An unprecedented coalition of more than 200 leading figures have joined victims of past press abuse to send a strong message to newspaper bosses: don’t repeat the mistakes of the past - embrace the Leveson Royal Charter and give the British public a free and responsible press.To mark the one-year anniversary of the historic Royal Charter agreement, some of the biggest names in literature, arts, science, academia, design, human rights, business and the law - plus thousands of concerned members of the public - have added their names to a growing Declaration in support of the Royal Charter on press self-regulation.Danny Boyle, JK Rowling, Michael Palin, Sir Tom Stoppard, Nick Davies, Sir David Attenborough, Michael Frayn, Alan Bennett, Philip Pullman, Sir Alan Ayckbourn, Irvine Welsh, Bob Geldof, Albert Scardino, Ian McEwan, Helen Fielding, John Cleese, V.S. Naipaul, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, AS Byatt, Rowan Williams and Prof Richard Dawkins are amongst hundreds of leading cultural figures calling for British newspapers to accept the Royal Charter.In a series of bold advertisements appearing Tuesday 18 March 2014 in The Guardian, The Independent, The Evening Standard, i, New Statesman, The Spectator and elsewhere, signatories to the Declaration urge newspapers to embrace the Royal Charter system giving vital protection to ordinary people while safeguarding the press from political interference.Ian McEwan, author, said:

"The right to freedom of expression is the bedrock of our liberty. Without it, none of our other cherished rights could have been talked or written into existence. But no freedom is absolute and all rights carry responsibilities. Freedom of expression is not the freedom to bully, to intimidate, to intrude where there is no public interest, or to corrupt public bodies with secret bungs. Leveson, rather like a good, hard-working journalist, exposed many such abuses in the press. The abusers, who are a mighty and self-interested faction, prefer business as usual. But those who value free-thinking and open political process know that bullies and corrupters must be held to account. We urgently need wise and plausible regulation."

Author Michael Frayn commented:

“I signed because I believe in both the right to free speech and the right to proper independent redress when that right is abused. Conflicting rights are difficult to reconcile, and the only hope is through the rule of law.”

Dr Gerry McCann said:

“Given the strong public support for Leveson it is not a surprise that all these eminent writers, film-makers, investigative journalists and other leading figures from the creative industries, are backing it. But it is very gratifying that they are prepared to stand publicly with the victims of press abuse and call on the newspapers to comply with the Royal charter."

Author Dame AS Byatt said:

“I think that what I care about is that there should be some sort of oversight (regulation) of press excesses and that it should not be in the hands of the press itself. We have seen that that doesn’t work. Equally I don’t really want government regulating the press directly - that could be dangerous in the future. I think Leveson is a workable compromise."

John Cleese, comedian and writer, remarked:

“The big newspapers bosses are lying though their teeth about the Leveson recommendations.They say their freedom is being threatened, but when anyone points out what self-serving rubbish this is, they ignore these arguments and instead attack the people who are trying to get the truth heard. Their unscrupulousness is breath-taking.”

Irvine Welsh, author, said:

“The Leveson Inquiry, instigated by David Cameron, has delivered modest proposals for preserving press freedom, by encouraging more responsible behaviour from newspaper proprietors and publishers. Those same proprietors and publishers should now accept the will of the people and implement these sensible recommendations.”

Victoria Wood, comedian, commented:

"Some of Britain’s newspapers are among the world’s finest, and all of them have an absolutely vital role in keeping powerful people and organisations in check. But there can’t be a repeat of the abuses of innocent people carried out by some newspaper groups. Lord Leveson made his recommendations and our Parliament backed them. It’s difficult to believe we’re still waiting for action. It’s time for newspaper bosses to accept that their propaganda on this issue has been seen for what it is. The public wants properly effective and truly independent self-regulation - as laid down by the Royal Charter. And it won’t wait any longer.”

Novelist David Mitchell said:

“A healthy democracy requires that conscientious journalists are able to expose political malpractice without fear of reprisals. But a decent society requires that predators and stalkers posing as reporters do not have carte-blanche to maim the reputations and trash the privacy of innocent people, particularly when those people have become newsworthy merely through being involved in personal tragedy. Lord Leveson's cautious and sane recommendations are the best hope for a generation at striking the right balance between defending free speech and defending the innocent. The Press Charter should matter to all of us, and should be embraced by any serious newspaper."

