Hugh Grant agrees settlement with publisher of The Sun over hacking claim

The British actor had reached a deal with News Group Newspapers (NGN), in relation to legal action brought against The Sun, ITV News' Neil Connery reports from outside the High Court

Hugh Grant says he has reluctantly settled a High Court claim of unlawful information gathering against the publisher of The Sun newspaper to avoid paying tens of millions of pounds in legal fees.

A judge was told on Wednesday that the British actor had reached a deal with News Group Newspapers (NGN), in relation to legal action brought against The Sun.

Grant - who alleged he was targeted by NGN journalists and private investigators - had previously settled a claim with the publisher in 2012, relating to the now-defunct News Of The World.

NGN has previously denied any unlawful activity took place at The Sun.

Writing on X, Grant said "I don't want to accept this money or settle...Rules around civil litigation mean that if I proceed to trial and the court awards me damages that are even a penny less than the settlement offer, I would have to pay the legal costs of both sides."

He added: "So even if every allegation is proven in court, I would still be liable for something approaching £10 million in costs. I'm afraid I am shying at that fence."

Grant said the money from his settlement would be "repurposed" to groups, including Hacked Off - for which he is a board director of - to "expose the worst excesses of our oligarch-owned press".

Grant is among a number of individuals, including the Duke of Sussex, bringing claims against NGN.

His claim in relation to The Sun was due to be considered at a trial in January next year, but a preliminary hearing for the litigation against the publisher on Wednesday was told it had recently been settled.

Anthony Hudson KC, representing NGN, told a judge that there were "currently 42 extant claims… that follows the recent settlement of Mr Grant’s claim".

David Sherborne, Mr Grant's barrister, also confirmed in written arguments that the actor had "recently settled" his claim.

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