Post Office Scandal: Will Mellor Still "Angry" After "Mr. Bates"
Actor Will Mellor, known for his role in the ITV drama "Mr. Bates vs. the Post Office," remains "angry" about the Horizon scandal, even months after the show aired, sparking national outrage and a public inquiry.
Mellor portrayed Lee Castleton, a sub-postmaster whose life was upended by the faulty Horizon IT system. The four-part series shed light on the harrowing experiences of hundreds of innocent sub-postmasters who were wrongly accused and prosecuted for theft, fraud, and false accounting. The scandal, dating back to 1999, was brought back into the spotlight by the show, leading to new legislation announced by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The legislation aims to exonerate those wrongfully convicted and provide compensation.
"I hardly knew anything about the scandal before I read the script," Mellor revealed in an interview with the BBC, confessing he nearly quit acting the day before being offered the role.
He explained that the story initially didn't seem exciting, but seeing the devastating impact on individuals, witnessing their isolation and being wrongly labeled as criminals by both the Post Office and their communities, deeply affected him. "I think the public really felt it and reacted as a result," he said.
Mellor is set to interview victims of the scandal for an upcoming BBC documentary titled "Surviving the Post Office." He will speak with individuals like Stephanie Gibson, who was forced to relocate due to false accusations, and Thomas and Katie Watson, children of postmaster Fiona Watson, who tragically passed away from lymphoma during her fight for justice before her name was cleared.
"The story sits with me all the time and Iâm angry every time I talk about it," Mellor shared. "People lost their lives, people lost their childhoods, their homes, theyâve had time taken from them they can never get back."
Despite the anger, Mellor feels a sense of pride for his role in bringing the scandal to light. He is frequently thanked by people for his work. "I still get it every day â every day somebody stops me and says: âWell done on the Post Officeâ," he said.
While acknowledging he was just an actor playing a role, Mellor feels a sense of responsibility for the positive impact the show has had on the victims. "Iâm proud I got the opportunity to be part of something positive in this, something that has the potential to give victims of this scandal some hope."
In a heartwarming moment earlier this year, Mellor was reunited with Castleton on "Good Morning Britain." Castleton expressed his gratitude to Mellor, who responded, "Don't be daft mate, no, thank you."
