ITV viewers are questioning why Mr Bates v The Post Office, a new series on the subpostmasters scandal, does not include the former Royal Mail chief Adam Crozier who went on to become the channel’s boss.
The four-part drama, which follows what many term one of the worst miscarriages of justice in British history, tells the story of hundreds of post office workers who were falsely accused of stealing money from the company due to an IT fault.
Mr Crozier was CEO of Royal Mail Group between 2003 and 2010, when the Post Office was part of it and subpostmasters were being pursued through the courts despite their insistence that it was the organisation’s computer system, Horizon, that was at fault.
Coincidentally, he left the Royal Mail in 2010 to become chief executive of ITV and a director of ITV Studios, the production company behind Mr Bates vs The Post Office, staying for seven years.
Viewers of the series have been quick to notice his absence and have asked why his character is not involved, with some even suggesting the decision is a ‘conspiracy’.
Mr Crozier was CEO of Royal Mail Group between 2003 and 2010, when the Post Office was part of it and subpostmasters were being pursued through the courts
Toby Jones stars as chief campaigner Alan Bates in the four-part dramatisation, available on ITV
The series sees Toby Jones take on the lead role of campaigner Alan Bates, who set up a campaign for Post Office whistleblowers and took the company to the High Court along with five others over the scandal.
Lia Williams plays Paula Vennells, chief executive of Post Office Ltd between 2012 and 2019 – but the chief executive of Royal Mail is not featured.
It has taken years for many subpostmasters to receive compensation for the scandal, which saw some fined or even serve prison time.
It is estimated that as of August 2023, at least 60 subpostmasters had died without seeing justice or receiving compensation, and at least four had taken their own lives.
Mr Crozier was called for by name to attend the inquiry last year by former employees whose lives had been destroyed by the unfounded accusations.
His exclusion from the series has sparked anger amongst many on social media.
One said: ‘Why isn’t [Post Office] exec officer Adam Crozier portrayed in Mr Bates V The Post Office? Maybe because he got a job at ITV!’
A second added: ‘Adam Crozier is conspicuous by his absence from Mr Bates V The Post Office. ITV censorship?’
Toby Jones’ character set up a campaign for Post Office whistleblowers and took the company to the High Court along with five others over the scandal
And a third user quipped: ‘Whatever happened to Adam Crozier? I’m sure that ITV dramatisation must be scathing of him…’
Others accused ITV of giving Mr Crozier a ‘free pass’ and said it was a ‘glaring omission’ not to include him.
Chris Trousdale, who was diagnosed with PTSD after dealing with Post Office investigators, previously told a hearing Adam Crozier was the chief executive when he was prosecuted.
‘I think he should be here answering questions, as well as all the other heads of the Post Office,’ he said.
‘I don’t think there is anyone who should be allowed to get away with this. Bosses were paid bonuses based on performance.
‘Victims’ money [paid to balance shortfalls] in my opinion was going into the pockets of those that had persecuted them.’
The Post Office wrongfully prosecuted more than 700 sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses between 1999 and 2015 for theft, fraud and false accounting based on information from a recently installed computer system called Horizon.
ITV said: ‘Mr Bates vs The Post Office tells the story of the Post Office scandal from the perspective of a select group of former subpostmasters who formed the Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance, led by Alan Bates.
‘Alan’s campaign for justice only began to make headway when Paula Vennells was promoted to chief executive, so that’s the relationship we dramatise.’