ITV drama brings in most viewers for three years

THE programme Mr Bates vs The Post Office has become ITV’S best-performing new drama for three years after being watched by 9.2 million viewers.

Viewers tuned into the first episode of the drama which tells the story of the Horizon scandal, which saw village subpostmasters prosecuted over mysterious financial losses.

It is the most popular drama since the Pembrokeshire Murders in January 2021, with the four episodes the most watched programme on any channel this year. The series has pulled in viewing figures of 14.8 million.

On ITVX alone, the ITV Studios and Little Gem Media series was streamed 12.3million times in eight days.

Kevin Lygo, the managing director for media and entertainment at ITV, said: “The unwavering success of Mr Bates vs The Post Office demonstrates the undeniable power of TV, particularly public service broadcasting.

“Aside from it being a ratings hit, dramatising the story with such a high calibre of British actors has reignited the campaign for justice nearly 25 years on, for a group of ordinary people – and the entire nation is behind them.”

Between Jan 1 and Jan 8, ITVX has had 70.1 million streams, which is the best ever start to the year and up on last year by 39 per cent.

The show helped ITV1 to take an alltime share of 18.4 per cent for the first eight days of the year.

Mr Bates vs The Post Office was the most watched programme across all channels with 3.9 million viewers and retained its live audience for four consecutive nights.

Polly Hill, the head of drama at ITV, said: “We are all proud and overwhelmed by the power our drama has had. Alan, Jo, Lee, Jess and every sub-postmaster and sub-postmistress are being heard now, and it looks like they will finally get the justice they deserve. ITV is proud to have told this story and to support the subpostmasters.”