Mr Bates' Toby Jones: 'It's hard to be satisfied with impact until change happens'
The actor took home the award for Drama Performance at the 2024 National Television Awards.
When Mr Bates vs The Post Office burst onto screens at the beginning of the year, the reception it received was unparalleled.
It quickly became the most watched TV show of 2024 and sparked a nationwide conversation about the injustices submostpasters and mistresses faced, after they were wrongly accused of fraud and theft due to errors caused by a faulty IT system.
Since the series drew to a close, former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that the government would quash the wrongful convictions and introduce a new legislation to do so.
However, Toby Jones, who portrayed Alan Bates in the ITV drama, exclusively told RadioTimes.com that it is "hard to be totally satisfied with the impact until change happens".
He continued: "Alan keeps everyone on the straight and narrow about that.
"About the fact that nothing has changed for a lot of people and it needs to happen and we're yet to hear from the government...
"You heard the boos, they're waiting for action. The audience are right behind it, they just want to see action. Like all of us."
Read more:
- Mr Bates vs The Post Office writer says reaction has been "unbelievable"
- Mr Bates vs The Post Office follow-up documentary air date confirmed
Jo Hamilton, whose story is told in Mr Bates vs The Post Office, issued a plea at last night's National Television Awards, as they accepted the Impact Award for the drama's real-world influence.
In her speech, Hamilton told the audience "nothing has changed".
"Almost all of these people behind me haven't been paid yet, and out of the group of 555. More than 300 haven't been paid yet, including Sir Alan Bates. He has a plan. So when he comes back to the nation for help, please be there to support him," she said.
In response, a Department of Business and Trade spokesman said: "We recognise the immeasurable suffering postmasters have endured and that they have waited too long to receive redress.
"That's why we are working tirelessly across government to bring them some relief with full, fair and swift redress."
Toby Jones took home the award in the Drama Performance category for his portrayal of Alan Bates, as well as the series picking up the award for New Drama, too.
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Mr Bates vs The Post Office is available to watch on ITVX.
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Authors
Katelyn Mensah is the Entertainment and Factual Writer for Radio Times, covering all major entertainment programmes, reality TV shows and the latest hard-hitting documentaries. She previously worked at The Tab, with a focus on reality TV and showbiz news and has obtained a BA (Hons) in Journalism.
