The Great Post Office Trial

Original version

BBC Radio 4 FM

BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

BBC Radio 4

Radio 4

Radio 4 (FM)

BBC Radio 4 LW

The Great Post Office Trial: 2. The Bloodiest Mind in Wales

2. The Bloodiest Mind in Wales

BBC Radio 4 - The Great Post Office Trial, 2. The Bloodiest Mind in Wales

The extraordinary story of a campaign to uncover a massive scandal at the Post Office.

The story of a decade-long battle with the Post Office, fought by its own sub-postmasters. Today we meet Alan Bates, the "UK's Erin Brockovich", the man who started the fightback.

After the introduction of a new computer system in the early 2000s, the Post Office began using its data to accuse sub-postmasters of falsifying accounts and stealing money. Many were fired and financially ruined; others were prosecuted and even put behind bars.

In this ten-part series, journalist Nick Wallis, gets right to the heart of the story, as he talks to those whose lives were shattered and follows the twists and turns of a David and Goliath battle as the sub-postmasters tried to fight back.

Today we meet the man who led that fight; the UK's Erin Brokovich, Alan Bates,  founder of the Justice For Subpostmasters Alliance. A man who faced seemingly insurmountable odds in trying to take on a national institution but who refused to be cowed.

Presenter: Nick Wallis
Producer: Robert Nicholson
Executive Producer: Will Yates
A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Documentaries

Podcasts

Factual: Crime & Justice: True Crime

The extraordinary story of a decade-long battle with the Post Office, fought by their own sub-postmasters. Some call it the widest miscarriage of justice in UK legal history.

An investigation of the largest miscarriage of justice in UK legal history. It's the story of how the Post Office systematically persecuted honest people, and how a small band of victims fought back in the face of impossible odds.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

The Great Post Office Trial

2. The Bloodiest Mind in Wales

Genres

Series

BBC Radio 4 FM

About BBC Radio 4