Phone hacking: Steve Coogan settles with News of the World publisher

COMEDIAN Steve Coogan has settled his £40,000 claim in the phone-hacking damages litigation, the High Court heard today.

Coogan’s claim is among nine of ten outstanding to have been settled with News of the World publisher News Group Newspapers (NGN).

The ten are thought to include the singer Charlotte Church and her parents, singer Pete Doherty, football agent Sky Andrew, Liberal Democrat MP Simon Hughes, Tracey Temple, who had a relationship with Lord Prescott, jockey Kieren Fallon and racing trainer Samantha Wallin.

Tony Blair’s former adviser Alastair Campbell, ex-footballer Paul Gascoigne and his friend Jimmy Gardner, and Phil Hughes, the late George Best’s friend and former agent, are also understood to be in the process of settling. The court heard that Mr Coogan had settled his claim for £40,000. Hugh Tomlinson QC, who represents some of the claimants, told the court that singer Charlotte Church had not reached an agreement with NGN.