Right now you can watch Postman Pat in the UK on ITVX Premium — and the writing holds up regardless of the format's reputation. The 5-season run is exactly the right length for what it is doing. 51 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. A harder one to justify skipping than to start. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on ITVX Premium.

Postman Pat arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. Postman Pat treats animation as a medium, not a limitation. Pat and his black-and-white cat Jess deliver the mail in Greendale. Every line from Archie Panjabi and Kulvinder Ghir lands with more craft than you'd expect. The series ran for 5 seasons (1981–2006), building a story that gave its audience time to invest properly. Postman Pat uses the freedom of animation to tell stories live-action could not attempt. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

If you have been sleeping on Postman Pat because of the format, the format is not the issue here. Fans of Tom & Jerry Kids Show will recognise the sensibility here immediately. Short enough to finish in a weekend, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Archie Panjabi brings more to the role than the format usually demands. A harder one to justify skipping than to start.

Postman Pat wrapped up in 2006, created by John Cunliffe and Ivor Wood — and 5 seasons are available to watch from start to finish. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.