'Mr Bates vs The Post Office': ITV Drama Sheds Light on Post Office Scandal

Over 700 Sub-Postmasters Wrongly Accused and Convicted Due to Faulty Computer System

The ITV drama 'Mr Bates vs The Post Office' tells the story of the Post Office scandal, one of the largest miscarriages of justice in UK history, where over 700 sub-postmasters were wrongly accused and convicted of theft, fraud and false accounting due to a faulty computer system, Horizon.
Alan Bates, a former sub-postmaster, led the campaign for justice after his contract was terminated by the Post Office due to alleged losses in his branch account, which he believed were caused by the Horizon system.
The drama also features the stories of other victims of the scandal, including Jo Hamilton, Lee Castleton, and Noel Thomas, who were all wrongly accused and suffered significant personal and financial losses.
Former Post Office CEO Paula Vennells and director Angela Van den Bogerd are portrayed in the drama, both of whom defended the Horizon system despite mounting evidence of its faults.
Despite a settlement in 2018 and some convictions being overturned, many victims are still fighting for justice and compensation, with a public inquiry into the scandal still ongoing.