Seven Network Brings “Mr Bates vs The Post Office” to Australian Viewers
In a significant addition to its 2024 programming, the Seven Network has secured the rights to the British drama “Mr Bates vs The Post Office”.
This compelling series, set to air on Channel 7 and 7plus over two consecutive Wednesdays in February, delves into a profound miscarriage of justice within the UK legal system.
The narrative focuses on a group of subpostmasters and postmistresses who fell victim to a flawed IT system, leading to wrongful accusations of theft, fraud, and false accounting. This dramatic story, which has been a catalyst for considerable social and cultural shifts in Britain, highlights the devastating impact on the lives of those wrongly accused, including prosecutions and unjust imprisonment.
Since its UK premiere on 1 January 2024, the drama has not only attracted a viewership of 12.5 million but has also played a pivotal role in reigniting public and legislative scrutiny into the Horizon scandal.
The drama’s impact includes the initiation of new hearings, legislative changes, and an online campaign challenging former Post Office CEO Paula Vennells‘s CBE.
Toby Jones, a BAFTA winner known for his roles in “Empire of Light” and “Detectorists”, stars as Alan Bates. The cast also features notable actors such as Monica Dolan, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Alex Jennings, Ian Hart, Lia Williams, Will Mellor, Clare Calbraith, Shaun Dooley, Amit Shah, Lesley Nicol, Adam James, and Katherine Kelly.
Esteemed screenwriter Gwyneth Hughes (“Tom Jones”, “Honour”) is behind the script, with production by ITV Studios and Little Gem. Directors James Strong (“Broadchurch”, “Crime”) and Chris Clough (“World On Fire”, “The Missing”), along with executive producers Patrick Spence, Natasha Bondy, Ben Gale, James Strong, Gwyneth Hughes, and Joe Williams, bring this gripping tale to life.
