Readers' photos ahead of Post Office scandal TV drama

Filming took place for the four part series in Llandudno in 2023. The trailer was released four weeks ago.

The drama tells the story of one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in British legal history.

Hundreds of innocent sub-postmasters and postmistresses were wrongly accused of theft, fraud and false accounting due to a defective IT system. Many of the wronged workers were prosecuted, some of whom were imprisoned for crimes they never committed, and their lives were irreparably ruined by the scandal.

Glenda was permitted to take photos of the set. A lot of work went into recreating the original shop. (Image: Glenda Tobin)
The series stars some big-name actors/actresses including BAFTA award-winning Toby Jones (Empire of Light, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Detectorists) who will play Alan Bates and Julie Hesmondhalgh (The Pact, The Trouble With Maggie Cole, Broadchurch and Coronation Street). Both actors were spotted in Craig-y-Don in July 2023.

The programme also stars Monica Dolan (The Thief, His Wife and The Canoe), Alex Jennings (This Is Going to Hurt, The Crown), Ian Hart (The Responder), Lia Williams (The Crown, The Capture), Will Mellor (Coronation Street, No Offence), Clare Calbraith (Grace, Anne), Shaun Dooley (Gentleman Jack, It’s A Sin), Amit Shah (Happy Valley) Lesley Nicol (Downton Abbey) Adam James (The Suspect, Vigil) and Katherine Kelly (Bloods, Gentleman Jack).

Photographer DJ Peaks took this image of Toby Jones in Llandudno (Image: Photographer DJ Peaks)
Episode one focuses on mysterious financial losses which results in the Post Office sacking and prosecuting village sub-postmasters who have no way to prove their innocence.

The St David's Hospice charity outlet was used as the main location for filming; the shop was transformed into the former wool and clothes shop, known as the Wool Post, and Post Office. This shop / post office was once run by Mr Bates, whose actions exposed Britain’s biggest miscarriage of justice.

Julie Hesmondhalgh and Toby Jones take a seat on Llandudno Pier for filming (Image: Dee Sturgess)
Photographer DJ Peaks told the Pioneer at the time: "While Toby's scenes were indoors, the main focus of the exterior scene that I observed being filmed, while I was nearby, was the arrival of police officers to accompany post office staff into the premises while shutting out awaiting customers.

"While the set was being prepared and crew set up in locations to film, Toby Jones moved outside to the pavement to talk to crew, fellow cast and fans passing by who requested he join in with 'selfie' style photographs. 

"The scene itself was the arrival of a police car to add their presence to the waiting 'Post Office' officials, escort them into the building and close-up the premises in the faces of awaiting customers."

Resident Glenda Tobin spotted actress Hesmondhalgh in Craig-y-Don in July and Jones.

She said at the time: "It was great to see them filming the ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office in Craig-y-Don. They restored the old Post Office for the filming, which is the real location the story took place in.

Toby Jones outside the Post Office in July 2023 that was 'recreated' for the ITV drama. (Image: DJ Peaks photography)
"I could see Toby Jones, who plays Mr Bates, sitting behind the post office counter filming his scenes and actress Julie Hesmondhalgh filming scenes both inside and outside."

Between 2000 and 2015, the Post Office held thousands of its own sub postmasters and postmistresses liable for financial discrepancies thrown up by Horizon, its hugely expensive but unreliable computerised accounting system. 

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• Trailer for Mr Bates vs The Post Office filmed in Llandudno

Despite warnings that the system was flawed, the Post Office relentlessly pursued the sub postmasters and postmistresses, telling many of them they were the only ones having problems with Horizon.

Of those affected by the faulty IT system, 736 were prosecuted, hundreds more lost livelihoods, homes and life savings because they paid back money the Post Office claimed was missing.

Several went to prison, some whilst pregnant or with young children and many were shunned by their communities. Some have since died before they could find any justice.  

The first episode of Mr Bates vs The Post Office will air on ITV1 and ITVX at 9pm on Monday, January 1 2024. New episodes will then air at 9pm each night.

The final episode will air at 9pm on Thursday, January 4.