COOGAN AND TARRANT LINKED TO PHONE-HACKING ROW

Tarrant (l) and Coogan (r) are represented by Taylor Hampton and Schillings respectively

Comic Steve Coogan and presenter Chris Tarrant are the latest public figures to be linked to the row over the News of the World's alleged phone-hacking.

Their representatives are taking legal action after the Metropolitan Police confirmed that their clients' personal details were in the possession of the newspaper's private investigator.

Glenn Mulcaire was jailed in 2007 for six months for hacking into voicemails.

Mr Tarrant's lawyer, Mark Lewis, said the action was “at a very early stage”.

Last year, The Guardian claimed that News of the World journalists were involved in widespread phone hacking of thousands of celebrities, sports stars and politicians.

Actress Gwyneth Paltrow, comedian Lenny Henry, singer George Michael and the late Big Brother housemate Jade Goody were among the names cited.

After being contacted by their representatives, the Met confirmed that Mr Tarrant and Mr Coogan were both “persons of interest” to Mr Mulcaire.

Last week, the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee announced it would conduct a new inquiry into the laws on phone hacking and how police respond to complaints.