ITV’s new drama, Mr Bates vs The Post Office, has had viewers glued to the screen over the last few days, detailing the astonishing true story of the Post Office scandal.
The four-part series, which debuted on New Year’s Day, focuses on Alan Bates (Toby Jones), a subpostmaster from Wales who, along with hundreds of other people, was wrongly accused of fraud by the Post Office. The drama tells the real-life stories of the sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses who were falsely accused of theft and false accounting thanks to a faulty IT system.
Taking to social media, viewers expressed their shock over the scandal, which remains Britain’s most widespread miscarriage of justice.
One person penned: “Just watched #MrBatesVsThePostOffice on ITV… a must view. Such an atrocious miscarriage of justice. Makes the blood boil with so many innocent lives ruined but also an inspiring message about the human spirit … hopefully justice will be done,” while another added: “Watching #MrBatesVsThePostOffice and it’s upsetting, shocking and devastating. Very well presented for screen, however. Those poor people.”
A third person wrote: “#MrBatesVsThePostOffice is so sad. How on earth did they get away with this for so long? Shocking treatment of decent people.”
Many also applauded ITV for its dramatisation of the story, hailing the series as “hugely important” and “powerful” viewing.
Others also called for the cast, which includes Toby Jones, Monica Dolan and Julie Hesmondhalgh, to win awards for their performances. “Mr Bates vs The Post Office – WOW! ITV delivered an exceptional drama. I cried…CRIED! Superb acting. Toby Jones, spectacular as usual, but Monica Doolan, Julie Hesmondhalgh and Will Mellor are first class. BAFTAs all round!” wrote one person.
© ITV STUDIOSA second added: “#MrBatesVsThePostOffice The cast in this true story are incredible. They are playing the parts perfectly.”
It’s not just the viewers who have expressed their approval of the drama, however. The real Alan Bates has also praised the actors for their portrayals. “I think the actors have done a wonderful job in it,” Alan said while appearing on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday. “They’ve really portrayed a lot of the suffering that people have gone through so well.”
© ITVThe latest episode, which aired on Tuesday night, comes after the Post Office Chief Executive, Nick Read, shared a message via social media.
“We sincerely apologise to victims for the devastating impact of the Post Office Horizon IT scandal on the lives of so many,” he said in a statement. “We are all doing all we can to provide redress and urge anyone affected who has not yet come forward to do so.”
© ITV STUDIOSIn December, ahead of the programme’s release, The Post Office shared an update on the current status of the scandal. “A statutory Inquiry, chaired by Sir Wyn Williams, is examining every aspect of the scandal,” said the statement. “Post Office shares fully the aims of the Inquiry to establish what went wrong and why, so that such events can never happen again.”
It added that Nick Read “welcomes the drama and encourages those who have been affected to seek redress if they have not already done so”.
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