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Mr Bates vs The Post Office tells of the situation regarding the Horizon Post Office scandal, based around the Horizon computer system which was introduced into post offices in 1999, and led to many subpostmasters trying to log their takings into the computers correctly, but the system reported they’d effectively stolen many tens of thousands of pounds.
First up, in Wales, is Alan Bates (Toby Jones), initially being leaned on by some men, who come across as regular auditors, but are actually there to make accusations and shut him down in the meantime. Meanwhile, Lee Castleton (Will Mellor) tries to contact other post offices to find if they’re in the same position, but the amounts he could be forced to pay are staggering.
Over time, some sub postmasters were jailed – given that a number were tricked into admitting guilty for a lesser sentence when they were innocent, at least four took their own life over this, and all lost their reputation, with some still fighting for compensation.
All the while, the investigators are portrayed by cold, unfeeling bastards, so I don’t know if any of them were somewhat human, or they really were as robotic as they seem.
I’ve only had chance to watch the opener so far, but we see one being misled by the helpline into a situation which makes the problem worse, while all the while being convinced no-one else is in the same boat – which we now know it’s a lie. So far, the writing and acting is solid as a rock – moreso than Horizon! – and I’m very much looking forward to the rest.
UPDATE: Watching this rest of this – and without giving spoilers, Mr Bates Vs The Post Office was gripping from start to finish, telling a very dark tale at times – as previously described. Plus, it also starred almost everyone who’s ever in a TV drama, from Toby Jones, through Julie Hesmondhalgh, Shaun Dooley, Ian Hart, to Katherine Kelly!
However, in episode 3… (and I’ll put this behind a spoiler header, even though it’s not a plot spoiler)
Mr Bates vs The Post Office begins tonight on ITV at 9pm, and continues nightly until Thursday. It’s already online at ITVX, but is not yet available to pre-order on Blu-ray or DVD.
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.