The UK publisher of The Sun newspaper will face a trial over its alleged unlawful gathering of information, after British actor Hugh Grant won a court bid on Friday.

Grant, 62, claims that he was targeted by journalists and private investigators working for News Group Newspapers (NGN) and his lawyer argued last month that the claims should be heard in court.

NGN denies the allegations and tried to get the claim, and a similar one brought by Prince Harry, dismissed, saying they were filed too late.

But High Court judge Timothy Fancourt decided that the claim by the star of Love Actually could go to trial, except for the parts relating to phone hacking.

The judge said: “Mr Grant only believed that private investigators had been hired by The Sun to target him in various ways, especially in 2011, after he saw invoices disclosed in NGN’s generic disclosure in 2021.”

Grant said in a statement released by his lawyers: “I am happy that my case will be allowed to go to trial, which is what I always wanted — because it is important that the truth comes out about what The Sun did.

“As my case shows, the allegations are much broader and deeper than just voicemail interception.”

The trial is scheduled for next January.

A decision on whether Prince Harry’s claim can go ahead is expected later.