PBS’s Masterpiece presents Mr. Bates vs The Post Office, a gripping four-part drama series based on the shocking true story of the British Post Office scandal. Airing on Sunday, 7 April, the show stars an ensemble cast led by BAFTA-winning actor Toby Jones.
The series, written by Gwyneth Hughes and directed by James Strong, brings to light one of the worst miscarriages of justice in British history. It follows the story of Alan Bates and other subpostmasters who were wrongly accused, prosecuted, and even imprisoned for theft, fraud, and false accounting due to errors in the Post Office’s Horizon computer system.
The Post Office, a government-owned entity, denied any issues with its computer system for years, leading to the ruin of lives, marriages, and reputations. The scandal affected hundreds of subpostmasters, who were relentlessly pursued and coerced by the powerful corporation.
The show’s impact has been profound, igniting a firestorm of public outrage and forcing the Prime Minister to act. Within eight days of its UK broadcast, the Prime Minister announced a new law to pardon the victims and provide compensation. The series has become the UK’s most-watched drama of 2024, with an average of 13.1 million viewers.
The cast of Mr. Bates vs The Post Office includes Toby Jones as Alan Bates, Monica Dolan as Jo Hamilton, Julie Hesmondhalgh as Suzanne Sercombe, Alex Jennings as James Arbuthnot, Ian Hart as Bob Rutherford, Lia Williams as Paula Vennells, and Will Mellor as Lee Castleton, among others.
Mr. Bates vs The Post Office shines a light on the indomitable spirit of those caught in this scandal and their battle for justice.
Mr. Bates vs The Post Office airs on PBS’s Masterpiece at 9:00 pm on Sunday, 7 April 2024.
