James Strong

Mr Bates vs The Post Office dramatized the unfathomable plight of hundreds of subpostmasters losing life-changing sums of money to Horizon IT.

But series director James Strong argues that part of the story’s success is that it isn’t entirely unfathomable. If you’ve ever felt your heart drop when checking your bank balance right before pay day, there’s a chance you can empathise with a woman alone in her Post Office, confronted with scarily large numbers.

If there’s one thing us Brits know how to do well – apart from make a mean cup of tea and queue politely – it’s how to make a compelling TV crime drama. In recent years, the likes of Killing Eve, Line of Duty, Informer, Bodyguard and The Responder have all been jewels in prime-time schedules and reliable exports. But this has consequences for developing a new series as producers needs to offer something a little different.