Few journalists divide opinion like Nick Davies. The investigative journalists who voted him the top UK investigative reporter variously described him as “a major force”, “head and shoulders above the rest of us” and “extraordinarily dogged”.

Other peers have expressed different sentiments. David Leppard, assistant investigations editor at The Sunday Times, once described parts of his book Flat Earth News as “toxic”.

Some Sun and former News of the World journalists blame him for the closure of the News of the World.