The parents of Milly Dowler, Hugh Grant, JK Rowling and other alleged victims of phone hacking have been named as "core participants" in the public inquiry in to the conduct of the media.

On Wednesday Lord Justice Leveson published a list of the 46 people who will be given the chance to contribute to the first part of the inquiry, which examines the culture, practices and ethics of the press, including contacts between the press and politicians and the press and the police.

The revelation that Milly Dowler's phone had been hacked by the News of the World led to public outrage over the issue and added pressure on the government to launch an inquiry. Her parents, Sally and Bob, and her sister Gemma will now have the chance to play a key role in uncovering the truth about the extent of the practice.

Also due to take part are Gerry and Kate McCann, whose daughter Madeleine went missing in 2007.

The inquiry will consider whether the current media regulatory regime has failed and will make recommendations for the future. The core participants will be allowed to submit questions to the inquiry as well as receive financial assistance.

Hollywood actress Sienna Miller, who settled a hacking case with the NoTW for £100,000, is also on the list, as is Max Mosely, former president of the FIA, who won a privacy case against the tabloid.

Several politicians have been invited to take part including Labour MP Chris Bryant who has long pursued the issue, along with former deputy prime minister Lord Prescott.

Ulrika Jonsson, former England footballer Paul Gascoigne, celebrity publicist Max Mosley, and layer Mark Lewis who has represented many hacking victims, are also named.

But there is no place for former News of the World editor Rebekah Brooks, who had asked to take part.

Justice Leveson said he did not believe it was "necessary or appropriate" to designate her as a core participant.

"She will doubtless have strong views on each aspect of the Inquiry but these views can still be expressed and are not necessarily of greater or lesser value than the views of editors of other broadsheet and tabloid papers," he said.

Full list of core participants:

1. Chris Bryant MP
2. Tessa Jowell MP
3. Denis MacShane MP
4. The Rt Hon Lord Prescott of Kingston upon Hull
5. Joan Smith
6. Christopher Shipman
7. Tom Rowland
8. Mark Lewis
9. Mark Thomson
10. Gerry McCann
11. Kate McCann
12. Christopher Jefferies
13. Max Moseley
14. Brian Paddick
15. Paul Gascoigne
16. David Mills
17. Sienna Miller
18. Hugh Grant
19. Ben Jackson
20. Ciara Parkes
21. Simon Hughes MP
22. Max Clifford
23. Sky Andrew
24. Ulrika Jonsson
25. Mark Oaten
26. Michele Milburn
27. Abi Titmuss
28. Calum Best
29. Claire Ward
30. Mary-Ellen Field
31. Gary Flitcroft
32. Ian Hurst
33. Shobna Gulati
34. Mike Hollingsworth
35. Kieron Fallon
36. Ashvini Sharma
37. Tim Blackstone
38. Valatina Semenenko
39. Sally Dowler
40. Bob Dowler
41. Gemma Dowler
42. Sheryl Gascoigne
43. Graham Shear
44. JK Rowling
45. James Watson
46. Margaret Watson