Will Mellor was mocked by Ralf Little, but had the last laugh when it came to the TRIC Awards (Image: ITV) Ralf Little playfully suggested that starring in Mr Bates vs The Post Office could damage Will Mellor 's credibility as an actor - but less than two months later, Will triumphed over his pal with the show. At the TRIC Awards, held at London's Grosvenor House Hotel on Tuesday, Ralf's show Death in Paradise was nominated for Best Drama. The category put pals and co-stars Will and Ralf head to head in direct competition - and ultimately Mr Bates vs The Post Office was the winner.
That was in spite of Ralf mischievously telling Will during their podcast show in Nottingham, which Express.co.uk attended: "You were worried Strictly would affect your credibility in the industry, but you did that Master Bates thing!" Ralf had changed "Mister Bates" to "Master Bates" for comic effect, seemingly making a pun about masturbation.
It was one of a series of sex references and innunendos, as they also invited the audience to join in with a saucy quiz called Snatchphrase - a word play based on the show Catchphrase. Will had previously told of how he'd considered quitting acting altogether after a series of setbacks and was poised to make the call to his agent after believing he "wasn't wanted anymore" - just hours before he was invited to audition for Mr Bates. However, Ralf's jarring joke was all in good fun, as the pair have been pals for decades, since first meeting on the set of Two .