Phone-hacking was the last hurrah for wild west journalism in the UK, according to former tabloid features writer Dan Evans, speaking this weekend at the Byline Festival for independent journalism.

Former News of the World and Mirror journalist Evans entertained and shocked festival-goers with lurid tales of tabloid antics at the three-day event at Pippingford Park in East Sussex.

He was joined on stage in the main ‘Media Circus’ tent by former tabloid investigative reporter Graham Johnson who blew the whistle on phone-hacking at the Sunday Mirror after admitting his own involvement. Both received suspended sentences and community service orders.