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The Rise of the Murdoch Dynasty

Series 1

The Rebel Alliance

Duration: 59 minutes

First broadcast: on BBC Two EnglandLatest broadcast: on BBC Four HD

Available for years

An alliance forms, including star Hugh Grant, that is willing to take on the Murdoch empire, and a huge scandal threatens Rupert’s dream of passing on the family business to one of his children.

This is the sensational story of the scandal that almost ruined Rupert Murdoch, and resulted in 'the most humble day' of his life. After Murdoch’s incredible rise, this episode charts his fast fall from grace that left him an isolated figure. It tells the story of how Murdoch’s huge political influence in the UK was finally challenged, revealing a closeness between Murdoch and politics that was suggested to distort democracy and eventually saw four living prime ministers face questioning at the Leveson Inquiry, changing British politics and press forever.

Amid accusations of nepotism, Rupert Murdoch gives his son a senior role within his organisation, a move that many see as a test to see if his son is fit to one day take over. Would-be prime ministers continue to court Murdoch in the hope of winning his support, but whilst Murdoch is being treated like a ‘renaissance pope’ by the political elite, an unlikely alliance begins to form that aims to bring down his empire.

An investigative journalist receives an anonymous tip off that is so explosive that it sets in motion an incredible sequence of events. His investigation reveals crime, corruption and scandal at the heart of the Murdoch empire, leading all the way to one of the prime minister's key advisers. An alliance begins to form around the journalist that includes actor Hugh Grant and politician Tom Watson.

In response to the revelations, the Murdoch empire goes on the offensive, and the alliance comes under sustained pressure. But whistleblowers begin to emerge, and a bombshell revelation completely changes public opinion. A sequence of disastrous events leave Murdoch’s business plans in ruins, he closes a newspaper, employees are ‘thrown under the bus’, and his son finds himself at the heart of the scandal, ruining Rupert’s plans for succession. Murdoch and his son are hauled in to Parliament to face a reckoning, the eyes of the world trained on them. Rupert is humiliated, his once friendly political allies desert him, and his reputation is left in tatters. Show less

Contributors

Interviewed Guest:
Jo Becker
Interviewed Guest:
Alastair Campbell
Interviewed Guest:
Nick Davies
Interviewed Guest:
Sarah Ellison
Interviewed Guest:
Nigel Farage
Interviewed Guest:
Hugh Grant
Interviewed Guest:
Les Hinton
Interviewed Guest:
Graham Johnson
Interviewed Guest:
Mark Lewis
Interviewed Guest:
Andrew Neil
Interviewed Guest:
Peter Oborne
Interviewed Guest:
John Prescott
Interviewed Guest:
Alan Rusbridger
Interviewed Guest:
Neil Wallis
Interviewed Guest:
Tom Watson
Interviewed Guest:
David Yelland
Interviewed Guest:
Max Mosley
Director:
Jamie Roberts
Executive Producer:
David Glover
Executive Producer:
Cate Hall
Line Producer:
Sophie Wright
Series Producer:
Owen Phillips
Production Company:
72 Films

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