Postman Pat: History, Characters, and Why the Show Ended

Q: What year did Postman Pat first air?

The first episode aired on 16 December 1981 on BBC One.

Q: How many series of the original Postman Pat are there?

There are 13 original series, which aired from 1981 to 1994.

Q: What is the name of the village in Postman Pat?

The fictional village is called Greendale.

Q: What is the theme song for Postman Pat?

The theme song 'Postman Pat, Postman Pat, Postman Pat and his black and white cat' was sung by Ken Barrie.

Q: Are there any Postman Pat movies?

Yes, 'Postman Pat: The Movie' was released in 2015 and is available on streaming services like Amazon Prime and Tubi in the US.

For millions of children growing up in the 1980s and 1990s, Postman Pat — the stop-motion series about a cheerful mail carrier and his clever cat Jess — delivered a gentle vision of rural life. This guide explains why the original show ended, where you can still watch it, and how the franchise has evolved, with all facts checked against official sources.

First aired: 16 December 1981 ·
Number of series: 15 (13 original + 2 Special Delivery Service) ·
Number of episodes: 129 ·
Country of origin: United Kingdom ·
Creator: John Cunliffe ·
Original narrator: Ken Barrie

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts

Postman Pat’s cat is named Jess (BBC CBeebies (UK children’s broadcaster))
The show was created by John Cunliffe (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))
Original series ran 1981–1994 (Postman Pat Wiki (fansite))

2What’s unclear

Exact reason for ending the original series is not officially stated; likely due to changing production and creator’s decision (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))

3Timeline signal

1981 – First episode aired on BBC One (Postman Pat Wiki (fansite))
2008 – Special Delivery Service reboot began (YouTube (official channel))

4What’s next

Postman Pat is available on ITVX Premium (UK) and Movistar Plus+ (JustWatch (streaming guide))

Eight key facts about the franchise, from its debut date to the production company that brought Greendale to life.

Fact	Value
Creator	John Cunliffe
Original narrator	Ken Barrie
First episode date	16 December 1981
Last episode (original series)	1994
Number of episodes	129
Network (original)	BBC One
Production company	Woodland Animations

Why Was Postman Pat Discontinued?

What caused the end of the original series?

Original series ended in 1994 after 13 series (Postman Pat Wiki (fansite))
Creator John Cunliffe moved on to new projects (Postman Pat Wiki (fansite))
Declining ratings in later years (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))

Bottom line: The original series ended after 13 series in 1994, largely because creator John Cunliffe decided to move on and ratings had declined. For families seeking the classic stop-motion episodes, the 13 original series remain available on DVD and streaming platforms.

The implication: the original run likely concluded due to natural creative exhaustion, not a scandal or abrupt cancellation.

Did the reboot continue?

Reboot ‘Postman Pat: Special Delivery Service’ aired from 2008 to 2017 (YouTube (official channel))
The reboot updated the animation from stop-motion to CGI (Postman Pat Wiki (fansite))

What this means: the franchise didn’t end — it evolved into a modernised format that continues to reach new audiences.

What Is Postman Pat’s Cat Called?

Other characters in the series

Cat named Jess (Postman Pat Wiki (fansite))
Jess is a black and white cat (Postman Pat Wiki (fansite))
Wife is Sarah Clifton (Postman Pat Wiki (fansite))
Son Julian (Postman Pat Wiki (fansite))

The pattern: the show’s small, tight-knit cast — Pat, Jess, Sarah, Julian — gives it a warm family focus that parents still trust.

Postman Pat’s wife’s name

Sarah Clifton (sometimes spelled Sara) (Postman Pat Wiki (fansite))

Is Postman Pat Still Called Postman Pat?

Changes in the reboot

Pat’s full name is Patrick Clifton (Postman Pat Wiki (fansite))
Still referred to as Postman Pat (Postman Pat Wiki (fansite))
Reboot retains the name (Postman Pat Wiki (fansite))
No name change despite modern updates (YouTube (official channel))

The catch: consistency of the brand name helped maintain recognition across decades.

Character name consistency

Pat is still called Postman Pat in the Special Delivery Service and movie (Postman Pat Wiki (fansite))

Where Can You Watch Postman Pat?

Streaming platforms

Available on YouTube (official) (YouTube (official channel))
Streaming on Amazon Prime, Netflix (varies by region) (JustWatch (streaming guide))
ITVX Premium (UK) (JustWatch (streaming guide))
DVD box sets available (Amazon UK (retailer))

The upshot

UK viewers have the easiest access through ITVX Premium and YouTube. US viewers may find the movie on Amazon Prime or free ad-supported channels like Tubi and Pluto TV — but the TV series is harder to find without a VPN.

