Llandudno has played host to ITV film crews and some big-name actors over the past few days. 

ITV was in Craig-y-Don and Llandudno on Tuesday (July 18) and Wednesday (July 19) filming a new drama series called Mr Bates vs the Post Office. 

The show stars some big-name actors/actresses including Toby Jones (Captain America: The First Avenger and The Hunger Games) and Julie Hesmondhalgh (Hayley Cropper in Coronation Street) who were both sighted in Craig-y-Don over the past few days. 

Mr Bates vs The Post Office is about "the greatest miscarriage of justice in British legal history", according to ITV. 

North Wales Pioneer: St David's Hospice in Craig-y-Don was converted into a post office for filming on the new ITV drama series.St David's Hospice in Craig-y-Don was converted into a post office for filming on the new ITV drama series. (Image: Patrick Glover)

Summarising the new TV drama, ITV said: "For over a decade, the Post Office wrongly accused, harassed, and prosecuted hundreds of innocent sub-postmasters for theft, fraud, and false accounting due to Horizon, a defective IT system. 

"This is the real life story of their ten-year battle to prove their innocence culminating in a High Court trial, and paving the way for more than eighty wrongful convictions to be overturned."

Where did filming for Mr Bates vs The Post Office take place?

ITV film crews used various locations around Llandudno for filming, according to a letter issued to Craig-y-Don residents recently. 

But the main location used for filming was St David's Hospice on Queens Road in Craig-y-Don which was converted into a post office for the two days of filming. 

North Wales Pioneer: Period cars were also spotted on Queens Road in Craig-y-Don.Period cars were also spotted on Queens Road in Craig-y-Don. (Image: Patrick Glover)

ITV said: "This used to be the actual Post Office of Alan Bates and St David's have kindly allowed us to recreate a post office in their shop."

Filming looks to have wrapped up in Llandudno and Craig-y-Don now, as crews were packing away equipment at the St David's Hospice site yesterday (Wednesday, July 19) afternoon.

Period cars were still dotted along Queen Road on Wednesday, still there from external scenes for Mr Bates vs The Post Office.

Numerous film production vehicles were also spotted parked in Llandudno's West Shore Beach car park.

Facilities by ADF trucks could be seen parked up as well as pkelighting vehicles - a company which provides stage lighting equipment.

Which actors and actresses were spotted in Llandudno and Craig-y-Don during filming?

Actors including Toby Jones and Julie Hesmondhalgh were snapped in Llandudno on Tuesday (July 18) filming scenes for Mr Bates vs The Post Office. 

North Wales Pioneer: Toby Jones was one of the actors spotted filming in Llandudno.Toby Jones was one of the actors spotted filming in Llandudno. (Image: DJ Peaks photography)

Jones plays Alan Bates in the factual ITV Drama series, and talking about the role said: "I am proud to be a part of this shocking, unsettling but ultimately inspirational drama.”

Jones and Hesmondhalgh were both snapped on-site in Craig-y-Don by DJ Peaks Photography on Tuesday. 

Talking to the Pioneer, photographer DJ Peaks said: "While Toby's scenes yesterday (Tuesday, July 18) were indoors, the main focus of the exterior scene that I observed being filmed, while I was nearby, was the arrival of police officers to accompany post office staff into the premises while shutting out awaiting customers.

"While the set was being prepared and crew set up in locations to film, Toby Jones moved outside to the pavement to talk to crew, fellow cast and fans passing by who requested he join in with 'selfie' style photographs. 

"The scene itself was the arrival of a police car to add their presence to the waiting 'Post Office' officials, escort them into the building and close-up the premises in the faces of awaiting customers."

North Wales Pioneer: ITV film crews were spotted in Llandudno on Tuesday and Wednesday (July 18 and 19).ITV film crews were spotted in Llandudno on Tuesday and Wednesday (July 18 and 19). (Image: DJ Peaks Photography)

Hesmondhalgh was also spotted by local residents during the two days of filming in Craig-y-Don.

She is mostly known for her role as Hayley Cropper in Coronation Street but has also appeared in shows including Doctor Who and Broadchurch.

Other cast members for ITV series Mr Bates vs The Post Office include:

  • Monica Dolan (His Wife and The Canoe)
  • Alex Jennings (This Is Going to Hurt, The Crown)
  • Ian Hart (The Responder)
  • Lia Williams (The Crown)
  • Will Mellor (Coronation Street)
  • Clare Calbraith
  • Shaun Dooley (It’s A Sin)
  • Amit Shah (Happy Valley)
  • Lesley Nicol (Downton Abbey)
  • Adam James
  • Katherine Kelly

Mr Bates vs The Post Office is set to air on ITV in 2024.