Murdoch to be grilled for two days

The 81-year-old News Corporation chairman and chief executive will be asked about the phone-hacking scandal, his oversight of his UK newspapers, and his influence over British politicians.

His son James, 39, who is appearing before the landmark public inquiry tomorrow, is set to be questioned further about when he learned of evidence suggesting hacking was rife at the News of the World.

Court 73 at the Royal Courts of Justice in central London will be packed for Rupert Murdoch’s evidence sessions on Wednesday and Thursday.

It will be the billionaire’s highest profile public appearance since he gave evidence to the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee last July.

Mr Murdoch told MPs it was the “most humble day” of his life and apologised for the phone-hacking scandal, but the session was disrupted when a protester pelted him with a foam pie.