Sir Alan Bates, the former subpostmaster who fought tirelessly for justice against the Post Office Horizon IT scandal, has become a household name thanks to the success of the ITV drama Mr Bates vs the Post Office. He was knighted by Princess Anne and married his long-term partner, Suzanne, in a whirlwind year.
The letters tumbling onto the mat come from across the world – France, Australia, the US and many more – some just addressed to ' Alan Bates , North Wales.' 'They always seem to find me,' says Alan Bates (now Sir Alan) with a smile. 'I've kept some of the envelopes as it's quite amusing.' But then 70-year-old Bates is something of a worldwide name, much to his surprise.
It's all courtesy of his David-versus-Goliath fight for justice for victims of the Post Office Horizon IT scandal – and the ITV drama, Mr Bates vs the Post Office – that brought the story to the world, the first episode of which was broadcast a year ago, on New Year's Day. Against the expectations of the producers, who worried it would not stand up to more obviously bankable programmes, it became the biggest drama of the year. It got 14 million viewers, provoked widespread outrage and made a hero of the unassuming but dogged ex-subpostmaster Bates. And it's been quite the year since: knighted by Princess Anne at a ceremony at Windsor Castle in September, he also married long-term partner Suzanne Sercombe on Sir Richard Branson's Necker Island. The Virgin tycoon even officiated. Throughout it all there's been the Post Office inquiry, which ended last week after nearly three years and 300 witnesses. It included the extraordinary spectacle of shamed ex-Post Office boss Paula Vennells sobbing in the packed inquiry room. Sir Alan Bates with his wife Suzanne after he was knighted at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle in September Sir Richard Branson officiates at their wedding on Necker Island, which took place a month before Alan's knighthood ceremony Alan and Suzanne, speaking exclusively to the Mail from their cottage in Colwyn Bay, Denbighshire, were not exactly moved by this. 'We caught sight of a headline that said Vennells thinks the media were not fair to her. And I just thought'diddums',' says Suzanne, 69
Post Office Scandal Horizon IT Scandal Alan Bates Mr Bates Vs The Post Office ITV Drama
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