The Media Club · 31 January 2025 · 40 min

Is ITV’s Hacking Drama The Next Mr Bates?

With Tara Conlan, Julia Raeside

Listen at themediaclub.com →AppleSpotify

• Phone Hacking Drama
• BBC World Service Cuts
• Streamer Levy
• Comedy Industry Culture
• Substack Video Podcasts
• Media Trust and Misinformation
• Netflix Content Investment
• BBC Licence Fee

In this episode of The Media Club, host Matt Deegan is joined by media writer Tara Conlan and writer/broadcaster Julia Raeside. They discuss ITV's new phone hacking drama 'The Hack', starring Toby Jones as Alan Rusbridger, and its potential to become the next 'Mr Bates vs The Post Office'. The conversation also covers BBC World Service job cuts, the possibility of a broadcasting levy on streamers, and the toxic culture in the comedy industry, tied to Julia's new book 'Don't Make Me Laugh'. The episode includes a media quiz and a segment on Substack video podcasts.

Key takeaways

• ITV announced a new drama 'The Hack' about phone hacking, starring Toby Jones as Alan Rusbridger.
• BBC World Service is cutting 130 jobs despite increased government funding.
• Julia Raeside's book 'Don't Make Me Laugh' explores toxic culture in comedy.
• Discussion on whether to introduce a broadcasting levy on streamers like Netflix.
• Netflix announced a major content slate at its 'Next on Netflix' event.

In this episode

• Intro0:00 · Host Matt Deegan introduces the show and guests.
• Media Club Guest Invite: Alex Mahon0:30 · Tara Conlan nominates Alex Mahon for her speech on trust in media.
• Media Club Guest Invite: Mrs Justice Dias4:30 · Julia Raeside nominates Mrs Justice Stein for her handling of the Noel Clarke case.
• New ITV Tony Jones Phone Hacking Drama6:05 · Discussion of ITV's new drama 'The Hack'.
• BBC World Service to Cut Jobs11:24 · Discussion of BBC World Service job cuts.
• Next On Netflix Recap17:40 · Tara Conlan recaps the Netflix event.
• Budgets and Funding20:15 · Discussion of drama funding and streamer levies.
• TV Licence Fee for Netflix23:52 · Discussion of potential licence fee changes.
• Julia Raeside's New Book27:07 · Julia discusses her book 'Don't Make Me Laugh'.
• Me Too Movement in Comedy29:17 · Discussion of toxic culture in comedy.
• FFS: Video Podcast Substack33:10 · Julia talks about her Substack video podcast FFS.
• The Media Quiz35:25 · Quiz on media news.
• Goodbyes38:38 · Wrap-up and sign-off.

Notable quotes

“It is also clear that there were compliance inadequacies on some of Russell Brand's Radio 2 shows, which led to content being aired that would not be broadcast today.”

Tara Conlan · 0:00

“It's not compliance, it's that it's a culture of looking the other way.”

Julia Raeside · 0:00

“It feels like a table that's gradually having its legs removed.”

Julia Raeside · 0:00

“We either have to work with them or be squished by them under the giant red boot.”

Julia Raeside · 0:00

Discussed

ITV · BBC · Netflix · The Guardian

Also mentioned: Alex Mahon · Mrs Justice Stein · Toby Jones · Alan Rusbridger · Nick Davies · Amelia Hill · Jack Thorne · Patrick Spence · Rebecca Brooks · David Tennant · Robert Carlyle · Bill Nighy · Tim Davie · John Clark · Lindsay Salt · Peter Kosminsky · Anne Mensah · Charlie Brooker · Chris Bryant · Jay Hunt · Charlotte Moore · Deborah Turness · Russell Brand · Neil Gaiman

Mentioned or recommended

• The Hack · tv show · Jack Thorne
• Mr Bates vs The Post Office · tv show · ITV Studios
• Don't Make Me Laugh · book · Julia Raeside
• Adolescence · tv show · Jack Thorne
• Stranger Things · tv show · Netflix
• Wednesday · tv show · Netflix
• Shugie Bain · book · Douglas Stuart
• The Traitors · tv show · BBC
• Super Bowl · event
• FFS · other · Julia Raeside
• Women Are Mad · other · Jennifer Cox and Selima Saxton