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Postman Pat's Finding Day is the first episode of the first series and overall the first episode of Postman Pat, which was first broadcast on 16 September 1981 in the UK, 15 May 1985 in New Zealand, 14 September 1989 in Ireland and 10 June 1991 in Australia. It was written by John Cunliffe and narrated by Ken Barrie.

Summary[]

Pat calls to the Post Office where most of the post is for Katy and Tom because it is their birthday. Pat goes to deliver the post to them. Poor Katy is not having a very happy birthday because she has lost Sarah-Ann, her doll that she takes everywhere. Pat's round then becomes a search for the missing doll. He comes across a load of other things but not the doll. Will he find Katy's missing doll in order to save the day?

Characters[]

Vehicles[]

Locations[]

Trivia[]

  • This is the very first episode of the series.
  • This episode marks the official introductions of Pat, Jess, Mrs. Goggins, Ted Glen, Dorothy and Bill Thompson, the Reverend Timms, Julia, Katy and Tom Pottage, Lucy Selby, Sarah Gilbertson, Charlie Pringle, Sam Waldron and Miss Hubbard.
  • The music played when Pat first comes to Greendale Farm is the instrumental of the Farmer's song.
  • This is the first episode where Pat removes his glasses.
  • The book version of this story is called "Postman Pat's Treasure Hunt". Also Mr Pringle is mentioned in the book version despite having not appeared yet.
  • In the English version, the instrumental to the Farmer's song is muted when Katy and Tom go out to meet Pat and while Mrs. Pottage talks about Sarah-Ann, up to the point when Pat goes back to his van, but in the Czech, Swedish, Spanish, Welsh and Dutch versions, the music is not muted.
  • The music played when Pat visits Ted's workshop is the instrumental to the Handyman song.
  • In the Dutch, Swedish, Spanish, Welsh and Czech versions of this episode, the travelling music is absent when Pat takes Sarah-Anne and the chocolates to his van and during the scene where Miss Hubbard is shopping at Sam's Mobile Shop, the instrumental version of the Mobile Shop song is played (but not in the British dub.)
  • The music that plays when Pat gives the chocolates and Sarah Anne to Katy at the party is later heard in the school sequence in Postman Pat's ABC.
  • The travelling music that plays when Pat and Mrs. Thompson search for Sarah Anne was included on the Postman Pat vinyl soundtrack as a instrumental.
  • In the Welsh version, the title of this episode is called "Sera Ann" (Sarah Anne).
  • This is the only episode in which Ken Barrie voices Lucy Selby.
  • One of Katy’s books would later appear in the opening sequence of Woodland Animations’s other show "Gran".
  • The blue and yellow ball that Tom got would later appear at the Post Office in Postman Pat and the Toy Soldiers and then in a net with other balls and at the "Knock The Hat Off" stall in Postman Pat and the Tuba.
  • In Sam's van, some German biscuits called "Leibniz Butterkeks" can be spotted. These are real biscuits that are still being produced to this very day.
  • A promo shot of Pat and Jess at Greendale Farm was used on the cover of the soundtrack LP and also for a jigsaw puzzle.
  • It is likely this episode and the next episode were animated by Ivor Wood himself. Some elements, such as the way the characters walk, are animated in a similar manner to Ivor's earlier work on "The Herbs", "The Wombles" and "Paddington".
  • Ted’s hammer would later appear in other episodes of the show and two of Woodland Animations' other shows:
    • The "Bertha" episode, "The Best Machine Competition" as Panjit’s hammer. It is also seen on Mr. Sprott's table in the other episode, "Bertha's Birthday Party".
    • Three "Charlie Chalk" episodes, Charlie's hammer in "Shipwrecked Charlie" and Trader Jones' in "The Mountain That Moaned" and "Edward Keeps Fit".
  • Even though this is the very first episode of the TV series, it was included on the third Longman Video VHS release in 1983.
  • The end of the instrumental to the Farmer's Song is cut off when Pat stops at the church in the Swedish version, but isn't in all the other dubs.
  • Pat hums the theme song as he leaves the Post Office. This is the first episode where he would hum it. He would also whistle it in later episodes.

Differences between the TV and book versions[]

  • The book version of this story is called "Postman Pat's Treasure Hunt".
  • The book version features Sarah Gilbertson showing Pat a fossil. Lucy Selby then asks him if he is good at hopscotch. Both of them ask Pat in the episode. Also, when Pat says the post can not be late on today of all days, Sarah asks him what's so special about today.
  • Mr Pringle is mentioned in the book version despite having not appeared yet.
  • The book version has Mrs Thompson saying "Cheerio" to Pat, but in the episode, she says "Bye bye, Pat!"
  • The book version gives Pat, Jess and Mrs Goggins an extended introduction, explaining what they do in their work. For timing reasons, this was not added to the episode.
  • The 1996 audio book mentions the twins sitting down on the grass when opening their presents, but in the television adaptation, both are still standing in the farm yard.
  • In the book version, after leaving Greendale Farm, Pat tells Jess about the missing doll and he offers to look for her. Also, Aunt Alice is not mentioned in the book.
  • The book was published the same year the television series first aired.
  • The book version features an extended section with Pat, Sam and Miss Hubbard all noticing Sarah Anne and Sam saying he doesn't sell dolls. Miss Hubbard does not talk in the TV version.
  • In the 1996 audiobook, Ted and the Reverend Timms can be heard saying "Goodbye" to Pat at the party. They were not shown to be at the party in the TV version.
  • The book version features an section at the end where Pat goes to collect the letters from the letterbox and to tell Mrs Goggins about his hunt for Sarah Anne.

Goofs[]

  • In most of the long shots in this episode, Pat is not wearing his hat or his glasses while he is driving and Jess is not there.
  • After playing Hopscotch, Pat's body language indicates that he is checking his watch for the time, even though he clearly has no watch on his wrist at all.
  • When Pat throws his hat into his van, one of the back doors opens slightly and then closes by itself. Then when he closes the door, the van moves forward slightly.
  • When Pat wonders if he could find Katy's doll at Ted Glen's workshop, the doors on both sides of the mail van are taken off.
  • After Pat says "Certainly. I'm going that way," there is a slightly awkward silence before cutting to the next scene and Ted gestures as if he were saying something. This suggests there may have been some dialogue here that was cut for unknown reasons.
  • When Pat leaves the church he has his hat on as he is driving away, but in the next scene when he arrives at Thompson Ground, he is seen putting his hat back on as he is getting out of the van.
  • The book version mentions the items that are in Ted's workshop ready to be mended. None of these are seen in the episode.
  • The book version mentions things fell on Pat and Ted when they look for the doll, but in the TV version, only a plank of wood falls on Pat.
  • The audio for the episode is muffled what with being recorded in the early 1980's, but in the scene where Pat and Mrs Pottage discuss Sarah Anne and when Ted says "Enjoying yourself, Pat," the audio is a lot more clearer.

Descriptions[]

  • BBC Programmes: Postman Pat and Jess, his black and white cat, call in at Mrs Goggin's Post Office to collect the post to be delivered in Greendale. But his round also becomes a search for Katy Pottage's missing doll.[2]
  • BritBox and ITVX: Postman Pat tries to find Katy Pottage's dolly to cheer the little girl up.

Home Media Releases[]

Episode[]

References[]

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