MR. BATES VS. THE POST OFFICE is a four-part MASTERPIECE series that concluded its run Sunday night. According to PBS, it’s a “shockingly true David vs Goliath story following one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in British legal history.” Britain’s Telegraph called it “undeniably powerful and finally redemptive.” Most viewers probably just know it as engrossing television.
If you’ve been watching, you probably recognized a few of the actors appearing in this limited series. Let’s see who’s who…
Toby Jones starred as Subpostmaster Alan Bates, the man responsible for assembling those wronged by the Post Office. I would have thought an actor of his talent and career would have made many appearances on shows we’ve aired on public broadcasting but I only found a few of note. He played Roger in Capital, Daniel Quilp in The Old Curiosity Shop and Ste Fox in Aristocrats. There were also guest spots in Cadfael and The Way We Live Now plus memorable appearances in Sherlock (as Culverton Smith in “The Lying Detective”) and in Midsomer Murders (as Dan Peterson for four episodes).
Monica Dolan portrayed Jo Hamilton. She played Alice More in Wolf Hall, Eileen Morris in The Escape Artist and Regan in King Lear on Great Performances.
Julie Hesmondhalgh was Suzanne Sercombe. You may have seen her as Jill Wheadon in The Trouble With Maggie Cole or Trish Winterman in Broadchurch.
Will Mellor, who played Lee Castleton, portrayed Steve Connelly in Broadchurch.
Amy Nuttall was Lisa Castleton. She appeared as Ethel Parks in Downton Abbey.
Susan Brown portrayed Min Howard. She was Liz Roper in Broadchurch.
Conor Mullen played David Hamilton. He portrayed John McGinley in Reckless and Reckless: The Sequel. Mullen was also Oberleutnant Walker in Island At War.
Shaun Dooley was Michael Rudkin. Dooley appeared as Reverend Tom Stuart in EastEnders, Joe Gargery in Great Expectations, Steve Richards in DCI Banks, Reverend Michaelmas Whitaker in Jamestown and Johnny Richards in Grantchester.
Ian Hart portrayed Bob Rutherford. He was William Cecil – Lord Burghley in The Virgin Queen and Dr. Watson in Sherlock Holmes And The Case Of The Silk Stocking and The Hound Of The Baskervilles.
Katherine Kelly played Angela Van Den Bogerd. She was also Claire Reid in The Guilty and Lady Mae in Mr. Selfridge.
Alex Jennings was James Arbuthnot. You may remember him as King Leopold in Victoria, as Dr. Tim Finch in series three of Unforgotten, as Eden in Churchill’s Secret or as Reverend Hutton in Cranford.
Leslie Nicol portrayed Pam Stubbs. She recently popped up as Irene Moore in series ten of Doc Martin and was Henrietta Beecham in Beecham House but most likely you’ll know her as Mrs. Patmore in Downton Abbey.
Lastly, John Hollingsworth played James Hartley. He’s appeared as Professor Sam Bradman in Doc Martin, as Captain Henshawe in Poldark and as Robert in Wuthering Heights.
Got a face you can’t place from one of the plethora of programs PBS NC airs from the UK? Email me at sparkymac@pbsnc.org and I’ll try to help out.
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