Next Wednesday will see the National Television Awards (NTAs) ceremony for 2024 take place, and we now know one of the winners ahead of time.
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Mr Bates vs The Post Office will officially be given the Impact Award, with Toby Jones, Monica Dolan and other cast members being joined on stage by the real-life subpostmasters featured in the drama to collect it.
The drama, which aired in January of this year on ITV1 and ITVX, told the real life story of the Post Office Scandal, and led to a change in the law, with the then-prime minister, Rishi Sunak, announcing that the government would quash the wrongful convictions.
NTA host Joel Dommett said of Mr Bates vs The Post Office being given the Impact Award: "It's not often that a drama comes along and creates a huge cultural shift. The fact that Mr Bates Vs The Post office got politicians talking and changed legislation is huge. It’s a reminder of the power of television.
"Every now and then a programme comes along and reminds you how important it is that these shows exist."
Mr Bates vs The Post Office.
The last time the Impact Award was presented at the NTAs was in 2020, when it was won by Gavin & Stacey following that show's 2019 Christmas special.
The NTAs are the only TV awards ceremony where the winners are chosen exclusively by viewers, with the national vote results being revealed live on the night.
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.
