Mr Bates vs The Post Office is the acclaimed ITV drama that dramatized the British Post Office Horizon scandal, in which hundreds of sub-postmasters were wrongly accused of theft and fraud. The series became a genuine cultural event in the UK and went on to earn Peabody and BAFTA recognition.
Quick Facts
| Composer(s) | Vince Pope |
| Release Date | January 1, 2024 (ITV1/ITVX, UK); April 7, 2024 (PBS Masterpiece, US) |
| Genre | Drama, based on true events |
| Studio/Network | ITV Studios / ITV1 (UK); PBS Masterpiece (US) |
| Where to Stream | PBS Masterpiece (PBS app, PBS Passport, or the PBS Masterpiece Channel on Prime Video) in the US; ITVX in the UK — not on Netflix, Hulu, or Disney+ |
| Soundtrack Album | No standalone commercial soundtrack album; the score is by Vince Pope, with the needle-drop “People Help the People” by Birdy featured in the series |
Who Composed the Mr Bates vs The Post Office Soundtrack?
Vince Pope, signed to Manners McDade, composed the score. Pope is known for contemporary, cutting-edge scores for series including No Offence, Misfits, Undercover, Black Mirror, and True Detective: Night Country. He has spoken about scoring Mr Bates vs The Post Office with a thriller-like tension to match the slow-burn injustice at the heart of the story.
Mr Bates vs The Post Office Soundtrack — Every Song (by Scene)
| Track / Song | Artist |
|---|---|
| People Help the People | Birdy (from her 2011 album Birdy) |
Where to Stream
In the US, Mr Bates vs The Post Office streams on PBS Masterpiece — through the PBS app, PBS Passport, or the PBS Masterpiece Channel available via Prime Video. It is not currently on Netflix, Hulu, or Disney+. Vince Pope’s score and Birdy’s “People Help the People” can be found on Spotify and Apple Music. Browse more titles on our streaming hub.
Cast
The series stars Toby Jones as Alan Bates, alongside Amy Nuttall, Shaun Dooley, Ian Hart, Alex Jennings, and Adam James.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who composed the Mr Bates vs The Post Office score?
Vince Pope composed the score. He is known for his work on No Offence, Misfits, Undercover, Black Mirror, and True Detective: Night Country.
Is “People Help the People” by Birdy really in the show?
Yes. Birdy’s 2011 track “People Help the People” is featured as a needle-drop in the series.
Where can I watch Mr Bates vs The Post Office in the US?
It streams on PBS Masterpiece, available via the PBS app, PBS Passport, or the PBS Masterpiece Channel on Prime Video. It is not on Netflix, Hulu, or Disney+.
Is there an official soundtrack album for Mr Bates vs The Post Office?
No standalone commercial soundtrack album has been released for the series.
What is Mr Bates vs The Post Office about?
The drama dramatizes the real-life British Post Office Horizon scandal, in which a flawed IT system led to hundreds of sub-postmasters being wrongly accused of theft, fraud, and false accounting.
Related reading: Check our Prime Video guide, browse the streaming hub, or visit our TV soundtrack hub for more.
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