Will Mellor lifts lid on shocking miscarriages of justice in gripping new documentary Convictions Gone Bad
Viewers will see Will speaking to victims who were wrongly jailedWill Mellor has been investigating wrongful convictions for new documentary series Convictions Gone Bad.
The new Crime+Investigation show puts Will face-to-face with people who have been failed by the justice system.
The programme examines murder convictions and other criminal cases, including rape, where innocent people were wrongly jailed.
Will’s interest in the subject is personal, as his own father served time behind bars.
He has also become quite a campaigner since starring in Mr Bates Vs The Post Office.
Will Mellor to front new crime series Convictions Gone Bad
Speaking ahead of Convictions Gone Bad’s launch on Sky, Will has explained why he believes television should challenge powerful institutions such as prisons.
The project follows his role as Lee Castleton in Mr Bates Vs The Post Office. The ITV drama series made the Horizon scandal a national talking point and increased pressure on politicians.
Will now hopes his factual series can start a wider conversation about wrongful convictions.
One featured case concerns Sam Hallam, who was 17 when wrongly convicted of murdering trainee chef Essayas Kassahun. The killing happened in central London, but Sam was not at the scene.
Police did not check evidence on Sam’s phone that could have cleared him. He spent more than seven years behind bars.
During his imprisonment, Sam’s father Terry took his own life. The family tragedy brought another painful consequence to an already devastating case.
Will said: “Sam was wrongly sent to prison for a crime he was nowhere near when it happened. What I see as a common thread is it’s the powers -that-be who don’t like to be proved wrong.”
Will ‘shaken’ by Andrew Malkinson case
Another episode will feature Andrew Malkinson, who spent 17 years imprisoned after being wrongly convicted of rape. His conviction was eventually quashed.
Will’s late father, Bill, had served time in prison for handling stolen goods and described what happened inside. Those accounts shaped Will’s response to the stigma Andrew endured while knowing he was innocent.
He is quoted in The Sun, saying: “Imagine being Andrew Malkinson, knowing you’re innocent but you’ve got that label attached to you. I don’t know how I would cope with the anger of that or the injustice of it.”
Will also discussed fears for his mixed-race children, who he worries could face prejudice because of their skin colour.
The actor shares son Jayden, 22, and daughter Renee, 18, with wife Michelle. He described the prospect of such prejudice affecting his family as ‘putting the fear of God’ into him.
When does Convictions Gone Bad with Will Mellor start?
Convictions Gone Bad with Will Mellor will hit the small screen next week. The documentary series has five episodes and will start on Monday October 5, 2026.
You can tune in to see it on the Crime+Investigation channel at 9pm. The channel is available on Sky and Virgin Media.
Convictions Gone Bad with Will Mellor starts at 9pm on Crime+Investigations on Monday October 5, 2026.
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