann's family	Has said he believes two attempts were made to gain information about his phone. Among a number of suspected hacking victims contacted by police. McCann spokesman tells of security fears
Colin Stagg	Wrongly arrested for murder	It emerged in April 2012 that Colin Stagg, who won more than £700,000 in compensation after being wrongfully arrested over the Rachel Nickell murder, was among 46 people who had issued new claims against News Group Newspapers.
Graham Foulkes	7/7 victim's father	Among the relatives of the 7 July 2005 London bombing victims warned by police their phones may have been hacked. Mr Foulkes, whose son David died in the Edgware Road blast, told the BBC his details had been found on a list. Hackers 'wicked beyond wicked'
Sean Cassidy	7/7 victim's father	Mr Cassidy, who lost his 22-year-old son Ciaran in the Russell Square bomb on 7 July 2005, has also been contacted by police after his details were found on a list. 7/7 victims' families 'hacked'
Sheila Henry	7/7 victim's mother	One of the test cases of alleged NoW hacking victims that were due to be heard at the High Court. Her son, Christian Small, was killed in the explosion in Russell Square, London, on 7 July 2005. NoW investigator 'pinged phones'
Parents of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman	Family of Soham murder victims	Among those contacted by police investigating phone hacking. It is believed the families were warned there was evidence to suggest they were targeted by Glenn Mulcaire, a private detective employed by the News of the World who went to prison for phone hacking. Hacking police meet Soham parents
Families of service personnel killed in Afghanistan and Iraq	N/A	Glenn Mulcaire, a private detective employed by the News of the World who went to prison for phone hacking, was alleged to have had the phone numbers of bereaved military families in his files. Dead soldiers' families 'hacked'
Shaun Russell	Father of Josie Russell, who survived a hammer attack in which her mother and sister were killed in 1996	He sued News International in October 2011 and received an undisclosed out-of-court settlement in January 2012.
Jude Law	Actor	News International agreed to pay him £130,000 in damages plus costs because his phone was repeatedly hacked between 2003 and 2006. Jude Law, Lord Prescott and Sarah Payne get payouts NoW investigator 'pinged phones'
Sadie Frost	Actress	News International paid her £50,000 in damages for stories obtained through phone hacking between 2003 and 2006. She told the High Court she had distrusted her then husband Jude Law because journalists always knew where she would be. Jude Law, Lord Prescott and Sarah Payne get payouts
Elle Macpherson and her former business adviser, Mary-Ellen Field	Model	One of the celebrities named in the indictment at the 2007 trial of Clive Goodman and Glenn Mulcaire. The court was told that when she suspected messages were being listened to, she had her home swept for bugs. The model's business adviser, Mary-Ellen Field, told the Leveson Inquiry that stories obtained by phone hacking cost her her job. In April 2012 it emerged that Ms Field was among 46 people who had issued new claims against News Group Newspapers. However, Mrs Field dropped her case in May 2013 when News Group Newspapers told the High Court there was no evidence of hacking. New phone-hacking claims emerge Model's adviser tells of sacking
Ryan Giggs	Footballer	The Manchester United player has launched legal proceedings against the News of the World and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire. He is suing the paper's publisher News Group Newspapers for breach of privacy. Giggs 'starts phone hack action'
Ashley Cole	Footballer	News International have settled an undisclosed amount with the England defender and his agent Graham Shear. They hit the headlines in 2005 over a "tapping up" scandal surrounding his transfer from Arsenal to Chelsea.
Gavin Henson	Rugby player	The Welsh rugby player received an out-of-court settlement of £40,000. In 2005 the News of the World had published articles about his relationship with singer Charlotte Church. He had accused her family of speaking to the press.
Steve Coogan	Actor and comedian	The Alan Partridge comedian settled claims for damages with NoW publisher News Group and received £40,000. He had been set to take legal action against the NoW for breach of privacy after the Metropolitan Police confirmed his personal details had been in the possession of private investigator Glenn Mulcaire. He told BBC Two's Newsnight the closure of the paper was a "victory for decency and humanity". He told the Leveson Inquiry that reporters had been through his rubbish bins, looking for "lurid" details of his private life. Reporters rifled my bins - Coogan
Chris Tarrant	Television presenter	One of a number of celebrities who have taken legal action against the NoW over phone hacking. The Metropolitan Police confirmed last year his personal details had been in the possession of private investigator Glenn Mulcaire.
Guy Pelly	Nightclub owner and friend of Prince William and Prince Harry	The News of the World published "intrusive and private information" about the entrepreneur between 2002 and 2006, according to the High Court. In 2011 the police told him his voicemail had been intercepted for some time. News International agreed to pay him £40,000 and apologised. Its subsidiary NGN also confirmed allegations made 12 years ago that he supplied drugs to friends, including Prince Harry, were untrue.
