Mr Bates vs The Post Office fans continued to express their outrage at the true story behind the series on Tuesday evening
The second episode of the four-part series introduced sub-postmaster Saman Kaur (Krupa Pattani) and her partner Jasgun Singh (Amit Shah) to the fray who, like several others, had fallen victim to the Post Office’s faulty new IT system, Horizon.
Similar to the show’s titular character Alan (Toby Jones), Sam faced legal threats from the Post Office due to shortfalls in her accounts.
Sam admitted she’d initially pleaded guilty to the charges levelled her way due to the Post Office’s threats but upon meeting Alan and fellow sub-postmasters in a similar position, she U-turned on her plea.
But in doing so, Sam’s list of charges almost increased from 19 to 36 and the money owed through shortfalls doubled.
After submitting her new not-guilty plea at a court hearing, the stress of the entire ordeal quickly took its toll on her.
Saman Kaur (Krupa Pattani) and Jasgun Singh (Amit Shah) were introduced in episode 2
ITV
So much so, that her solicitor even had a quiet word with Jas to suggest she should undergo a medical evaluation, something her other half batted away.
But as the episode unravelled and the impact of her dealings with the Post Office continued to plague her life, Sam’s mental health and well-being headed in a downward spiral.
Jas returned home one day to find Sam had self-harmed and even sought ECT (Electroconvulsive therapy) in an attempt to remedy the deep depression the sub-postmaster was in.
In the end, after three years of unimaginable stress and turmoil, Kaur was found not guilty but instead of elation, the toll of the proceedings had clearly left a mark on her.
While the stories of all of the sub-postmasters and their treatment by the Post Office have sparked fury – with some even “switching off” due to the distress – Jas and Sam’s story, in particular, left several ITV viewers outraged.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, one fan shared a screenshot of the moment Sam had self-harmed and targeted former Post Office CEO Paula Vennells directly.
They fumed on the social media site: “Paula Vennells, I hope you are watching what happened under your control! Oh Sam, god I’m swearing like a Trooper. #MrBatesVsThePostOffice.”
A second similarly raged over Sam’s story: “You see what you’ve made people do post office!! Self harm!! My heart breaking for Sam, Mr Singh and their son #MrBatesVsThePostOffice.”
Toby Jones as Alan Bates in the ITV drama
ITV
“Feeling very emosh at Sam’s story in #MrBatesVsThePostOffice,” another added while a fourth admitted: “This hard b****d was tipped over by the ECT scene. Lives ruined because those on high lied their a****s off – and are likely still doing so. #MrBatesVsThePostOffice.”
Elsewhere, a fifth slammed: “Giving ECT to that poor woman, what an absolute disgrace @RoyalMail the heads of the post office need to roll asap. This is scandalous. #MrBatesVsThePostOffice The life’s the @royalmailnews have ruined…”
And a sixth echoed: “Not only is she being tortured mentally by the Post Office she’s now being tortured in hospital, poor woman…#MrBatesVsThePostOffice.” (sic)
Mr Bates vs The Post Office continues tonight at 9pm and concludes on Thursday – or fans can stream all four episodes on ITVX now.
The series got off to a successful start on New Year’s Day as it thumped BBC rival The Tourist in the ratings.
