30 Mar 2024

Gwyneth Hughes: Mr Bates vs The Post Office

From Saturday Morning, 11:05 am on 30 March 2024

Photo: supplied/ITV

 

The British Post Office scandal been described as one of the most widespread miscarriages of justice in the country's history.

Between 1999 and 2015, over 900 UK subpostmasters were falsely accused of theft and fraud as the result of faulty accounting software. Some were convicted and jailed, and more lost marriages, families and their mental health.

A faulty accounting system doesn't perhaps sound like the makings of gripping drama, but it's been made into a series: Mr Bates vs The Post Office, The first episode airs on Sunday 31 March on TVNZ and on TVNZ+.

It was written by Gwyneth Hughes, a journalist turned screenwriter.