We may only be just over a week into 2024 but we have already seen a major hit arrive on TV, with Mr Bates vs The Post Office being watched by 9.2 million viewers so far, and all four episodes becoming the most-watched programmes of the year thus far.
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The series, which tells the true story of the Post Office Horizon scandal and stars Toby Jones and Monica Dolan, is also ITV's best new drama for three years, since The Pembrokeshire Murders in January 2021.
The four-part drama has also been streamed 12.3m times in just eight days on ITVX, while it helped to give ITV1 its best start to the year for more than a decade, with 18.4% of the audience share for those days.
Kevin Lygo, managing director of media and entertainment at ITV, said: "The unwavering success of Mr Bates vs The Post Office demonstrates the undeniable power of TV, particularly public service broadcasting."
Toby Jones as Alan Bates and Julie Hesmondhalgh as Suzanne in Mr Bates vs The Post Office. ITV Studios/ITV
He continued: "Aside from it being a ratings hit, dramatising the story with such a high calibre of British actors has reignited the campaign for justice nearly 25 years on, for a group of ordinary people – and the entire nation is behind them."
Meanwhile, Polly Hill, head of drama at ITV added: "We commissioned this drama because it was a story that demanded to be told. Like everyone watching the show, I couldn't believe what had happened. We all just wanted the drama to help get that story heard by as many people as we could.
"We are all proud and overwhelmed by the power our drama has had. Alan, Jo, Lee, Jess and every sub-postmaster and sub-postmistress are being heard now, and it looks like they will finally get the justice they deserve. ITV is proud to have told this story and to support the subpostmasters."
Mr Bates vs The Post Office is available to watch now on ITVX. For more, check out our dedicated Drama page or our full TV Guide and Streaming Guide.
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James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.
