BAFTA announced that ITV has been awarded the prestigious BAFTA Television Special Award for its commissioning of Mr Bates vs The Post Office, recognising the power of public service television in telling homegrown stories that have a significant impact, leading to societal change.
Firmly cementing itself as one of ITV’s biggest dramas in 20 years, having amassed a collective audience of 15 million viewers so far, Mr Bates vs The Post Office garnered the interest and full support of the nation, triggering a profound effect that influenced policy change and reopened a case to seek justice for postmasters.
The programme has had a longer legacy outside of its television broadcast, such was the power of the programme that its audience climbed significantly over the four consecutive nights it played out. Within three weeks of the broadcast, the issue was being discussed in parliament at the highest level, with a bill fast-tracked through parliament to quash most of the convictions involving the Horizon IT faulty computer system.
The Special Award celebrates ITV’s ground-breaking commissioning of this story and the power of public service television to drive change.
Kevin Lygo, Managing Director of ITV’s Media and Entertainment division says: ”This award is a real honour. ITV has a proud tradition of covering important stories like this through drama, and bringing them to the widest audiences. We all knew this was an important story that needed to be told, but we never could have anticipated the scale of what came next. The public reaction showed how very British stories of human injustice can unite all walks of life, and affect real world change. Huge credit is due to the team who made it, and all the people who entrusted us with their story.”
Polly Hill, Director of Drama, ITV, says: “I would like to thank BAFTA for this amazing recognition for ITV. Commissioning Mr Bates was without doubt the proudest moment of my career and has shown us the power a story can have on the nation. We wouldn’t have achieved the impact we did if everyone involved in this show hadn’t made a brilliant drama. This acknowledgment is also theirs. I’d also like to thank Sir Alan Bates and all the sub postmasters who trusted us to tell their story. Everyone involved in the drama wanted their story to be heard and we are glad the drama did that, but justice won’t be done until they are all paid what they are owed. In this moment though we will enjoy the recognition for ITV and remember the power drama can have.”
Hilary Rosen, BAFTA Television Committee Chair, says: “This is public service television at its best and shows the power of television to change hearts and minds. In a climate where the cost and risk of making UK-specific dramas that have limited international appeal is becoming increasingly challenging, this Special Award champions ITV’s brave commission and honours the social and public impact television can have. As Mr Bates vs the Post Office has proved, audiences want and need to hear these important British stories.”
The BAFTA Television Special Award will be presented to ITV’s Managing Director, Kevin Lygo and Head of Drama Polly Hill during the 2025 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises ceremony on Sunday 11 May at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall. The ceremony will be hosted by Alan Cumming and will be broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 7pm.
The Awards and Red Carpet ceremony will be available on BritBox on demand in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and the Nordics. It will also be available in Australia on Foxtel, in New Zealand on Sky Arts (NZ), in 24 countries across Africa and the Middle East on AlThaqafeya and MBC Channels, plus 13 countries across Asia on Rewind Networks, and on seven ships within the P&O Cruises fleet.
Previous BAFTA Television Special Award recipients include Lorraine Kelly CBE, David Olusoga, Idris Elba OBE, John Motson OBE, Henry Normal, Nick Fraser, Sir Lenny Henry CBE, Cilla Black OBE, Clare Balding, Simon Cowell, Coronation Street, BBC, and ITN.
