Post Office scandal drama set for ITV

UK commercial broadcaster ITV has ordered a drama series about the scandal in which dozens of innocent Post Office workers were wrongly accused of crimes because of a defective IT system.

Polly Hill

People vs Post Office will tell the story of what has been described as one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in British legal history, which resulted in some workers being imprisoned for crimes including theft, fraud and false accounting.

Produced by Little Gem, the 4×60’ drama will be written by screenwriter Gwyneth Hughes (Honour, Vanity Fair, Dark Angel), who will exec produce alongside ITV Studios’ Patrick Spence (Adult Material, Marvellous) and Little Gem duo Natasha Bondy and Ben Gale (Surviving the Virus, This is our Family).

Filming will take place early next year, with transmission expected later in 2022, while ITV Studios will be responsible for the show’s international distribution.

The commission comes after the UK’s Court of Appeal last week quashed the convictions of 39 former sub-postmasters involved in the case.

Hughes said: “I’ve been talking for a while now to some of the people whose lives were turned upside down by this appalling business. I find it just astonishing, and deeply troubling, that this could have happened in my country, and I confess it’s shaken my confidence in British justice. The sub-postmasters at the heart of the fightback are such a lively, interesting and indomitable bunch. They never gave up, and I’m honoured to be telling their stories.”

ITV head of drama Polly Hill added: “This is the story of how the sub-postmasters fought back against seemingly insurmountable odds. Having followed their fight for justice and the landmark decision by the Court of Appeal, I’m delighted we can now tell their story.”