Mr Bates vs The Post Office producer rules out sequel
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The producer behind Mr Bates vs The Post Office has ruled out a sequel of the ITV drama - while suggesting its former chief executive Paula Vennells is “in hiding”.
More than nine million people watched the first episode of the four-part series, which told the tale of how former sub-postmaster Alan Bates fought to expose the Horizon scandal.
Since the programme aired, victims have continued to dominate the headlines - with a humbling apology from a Fujitsu boss and a public row between former Post Office chairman and Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch among the recent stories.
However, when asked if there would be a sequel to chronicle the past few months - and the weeks ahead - BAFTA award-winning producer Patrick Spence gave a firm “No”.
“No, there’ll be no more drama,” he said. “Our job is done.”
Hundreds of postmasters were wrongfully prosecuted after faulty Fujitsu software recorded fictional shortfalls on their accounts.
While the scandal had been repeatedly raised by MPs and journalists for more than a decade, the ITV drama propelled the issue into the headlines - and last week the Government launched a long-awaited bill to exonerate hundreds of wrongfully convicted sub-postmasters.
‘In hiding’
Speaking at an event hosted by AKO Storytelling Institute, at the University of the Arts London, Mr Spence joked about joining the real Mr Bates on a holiday to Sir Richard Branson’s Necker Island - promised by the entrepreneur himself.
He went on to suggest Paula Vennells - the former Post Office chief executive who has been widely criticised for leading the organisation during the scandal - had gone into hiding.
She was portrayed by actress Lia Williams in the drama, while her colleague Angela van den Bogerd was played by Katherine Kelly.
Both are set to give evidence to the public inquiry into the scandal in the coming months.
“Angela and Paula and all the others remain in hiding,” he said, referring to Ms Van den Bogerd.
“And they are - and I think if I can sound fair to them, I would say that they have to wait for the inquiry.”
Ms Vennells gave a brief statement when she confirmed her intention to return her CBE in January - days after the series was aired.
She said at the time: “I am truly sorry for the devastation caused to the sub-postmasters and their families, whose lives were torn apart by being wrongly accused and wrongly prosecuted as a result of the Horizon system.
“I now intend to continue to focus on assisting the inquiry and will not make any further public comment until it has concluded.”
Mrs Van den Bogard released a statement to The Telegraph in the same month in which she suggested the portrayal of her character’s involvement with the widow of a sub-postmaster was not accurate according to her “recollection”.
