The Missing Postman (TV 1997)

Clive Peacock is a postman in a small seaside town in Dorset. He's happy in his job and doesn't want it to change. But new technology is being introduced in his sorting office. Since he ... See full summary »

Director:

Alan Dossor

Writer:

Mark Wallington

Stars:

James Bolam, Alison Steadman, Jim Carter

Cast

Complete credited cast:
James Bolam	...	Clive Peacock
Alison Steadman	...	Christine Peacock
Jim Carter	...	DS Lawrence Pitman
Gwyneth Strong	...	WPC Rachel McMahon
Stephen Moore	...	Ralph
Barbara Dickson	...	Linda Taylor
Larry Lamb	...	Trevor Ramsay
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dave Anderson	...	Roger Gourock
Martin Ball	...	Simon Maughan
Dominic Borrelli	...	Derek
Martine Brown	...	Harriet's Mum
Tessa Burbridge	...	Stripper
Gareth Corke	...	Mr Brewster
Mark Cox	...	Scottish Policeman
Nicky Croydon	...	Jeanie

Storyline

Clive Peacock is a postman in a small seaside town in Dorset. He's happy in his job and doesn't want it to change. But new technology is being introduced in his sorting office. Since he can't drive, and since deliveries by bicycle are deemed to be "old fashioned", he is offered early retirement. But he doesn't want to retire. On his last day, he collects the post from the pillar box... and decides to deliver it by hand himself as a protest. And so he starts out on a long journey by bike all around Britain, delivering each letter personally. He is hotly pursued by the police (who want to arrest him for "stealing Her Majesty's mail") and by the media (who see a great human interest story and turn him into a celebrity). But he manages to stay one step ahead of them, making many friends along the way.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 March 1997 (UK)

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

User Reviews

Brilliant!

I'm not normally a Fan of James Bolam, but he was made for this part, Its one of the best pieces of Drama I've seen for years.

It's the story of a postman forced into retirement by automation, he tries working, in McDonalds, Metal detecting etc, but they are not for him so he decides to deliver his last bag of mail personally, to addresses all over the UK (and even slightly beyond) and the film is about his trials and tribulations on the way.James Bolam should have got an Oscar or whatever because he was brilliant, in fact the whole film was brilliant. Its the sort of story that everyone can associate with

I just wish they would release it on DVD (or does anyone know something?)