"We only made the drama because of Nick Wallis…he is key in bringing this story to light" – Patrick Spence, Executive Producer 'Mr Bates vs The Post Office'

“An extraordinary journalistic expose of a huge miscarriage of justice” – Ian Hislop, Editor, Private Eye

JOURNALIST NICK WALLIS, JOINED BY SUB-POSTMASTER JANET SKINNER

This is the true story of how hundreds of innocent people fought to clear their names against the Post Office’s refusal to accept responsibility for its failings. Proud pillars of their communities were stripped of their jobs and livelihoods. Many were forced into bankruptcy and or borrowed from friends and family to give the Post Office thousands they did not owe. The really unlucky ones were sent to prison.

Following the primetime ITV drama starring Toby Jones, this jaw-dropping, unique and gripping story is now the subject of a compelling stage show.

Journalist/broadcaster Nick Wallis (BBC Radio 4’s ‘The Great Post Office Trial’, Private Eye’s ‘Justice Lost in the Post’, BBC1’s Panorama ‘Scandal at the Post Office’, The One Show and Channel 5’s ‘Criminals Caught on Camera’) has drawn on his decade of covering the story to write a best-selling book (‘The Great Post Office Scandal’ – serialised by the Daily Mail and featured by the Sunday Times), and it is this book which forms the basis of his new show.

Nick (also and advisor on the ITV Drama) expertly chronicles the twists and turns of the scandal, taking in the shambolic commissioning of the disastrous Post Office Horizon IT system and examining the punitive methods employed by the Post Office – bypassing the police and the Crown Prosecution Service – to create the most widespread miscarriage of justice in UK legal history. Nick then narrows in on the subsequent cover-up, and the staggering legal battles fought and won by campaigning Subpostmasters, against all the odds. As the public inquiry into the scandal reveals yet more horrors, Nick will be able to explain the very latest developments and their significance.

Nick will be talking about his experiences and reading from his best-selling book, followed by a Q&A session, giving the audience an opportunity to explore areas in more detail.

“A tale brilliantly told by Nick Wallis, who has dedicated years of work to establishing what happened, why it happened and calling those responsible to account.” – Rev Richard Coles, presenter and author.

"Nick Wallis ended his comprehensive and heartfelt account of injustices with thunderous applause" - My Shrewsbury

JANET SKINNER

Janet began working for the Post Office in her home town of Hull in 1994 as a counter clerk. She loved it, and over ten years worked her way up to becoming a Postmaster on a council estate in Bransholme, East Yorkshire. In June 2006, after a series of problems with Horizon (all of which Janet reported) four Post Office ‘auditors’ walked into her branch and found a £59,000 discrepancy. She was suspended on the spot. The next day she was driven to a police station by two Post Office investigators for a ‘chat.’ The ‘chat’ was an interview under caution. Janet was not invited to bring a solicitor. The investigators questioned Janet for more than an hour. They weren’t interested in what might have gone wrong at the branch. They just wanted to know if she had stolen the money and how she was going to repay it.

Janet was charged with theft and false accounting in August 2006, despite there being no evidence of any dishonesty on her part. After a meeting with Post Office prosecutors, Janet’s solicitor told her if she pleaded guilty to false accounting, the Post Office would drop the theft charge against her. He advised Janet that if she wanted to stay out of prison, she should accept the offer. In February 2007, a terrified Janet pleaded guilty to false accounting. She was given a nine-month prison sentence.

Janet told the public inquiry: "After arriving in jail, I was fingerprinted, had photos taken and was made to strip and squat behind a shower curtain. I was distraught. I was then placed on suicide watch for a week because of my emotional state of mind. I was allowed one phone call on the night which I made to my children, but my daughter was so distraught she couldn't speak to me.”

Janet lost the home she shared with her children in 2007. They were forced into private rented accommodation. A couple of years later Janet's immune system attacked itself causing paralysis from the neck down. Janet fought back and taught herself how to walk again. On 23 April 2021 Janet's conviction was quashed. She is still waiting for compensation.