Andy Gray	Ex-footballer and television presenter	The football pundit accepted £20,000 in damages from the News of the World in June 2011 after his phone was hacked. The former Everton striker reached an agreement with publisher News Group Newspapers for compensation for voicemail interceptions. One of eight claimants with whom News International has offered to settle. Gray settles in phone hack claim
Leslie Ash and Lee Chapman	Actress/ex-footballer	The actress and her husband launched legal action over claims Ms Ash's phone had been hacked. Police confirmed her details had been among paperwork belonging to private investigator Glenn Mulcaire. They have settled their claim. Ash and Chapman settle hacking claim
Nicola Phillips	Assistant to Max Clifford	The publicist issued proceedings against the NoW for breach of privacy, and rejected an early offer of compensation from the newspaper. One of eight claimants with whom News International has offered to settle, but a deal is unlikely before the test cases are heard.
Kelly Hoppen	Interior designer, actress Sienna Miller's stepmother	The interior designer and former stepmother of Sienna Miller accepted £60,000 in damages in October 2011 over the NoW phone-hacking case. Counsel for the newspaper group told the court he wanted to repeat the "sincere and unreserved apology" made to Ms Hoppen in April 2011. Hoppen accepts £60,000 damages in hacking case
Wayne Rooney	Footballer	It emerged in April 2012 that the England and Manchester United player was among 46 people who had issued new claims against News Group Newspapers. He was contacted in April 2011 by police investigating hacking. Mr Rooney wrote on Twitter at that time: "Scotland Yard detectives came to see me earlier and showed me some documents. Looks like a newspaper have hacked into my phone." New phone-hacking claims emerge Phone-hack police 'visit Rooney'
Paul Burrell	Former Royal butler	In April 2012 Mr Burrell was named by lawyers as among those who had issued a civil claim against News Group Newspapers over phone-hacking. New phone-hacking claims emerge
Peter Crouch and his wife Abigail Clancy	Footballer	In April 2012 it emerged the footballer and his wife were among those who had issued a civil claim against News Group Newspapers.
James Nesbitt	Actor	In April 2012 it emerged the actor was among those who had issued a civil claim against News Group Newspapers in the second round of litigation.
Emma Noble	Model and actress	In April 2012 it emerged Sir John Major's former daughter-in-law was among those who had issued a civil claim against News Group Newspapers in the second round of litigation.
Heather Mills	Charity campaigner/former wife of Sir Paul McCartney	Has alleged that in 2001, a senior journalist with Mirror Group Newspapers admitted hacking into voicemails left for her by Sir Paul McCartney. Editor Piers Morgan told the Leveson Inquiry he had heard a recording of a message on her phone but refused to say who had played it to him. Mirror did not hack, Morgan says
Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall	Members of the Royal Family	May have been targets of phone hacking conducted at the News of the World, according to the Guardian newspaper. It has also been alleged police officers in the Royal Protection Squad were being paid by the tabloid for private information about the Royal Family. Prince Charles and Camilla warned over phone hacking
Gordon Taylor	Professional Football Association's chief executive	Brought a private case against the NoW in 2008 and received a settlement worth a reported £700,000.
George Galloway	MP	The Respect MP for Bradford West, and former MP for Bethnal Green, received £25,000 plus costs as a result of a settlement reached with News Group Newspapers for five messages that were hacked in 2003. He had launched legal proceedings against the NoW for breach of privacy, claiming his voicemail was illegally intercepted between February 2005 and August 2006. Galloway 'offered payout over hacking'
Michael Mansfield	Barrister	The QC, who represented Mohamed Al Fayed at the Princess Diana inquest, has been told by police his phone may have been hacked.
Phone hacking: Victims and possible victims Helen Asprey	Former aide to the Prince of Wales	Named in the indictment at the 2007 trial of Clive Goodman and Glenn Mulcaire. The court heard how she, along with Prince Charles's communication secretary Paddy Harverson and Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, private secretary to Princes William and Harry, realised something was wrong in December 2005 when their new messages were being shown as old. Pair jailed over royal phone taps
Joan Smith	Journalist and author	The former partner of Independent Labour MP Denis MacShane received an out-of-court settlement of £27,500.
Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton	Royal secretary	The private secretary to Princes William and Harry was named in the indictment at the 2007 trial of Clive Goodman and Glenn Mulcaire. Pair jailed over royal phone taps
Paddy Harverson	Royal communications secretary	The Prince of Wales's communication secretary was named in the indictment at the 2007 trial of Clive Goodman and Glenn Mulcaire. Pair jailed over royal phone taps
Joan Hammell	Former aide to Lord Prescott	The former aide to ex-Deputy Prime Minister Lord Prescott was awarded £30,000 at the High Court over NoW hacking. Phone hacking test cases approved
Jo Armstrong	Professional Football Association legal adviser	Agreed an out-of-court settlement with News International for breach of privacy.
Alleged 'blagging' victims
Name	Job/status	Connection to phone-hacking investigation
Gordon Brown	Former prime minister	Has accused the Sunday Times of gaining access to his personal bank and legal files when he was chancellor by using so-called "blagging" techniques. Also says he does not know how the Sun obtained access to medical records relating to his son Fraser's cystic fibrosis in 2006. The Sun maintains this was not obtained by illegal means. Watch the ex-PM make the claims