A total of 46 people, including many household names, are now deemed specially interested parties

Almost 50 alleged victims of media malpractice have been granted the right to be "core participants" in the judicial inquiry into phone hacking.

They include author JK Rowling, actors Hugh Grant and Sienna Miller, and the family of murder victim Milly Dowler.

Core participant status means a person will be represented by a barrister and can seek to cross-examine witnesses and make opening and closing statements.

The inquiry's first stage will examine relations between the press and public.

The 46 who have now become specially interested parties also include the parents of Madeleine McCann, Max Mosley and Paul Gascoigne.

Brooks refused status

Core participants may also apply for public funding for legal representation.

They will also be able to seek approval to cross-examine those giving evidence. However, the head of the inquiry, Lord Justice Leveson, said he was likely to "significantly limit (if not refuse)" such applications.

He said he had not granted an application by former News of the World editor Rebekah Brooks for core participant status.

"I hope and believe that her input into the inquiry will be of enormous value but, at this stage and in the context of what I am presently required to do, I do not consider that it is necessary or appropriate to designate her as a core participant," he said.

The judge said he had also refused applications for core participant status made by private investigator Jonathan Rees, writers' association English Pen and the Index on Censorship.

But Lord Justice Leveson said he could reconsider the status of non-core participants and that they could apply to make written closing submissions.

'Improper conduct'

Lord Justice Leveson said the hearing would examine the relationship between the press and the public, the press and the police and the press and politicians.

He said he would initially look into the "culture, practice and ethics" of the press before moving on to the extent of any improper conduct.

The judge said the inquiry would last several months and he would aim to produce a report within a year.

The full list of core participants, revealed on the inquiry's official website, is:

Chris Bryant, MP

Tessa Jowell, MP

Denis MacShane, MP

Lord Prescott, former MP

Joan Smith, journalist

Christopher Shipman, son of mass murderer Harold

Tom Rowland, freelance journalist

Mark Lewis, lawyer

Mark Thomson, lawyer

Gerry McCann, father of missing girl Madeleine McCann

Kate McCann, mother of Madeleine

Christopher Jefferies, former landlord of alleged murder victim Jo Yeates

Max Mosley, ex-Formula 1 boss

Brian Paddick, ex-Met Police deputy assistant commissioner

Paul Gascoigne, ex-footballer

David Mills, former Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell's estranged husband

Sienna Miller, actress

Hugh Grant, actor

Ben Jackson, actor Jude Law's personal assistant

Ciara Parkes, publicist

Simon Hughes, MP

Max Clifford, publicist

Sky Andrew, football agent

Ulrika Jonsson, TV presenter

Mark Oaten, former MP

Michele Milburn, theatrical agent

Abi Titmuss, model

Calum Best, son of footballer George

Claire Ward

Mary-Ellen Field, intellectual property expert

Gary Flitcroft, former footballer

Ian Hurst, former Army intelligence officer

Shobna Gulati, actress

Mike Hollingsworth, former TV executive

Kieron Fallon, jockey

Ashvini Sharma, former Air India chief executive

Tim Blackstone, brother of Baroness Blackstone

Valatina Semenenko, artist

Sally Dowler, mother of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler

Bob Dowler, father of Milly

Gemma Dowler, sister of Milly

Sheryl Gascoigne, Paul Gascoigne's ex-wife

Graham Shear, lawyer

JK Rowling, author

James Watson, father of stabbing victim Diane

Margaret Watson, mother of Diane