POST Office scandal victim Jo Hamilton was met with boos last night when she slammed the government and claimed Sir Alan Bates “has a plan” at the National Television Awards.
Sub-postmaster Jo took to the stage last night as the hit ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office was awarded the Impact Award.
The hit show chronicles the true story of the massive Post Office scandal, where more than 700 branch managers – known as sub postmasters – were convicted of stealing from the company between 1999 and 2015.
Jo, played by Monica Dolan, applauded the public for helping them get justice.
Accepting the special Impact award, the former Royal Mail worker said that “nothing has changed” under the new Labour government.
But she also blasted the Government for its failure to pay back sub-postmasters.
The audience erupted into boos at the revelation many of those portrayed in the drama have not seen their money returned following the scandal.
She told the audience: “I want to say thank you to all of my colleagues who are behind me, and without strength in numbers we wouldn’t have got to where we are.
“And the public got right behind us and changed, literally changed, everything.
“What I would like you to know is I went to Westminster a couple of weeks back and say the new Minister. And trust me, nothing has changed.”
Jo then went on to reveal that Alan Bates has only been offered 30 per cent of what he is trying to claim.
The crowds cheers turned to gasps of shock and boos as Jo continued: “It’s true. And almost all of these people behind me haven’t been paid yet.
“Out of a group of 555, more than 300 haven’t been paid yet including Sir Alan Bates.”
Jo explained what was next as she said: “But he has a plan. So when he gets back to the nation for help, please be there to support him. Thank you.”
The ITV drama helped renew attention to the subpostmasters who were wrongly prosecuted during the Horizon IT scandal.
Following its broadcast the government set out to exonerate and compensate those affected.
Several of the workers tried to pay back the “missing” money out of their own pockets.
But many were subsequently convicted of theft, went into debt and lost their homes.
Some 236 of them went to prison, while tragically others died and four people took their own lives before seeing justice.
It comes as Toby Jones secured the best drama performance gong at the NTA’s for his role in Mr Bates vs The Post Office.
Jones portrayed former sub-postmaster Sir Alan Bates, one of more than 550 claimants who have brought legal action against the Post Office.
Collecting his gong during the annual awards ceremony at The O2 in London, the actor said: “This means an awful lot, not just to me but to the extraordinary people who inspired our show.”
He also used the opportunity to congratulate the real Sir Alan on his recent marriage to his partner Suzanne Sercombe and hailed the drama as an “extraordinary project” to work on.
The four-part miniseries, which shone a light on the issue, is also nominated for the new drama prize alongside Netflix hit Baby Reindeer, romantic drama One Day and thrillers Fool Me Once and Red Eye.
In response to Jo’s comments, a Department for Business and Trade spokesperson 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.
“Already we have paid out over £289 million to over 2,800 people across four redress schemes. We have also made 253 GLO offers and introduced a new compensation scheme to speed up redress for those with overturned convictions.”
COMMENT BY ROD MCPHEE
THE only surprise at tonight’s National Television Awards was that there were virtually no surprises.
Ant and Dec took home Presenter Award for the millionth time, Strictly bagged the Talent Show gong and I’m A Celebrity triumphed in the Entertainment category.
Kate Garraway scooping the authored documentary award for Derek’s Story was entirely deserved, but not a total shock either as she’d already done the same two years ago with Caring for Derek.
There were a few curveballs. Emmerdale beating Goliath soaps EastEnders and Corrie was unexpected, particularly as the rivals have both boasted big storylines recently.
And though there was no doubting how hugely moving Mr BatesVs The Post Office was for viewers this year, it was still stunning to see them bag three awards.
Does the general lack of surprises diminish the thrill of the NTAs? Not at all. It remains one of the few awards shows which actually gauges what the majority of Brits are actually watching.
We live in a bewildering world where scandals often rock shows, in an age where streaming means the shared experience is diminished and ratings are hard to decipher.
But year in, year out NTA voters leave us in no doubt which shows they adore, which ones they’ve fallen out of love with, and which celebrities they’re prepared to back.
Look at how quickly relatively new shows like The Traitors, Bridgerton and The 1% Club have been embraced by NTA voters.
They aren’t interested in PR stunts and promotion, in highbrow actors and writers lauded by their fellow luvvies and they certainly can’t stand having what they ought to be watching dictated to them
They tell us all loud and clear, every year, who they consider to be the best – and woe betide any telly exec who ignores them.
