By Emma Mackie
Having got his own back by bugging a former News of the World journalist, Hugh Grant went head-to-head this week with the man he says is not a real journalist.
In a BBC debate with former feature editor of News of the World Paul McMullan, Mr Grant said he bugged a conversation with him while having a drink in the pub.
It was then the journalist revealed details of “industrial scale” phone hacking at News of the World.
However Paul McMullan did not appear at all perturbed.
“It was hilarious. How can Hugh Grant coming into your pub with a silly little pen trying to record you be anything other than hilarious? I didn’t mind being turned over.”
After an argument with Mr McMullan a few months earlier, Hugh Grant decided to turn the tables on the man he says boasted to him about the dirty tactics of the newspaper.
Mr Grant went on to reveal details of a bugged conversation between himself and the journalist in the New Statesman.
“It seemed like symmetry,” he said.
The journalist revealed to Mr Grant how extensive phone hacking was at News of the World, particularly under former editor and the prime minister's former director of communications Andy Coulson.
He also said money regularly changed hands between News International and the Metropolitan Police and that he almost certainly believed phones were hacked in the Soham murder case.
He said it was all part of the media game and that very few people would have any sympathy for someone who gets five million quid a film “bleating on” about having his phone hacked.
He said there was hardly a man or woman in the country that would not swap places with Hugh Grant and tolerate the kind of media intrusion he complains about.
But Mr Grant asked McMullan if the families of murdered teenager Milly Dowler would think it was a game or that it was funny.
“No,” replied McMullan who did not finish his response before Mr Grant launched another tirade.
“You guys had no morals, no scruples at all, you didn’t care who got hurt so long as you were able to sell your newspaper for a lot of money. You’re only motive is profit.
“You’re not journalists, you have no interest in journalism, it’s just money money money.
“You should try real journalism, because you’re not an idiot Paul, you probably could do it.”
During the television debate Mr Grant also called Margaret Thatcher an “undignified sycophant” who was “the first Prime Minister to realise it was hard to get elected without the backing of the Murdoch press”.
He says that is a pattern that has been followed by every Prime Minister since, including David Cameron.
Speaking on the BBC’s Question Time last night, Mr Grant said the closure of News of the World should be seen for what it is, “a very cynical managerial manoeuvre” which has put several good non-editorial staff out of work, and kept one woman - who was the editor at the time Milly Dowler was being hacked – in a highly paid job.
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