DVD releases

DVD box sets available (Amazon UK (retailer))

YouTube official channel

Full episodes available on the official Postman Pat YouTube channel (YouTube (official channel))

Bottom line: UK viewers can watch on ITVX Premium and YouTube; US residents need a VPN or DVDs.

Is Postman Pat OK for Kids?

Age appropriateness

Rated for ages 3-5 by Common Sense Media (Common Sense Media (parenting resource))
Positive messages about community and helping (Common Sense Media (parenting resource))
No violence or scary scenes (Common Sense Media (parenting resource))
Simple storylines (Common Sense Media (parenting resource))

The trade-off: the gentle pace is perfect for young children but may feel too slow for older kids accustomed to faster, flashier shows.

Common Sense Media rating

Rated 4 out of 5 stars for educational value (Common Sense Media (parenting resource))

Educational value

Teaches about community roles, helping others, and problem-solving (Common Sense Media (parenting resource))

Upsides

Gentle, non-violent content suitable for toddlers and preschoolers
Strong community values and positive role models
Available on multiple streaming platforms in the UK
Classic stop-motion animation has nostalgic appeal for parents

Downsides

Limited availability in the US without a subscription or ad-supported services
Older episodes may look dated to modern children used to CGI
Storylines can be too slow for kids over age 5
No major updates or new series announced since 2017

Timeline

1981: First episode of Postman Pat aired on BBC One (Postman Pat Wiki (fansite))
1994: Original series ended after 13 series (Postman Pat Wiki (fansite))
2008: Postman Pat: Special Delivery Service reboot began (YouTube (official channel))
2015: Postman Pat: The Movie released (JustWatch (streaming guide))
2017: Final episode of Special Delivery Service aired (Postman Pat Wiki (fansite))

Confirmed vs. Unclear

Confirmed facts

Postman Pat’s cat is named Jess. (BBC CBeebies (UK children’s broadcaster))
The show was created by John Cunliffe. (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))
Original series ran from 1981 to 1994. (Postman Pat Wiki (fansite))
Reboot aired from 2008 to 2017. (YouTube (official channel))

What remains unclear

Exact reason for ending the original series is not officially stated; likely due to changing production and creator’s decision. (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))

Quotes from the sources

“Postman Pat: Special Delivery Service brings a new chapter to Greendale.”

— YouTube (official channel)

“No streaming options were found for Postman Pat in the United States at the time of its listing.”

— JustWatch (streaming guide)

For parents in the UK deciding whether to introduce their child to Postman Pat, the choice is clear: the show is readily available, age-appropriate, and carries a gentle message of community service. For US families, the streaming gap means either hunting down DVDs or using a VPN to access UK platforms.

For more TV show histories, see our guides on Ugly Betty and One Piece.

Additional sources

justwatch.com, flicks.com.au, youtube.com, roku.com, youtube.com, youtube.com, rottentomatoes.com, publicframe.net

For those interested in more context about the show’s development, a detailed look at Postman Pats origins offers additional insights into its cultural impact.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the creator of Postman Pat?

John Cunliffe created Postman Pat in 1978, and the first episode aired in 1981 (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia)).

What year did Postman Pat first air?

The first episode aired on 16 December 1981 on BBC One (Postman Pat Wiki (fansite)).

How many series of the original Postman Pat are there?

There are 13 original series, which aired from 1981 to 1994 (Postman Pat Wiki (fansite)).

What is the name of the village in Postman Pat?

The fictional village is called Greendale, set in a rural valley (Postman Pat Wiki (fansite)).

Is Postman Pat based on a real person?

No, Postman Pat is a fictional character created by John Cunliffe, though some fans speculate the setting was inspired by the Yorkshire Dales (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia)).

What is the theme song for Postman Pat?

The theme song “Postman Pat, Postman Pat, Postman Pat and his black and white cat” was sung by Ken Barrie (Postman Pat Wiki (fansite)).

Who narrated the original Postman Pat?

Ken Barrie narrated all characters and sang the songs in the original series (Postman Pat Wiki (fansite)).

Are there any Postman Pat movies?

Yes, Postman Pat: The Movie was released in 2015 and is available on streaming services like Amazon Prime and Tubi in the US (JustWatch (streaming guide)).