Jo Brand, comedian, added:

“I support the Leveson Royal Charter because I would like to see a free and accountable press untainted by the whims of powerful individuals, the unethical and sometimes illegal acts of those for whom the price is right and the ambition of those who seek to promote themselves…and I don’t mean performers here.”

The Declaration states:

“We believe that a free press is a cornerstone of democracy. It should be fearless in exposing corruption, holding the powerful to account and championing the powerless. It has nothing to lose, and can only be enhanced, by acknowledging unethical practice in its midst and acting firmly to ensure it is not repeated.“We also believe that editors and journalists will rise in public esteem when they accept a form of self-regulation that is independently audited on the lines recommended by Lord Justice Leveson and laid down in the Royal Charter of 30 October 2013.“It is our view that this Charter safeguards the press from political interference while also giving vital protection to the vulnerable. That is why we support it and that is why we urge newspaper publishers to embrace it.” 

The Declaration is coordinated and published by Hacked Off, the campaign for a free and accountable press, and is generously funded by members of the public responding to a Hacked Off appeal.

Signatories to the Declaration include:A C Grayling - PhilosopherAlan Bennett - WriterAlan Hollinghurst - AuthorAlbert Scardino – JournalistAlfonso Cuaron - FilmmakerAndrew Gamble – AcademicAngus Macqueen – filmmakerAnna Van Heeswijk – Women’s groupAnthony Seldon – HistorianAntony Beevor - HistorianArtemis Cooper - WriterBaroness Beeban Kidron - FilmmakerBaroness Helena Kennedy QC - Human rights campaignerBaroness Onora O’Neill - PhilosopherBaroness Sheila Hollins - Parliamentarian and mother of Abigail WitchellsBaroness Valentine – Third sectorBella Freud – DesignerBen Elton - Comedian and authorBenedict Cumberbatch - ActorBianca Jagger - CampaignerBill Forsyth - FilmmakerBob Geldof KBE - Musician and campaignerBrian Paddick - Victim of press abuseBrian Woods – filmmakerBryan Adams - MusicianCarolyn Fairbairn – BusinesspersonChristopher Eccleston – ActorChristopher Jefferies - Victim of press abuseClaire Tomalin - WriterClare Balding - BroadcasterCraig Raine - PoetDame AS Byatt - AuthorDame Vivienne Westwood - DesignerDanny Boyle - FilmmakerDavid Baddiel - ComedianDavid Gilmour – MusicianDavid Heyman - FilmmakerDavid Mitchell - AuthorDavid Tennant - ActorDavid Yelland - Editor (recovering)Dawn French – ComedianDennis Stevenson – PhilanthropistDr Madeleine Coy – AcademicDr Tim Markham – AcademicEdward Benthall - FinanceEdward Bowles - Father of SebastianEmma Thompson - Screenwriter & actressEric Idle – ComedianGraham Norton - BroadcasterGuy Chambers - Record producerGuy Ritchie – filmmakerHelen Belcher – LBGT GroupHelen Fielding - AuthorHJK – Victim of press abuseHugh Grant - ActorIan McEwan - AuthorImran Khan - Human rights campaignerIrvine Welsh - WriterJ K Rowling - AuthorJacqui Hames - Victim of press abuseJake & Dinos Chapman - ArtistJake Arnott - AuthorJames Blunt - MusicianJames Fox - WriterJane Winter – Victim of press abuseJeanette Winterson - WriterJemima Khan - JournalistJeremy King – EntrepreneurJo Brand - ComedianJoan Smith - JournalistJoanna Lumley - Actor and campaignerJohn Bishop - ComedianJohn Bowers QC – LawJohn Cleese - Comedian and writerJohn Finneman – ComedianJohn Pilger - JournalistJohn Willis - FilmmakerJulian Mitchell - AuthorKaren Ingala Smith – Women’s groupKate & Gerry McCann - Victims of press abuseKatie Hickman - WriterKazuo Ishiguro - AuthorKrish Majumdar – filmmakerLee Hall - WriterLisa Appignanesi -WriterLord Peter Goldsmith – LawLord Puttnam - FilmmakerLord V.S. Naipaul - AuthorLouis de Bernieres – AuthorMaggie Smith – ActressMarcus Brigstocke - ComedianMargaret & Jim Watson - Bereaved parents and victims of press abuseMargaret Aspinall -Hillsborough CampaignerMark Lewis – LawMichael Apted - FilmmakerMichael Frayn - AuthorMichael Mansfield QC - Human rights lawyerMichael Mansfield QC – LawMichael Ondaatje - WriterMichael Palin - Comedian & broadcasterMike Leigh - FilmmakerMiranda Hart - Comedian and authorMo George - Victim of press abuseMonica Ali - AuthorNeal Ascherson - JournalistNick Davies - Freelance journalistNicolas Kent - Theatre directorNigel Newton – PublisherPaloma Faith - MusicianPat Loughrey – University WardenPatricia & Phil Bernal - Co-Founder of Protection against Stalking and mother of Clare BernalPaul Dadge - Victim of press abusePeter Burden – AuthorPeter Capaldi - ActorPeter Jukes - JournalistPeter Kosminsky - FilmmakerPeter Morgan - WriterPeter Tatchell - Human rights campaignerPhilip Pullman - AuthorPolly Sansom – AuthorPolly Toynbee - JournalistProf Alastair Mullis – AcademicProf Anthony Smith – Broadcaster & academicProf Chris Frost – AcademicProf Colin Blakemore - ScientistProf Conor Gearty - Human rights lawyerProf David Hutchison – Computer scientistProf David Nutt - ScientistProf Frank Webster – AcademicProf Gavin Phillipson – Lawyer and academicProf Graham Murdock – AcademicProf Greg Philo – AcademicProf Ian Hargreaves – AcademicProf Ivor Gaber – AcademicProf James Curran – AcademicProf Jean Seaon – AcademicProf John Corner – AcademicProf John Tulloch – Victim of press abuseProf Joni Lovenduski – AcademicProf Julian Petley – AcademicProf Justin Lewis – AcademicProf Kevin Marsh - JournalistProf Máire Messenger Davies – AcademicProf Matthew Flinders – AcademicProf Natalie Fenton – AcademicProf Richard Dawkins - AuthorProf Steven Barnett – AcademicProf Stuart Allan – ScientistProf Suzanne Franks – AcademicRich Peppiatt – ComedianRichard Branson - EntrepreneurRichard Charkin – PublisherRichard Curtis – FilmmakerRichard Horton – Nightjack bloggerRiz Ahmed - ActorRobert Llewellyn - ActorRoger Graef - FilmmakerRory Bremner - ComedianRose Unlacke – DesignerRowan Williams - Former ArchbishopRt Rev Stephen Platten - Bishop of WakefieldRufus Hound - ComedianRussell Brand - ComedianSalman Rushdie - AuthorSam Mendes - FilmmakerSandi Toksvig – BroadcasterSandy Naime – Museum Director & WriterSarah Green – Women’s groupSean Mathias – Theatre directorSean Sutcliffe - EntrepreneurSebastian Conran – Industrial DesignerSigrid Rausing – PublisherSir Alan Ayckbourn - PlaywrightSir Alan Parker - FilmmakerSir Anthony Salz – LawSir Cyril Chantler - DoctorSir David Attenborough - Broadcaster and naturalistSir David Hare - PlaywrightSir Geoffrey Bindman QC - Human rights campaignerSir Ian McKellan - ActorSir Jonathan Miller - WriterSir Michael Holroyd - BiographerSir Nicholas Hytner - Theatre DirectorSir Ranulph Fiennes - Writer and explorerSir Simon Rattle – ConductorSir Simon Robertson - BusinessSir Stephen Sedley – JuristSir Tim Smit - EnvironmentalistSir Thomas Hughes-Hallett – PhilanthropistSir Tom Stoppard - PlayrightSophie Bennett - Feminist campaignerStephen Daldry - Film and theatre directorStephen Frears - FilmmakerStephen Fry - Writer and broadcasterSteve Coogan - Comedian and writerSue Roberts - Hillsborough CampaignerSue Stapely - LawSusana Giner – Youth groupTamsin Allen – LawTerence Conran - DesignerTerrence Tehranian – EntrepreneurTerry Gilliam - FilmmakerTerry Jones - Comedian and filmmakerTim Smit - EnvironmentalistTony Robinson - Actor & BroadcasterVictoria Wood - Writer & comedianWill Hutton – Journalist & former editorWilliam Boyd - AuthorWilliam Sieghart – PublisherWilly Russell - PlaywrightYasmin Alibhai-Brown – JournalistZoe Margolis – Victim of press abuse