Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysToronto Int'l Film FestivalHispanic Heritage MonthIMDb Stars to WatchSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

The Missing Postman

  • TV Movie
  • 1997
  • 2h 34m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
221
YOUR RATING
James Bolam in The Missing Postman (1997)
ComedyDrama

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'... Read allClive 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 e... Read allClive 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... Read all

  • Director
    • Alan Dossor
  • Writer
    • Mark Wallington
  • Stars
    • James Bolam
    • Alison Steadman
    • Jim Carter
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.6/10
    221
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Alan Dossor
    • Writer
      • Mark Wallington
    • Stars
      • James Bolam
      • Alison Steadman
      • Jim Carter
    • 9User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win total

    Photos3

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster

    Top cast51

    Edit
    James Bolam
    James Bolam
    • Clive Peacock
    Alison Steadman
    Alison Steadman
    • Christine Peacock
    Jim Carter
    Jim Carter
    • DS Lawrence Pitman
    Gwyneth Strong
    Gwyneth Strong
    • WPC Rachel McMahon
    Stephen Moore
    Stephen Moore
    • Ralph
    Barbara Dickson
    Barbara Dickson
    • Linda Taylor
    Larry Lamb
    Larry Lamb
    • Trevor Ramsay
    Dave Anderson
    • Roger Gourock
    Martin Ball
    • Simon Maughan
    Dominic Borrelli
    Dominic Borrelli
    • Derek
    Martine Brown
    • Harriet's Mum
    Tessa Burbridge
    • Stripper
    Gareth Corke
    • Mr Brewster
    Mark Cox
    • Scottish Policeman
    Nicky Croydon
    • Jeanie
    Robert Daws
    Robert Daws
    • Peter Robson
    Joanna Dickens
    • Kate Lemsford
    Colin Edwynn
    • Alfie
    • Director
      • Alan Dossor
    • Writer
      • Mark Wallington
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews9

    7.6221
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    8mikeiskorn

    Wonderful.

    A beautifully heartfelt story with an all star UK cast. Funny to see Larry and Alison in that one scene together .. who knew years later! Anyway, speaking of the Missing Postman, the idea behind the story, a man not giving up and letting technology take over was done in a very sensitive way. James Bolam portrays his character soo realistic and the scene where he describes how his wife lost their baby was gut wrenching. If you like 90s UK tv shows, you will love this.
    9kimdino-1

    A great British road movie.

    In 'Continental Drifters' Rich Hall declares that it would be impossible to set a road movie in Britain. This series proves that wrong.

    Plot Outline:- Clive is a postie who loves his job but is being forced into retirement by new technology. So, after emptying the last postbox at the end of his last day, he suddenly decides not to return to the sorting office to hand in his uniform & bike, but instead decides to deliver the letters himself. So begins an adventure well worth watching , with all the drama, heartache & joy of the best road movies. There is even his having to evade the police trailing him.

    With James Bolam perfectly cast as Clive, Alison Steadman as the wife left at home and Jim Carter as the pursuing policeman, there are great performances. These and the excellent script provide a very enjoyable three hours of entertainment. thart rival Easy Rider, Vanishing Point, Thelma & Louise etc. And even if you aren't a road movie lover, this is still a great light drama of the 'Doc Martin', 'Withnail & I' type..
    8keithg1xfl

    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?)
    10luciakristina

    Absolutely wonderful

    I'm German and just love British protections.

    The acting, screenplay and plot in this film are just magnificent. Putting it simply, it's a gentle one man's journey to himself. All other characters contribute to his growth along there way - while his wife has to grapple with being left alone to cope but it has a mixed effect on her. Venting her frustration and grief by doing major house renovations, she is forced to reflect on the state of her marriage. Her character's growth is as evident as Clive's own journey. Every character is well drawn and beautifully acted.

    I apologize for my substandard English but I just had to express my appreciation of this great little/big movie.
    8moaboa

    A Lovely British Production

    I saw this movie divided into a mini-series a couple of years ago and I absolutely loved it.

    The movie's about Clive, who has worked as a postman forever. When he is to be replaced by new technology, he suffers a bit of a black-out. Clive takes his post-bag containing letters for people living all over Britain and gets on his bike to personally deliver them. On his journey he meets people who in different ways affect his life...

    What I liked about this movie was that it was such a nice little story about one man's life. It wasn't any sort of hero-movie; like "will Clive be able to change the whole system and get rid of the machines", it was simply a portrait of one man and his life.

    More like this

    All Quiet on the Preston Front
    8.1
    All Quiet on the Preston Front
    The Illustrated Mum
    7.3
    The Illustrated Mum
    The Bad Mother's Handbook
    6.2
    The Bad Mother's Handbook
    Magnificent 7
    6.7
    Magnificent 7
    Five Daughters
    7.4
    Five Daughters
    Más allá de la sospecha. La dalia roja
    6.2
    Más allá de la sospecha. La dalia roja
    Sparkhouse
    7.3
    Sparkhouse
    The Scouting Book for Boys
    6.5
    The Scouting Book for Boys
    Dis/Connected
    6.0
    Dis/Connected
    Awaydays
    5.7
    Awaydays
    6.4
    Daddyfox
    Colette
    6.6
    Colette

    Related interests

    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Holliday Grainger's debut.

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 29, 1997 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Production company
      • British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 2h 34m(154 min)

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.