Hacking case: Stories about Coronation Street star Michael Le Vell were ‘complete violation’ of privacy, court told
The High Court has been told a story about a Coronation Street star printed by the publisher of the Mirror made him “feel sick”, and that this and other articles about him were a “complete violation” of privacy.
Michael Turner, 58, who is known professionally as Michael Le Vell and has played Kevin Webster in the soap since 1983, alleges that titles run by Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) published “highly private details” about his life after allegedly targeting him with unlawful activity for years.
The actor himself is yet to give evidence – he is expected to do so in court on Monday – but his lawyer David Sherborne has outlined his case, which concerns 28 articles published between 1991 and 2001.
They cover a range of stories, including a burglary at his home, the impending birth of his daughter, and his 2011 arrest for suspected rape – which he was cleared of.
Latest day of hacking trial – as it happened
Prince Harry gave evidence in court earlier in June
Previously, the court heard he was accused by fellow Coronation Street cast members of being “a mole” because of stories appearing in the press, due to his position as a trade union representative.
Mr Turner is among a number of individuals suing MGN – publisher of the Daily and Sunday Mirror and the Sunday People – including Prince Harry and former Coronation Street and now Hollyoaks star Nikki Sanderson.
They allege journalists were linked to phone hacking, so-called “blagging” or gaining information by deception and the use of private investigators for unlawful activities.
MGN denies Mr Turner’s claim, arguing there is “no evidence” of voicemail interception or unlawful information gathering relating to him.
Stories quoted ‘spies’ and ‘insiders’
The actor’s lawyers say private information appeared in newspapers “for which there was no legitimate explanation as to how it had been obtained, but at the time he wrongly suspected those close to him”.
Addressing the court on Thursday, Mr Sherborne said the stories put forward in Mr Turner’s claim included quotes attributed to “a Street source”, “pals”, a “Corrie mole”, “spies”, and “insiders”.
The October 1996 Sunday Mirror story headlined “Street star’s safe house”, about the actor moving after a burglary, “contains highly private details about the burglary that occurred at Mr Turner’s family home” as well as details of the “financial assistance” he received from a niece “to buy a new house”, Mr Sherborne said.
A story published in October 2011 covering Mr Turner’s arrest on suspicion of a sexual offence, something he was later acquitted of, quoted a “pal” commenting on what the actor had allegedly said, the court was told.
This was “incredibly upsetting” and Mr Turner “was blaming every Tom, Dick and Harry” for apparently leaking information, Mr Sherborne said.
Hollyoaks and former Coronation Street star Nikki Sanderson is also among the claimants. Pic: Tayfun Salci/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock
The barrister added: “We say it bears all the hallmarks of unlawful information gathering.”
The “intrusion” made Mr Turner “feel sick” and his “blood boil”, Mr Sherborne said.
Richard Munden, representing MGN, argued that Mr Turner’s case is “particularly weak”, saying some articles in his claim were published before phone hacking started or when it had “significantly dropped off”.
In written arguments, the publisher’s lawyers said call data evidence relating to the case is “a wholly inadequate basis on which to seek an inference of (voicemail interception) of the claimant”.
‘Westlife gig story came from Westlife star’
On Thursday, the court also heard evidence from freelance journalist Paul Martin, a former Irish Sunday Mirror showbiz editor, whose byline appears on one of the articles Mr Turner has complained about – a story about Mr Turner and some of his co-stars being refused admission to a Westlife concert.
Mr Martin said he had “never hacked a phone in his life” and that it “wasn’t the culture in Ireland”.
In his witness statement, he said that information for the story actually came from Westlife lead singer Shane Filan – who had heard the “gossip” from the band’s head of security.
Mr Sherborne also questioned Mr Martin about the Irish Sunday Mirror’s publication of private letters of Gerry Ryan, the late Irish broadcaster. Mr Ryan was found dead at his home in 2010 with cocaine in his system.
The decision to publish his letters proved Mr Martin and his colleagues were “prepared to do things like voicemail interception and blagging”, Mr Sherborne argued – but Mr Martin denied this.
The trial before Mr Justice Fancourt is due to resume on Monday and conclude at the end of June, with a ruling expected at a later date.
Entertainment
MasterChef presenter John Torode says allegation he used racist language upheld in report
Entertainment
Gregg Wallace: Over half of allegations against MasterChef presenter substantiated, including one of unwanted physical contact
An investigation into Gregg Wallace’s “inappropriate behaviour” on MasterChef has found that more than half of the allegations against him have been substantiated, including one of “unwanted physical contact”.
MasterChef’s production company Banijay UK shared a summary of its report into historical allegations of misconduct against the 60-year-old presenter, carried out by independent law firm Lewis Silkin over seven months.
The report also said the number of sustained allegations made Wallace’s return to MasterChef “untenable”.
The investigation heard evidence from 78 witnesses, including 41 complainants.
There were 83 allegations against Wallace, and 45 of them were substantiated. All were related to MasterChef.
While the majority of the substantiated allegations related to inappropriate sexual language and humour, a smaller number of allegations of other inappropriate language and being in a state of undress were also substantiated.
One allegation of unwanted physical contact was substantiated.
Nearly all the allegations against Wallace were related to behaviour which is said to have occurred between 2005 and 2018, with just one substantiated allegation taking place post-2018.
Wallace and Anne-Marie Sterpini in 2014
Ahead of the publication of the summary, Wallace had said he had been “cleared of the most serious and sensational accusations” made against him.
Additionally, the report summary found that there were also 10 standalone allegations about other people between 2012 and 2018/2019, two of which were substantiated. Those people were not named in the summary.
The investigation found that complaints had previously been raised with the production company between 2005 and 2024.
Gregg Wallace on MasterChef. Pic: BBC/ Shine TV 2024
While the report flagged inadequate reporting procedures prior to 2016, when Endemol merged with Shine ahead of Banijay acquiring Endemol Shine in 2020, it said there were significant improvements to HR processes and training after 2016.
While the investigation said some formal action was taken by the BBC in 2017, it also noted the corporation held no information regarding concerns raised over Wallace centrally, resulting in issues being addressed as a first offence.
Sky News has tried to contact Gregg Wallace for contact today.
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