Postman Pat Goes Undercover is the fifteenth episode of Postman Pat Season 4. It was written by Jan Page.
Summary[]
Mr. Pringle is planning to take the children camping for the weekend. However, Bill can't go since his aunt is coming to visit. Sarah doesn't want to go as she thinks it will be too windy, and convinces Lucy that they should rather stay home and play with Sarah's new dollhouse.
When all the minibuses are booked out for the weekend, Mr. Pringle announces that the camping trip will have to be cancelled, until Pat has an idea to turn the old post bus into a school bus. So the children and Mr. Pringle repaint and clean the bus, Pat tests out the lights and wipers, Ted mends the engine and very soon, the bus is ready for its new occupation.
Mr. Pringle decides to let Pat come on the trip as he needs some help with the camping gear. So, Mr. Pringle and the children set off in the bus, while Pat and Jess follow behind in his van with the camping gear and soon arrive at the camping spot. Meanwhile at the Post Office, Sarah becomes sick and despite her wanting to show Lucy her new doll house Dr. Gilbertson tells Sarah to wait until she's better. Lucy wishes she had gone camping but Mrs. Goggins tells Lucy that night is supposed to be stormy so it's a good thing she didn't go. Tom is a bit nervous about the trip, but soon ends up both enjoying himself and being very helpful, particularly when the tents are blown away in a storm.
Characters[]
- Pat
- Jess
- Sara Clifton
- Julian Clifton
- Mrs. Goggins
- Bonnie
- Bill Thompson
- Mrs. Pottage
- Katy and Tom Pottage
- Ajay Bains
- Meera Bains
- P.C. Selby
- Lucy Selby
- Doctor Gilbertson
- Sarah Gilbertson
- Mr. Pringle
- Charlie Pringle
- Ted Glen (cameo)
- Nisha Bains (cameo)
- Bill Thompson's Aunt (mentioned)
Vehicles[]
Locations[]
- Pat's House
- Post Office
- Greendale Primary School
- P.C. Selby's House
- Greendale Station
- The Church
- Garner Hall
- River Penn
Cast[]
- Ken Barrie as Pat, P.C. Selby and Mr. Pringle
- Melissa Sinden as Jess and Bonnie
- Carole Boyd as Sara Clifton, Mrs. Goggins, Mrs. Pottage, Doctor Gilbertson, Sarah Gilbertson and Charlie
- Janet James as Julian and Lucy
- Kulvinder Ghir as Bill, Tom and Ajay
- Archie Panjabi as Katy and Meera
Trivia[]
- Going by production order, this is the fifteenth episode of the fourth season.
- This is the first episode since Postman Pat and the Mystery Tour that PAT 2, the original post bus, appears onscreen in an episode. It is also the last episode where it is seen in its historic Royal Mail Post Bus livery.
- Despite this, the model of the original post bus would unintentionally appear in the background in the episode Postman Pat's Cat Calamity.
- From this point onwards, PAT 2 is a school bus, but does not get registered as SCHOOL 1 until Special Delivery Service.
- The repurposing of the post bus in this episode may be a reference to the declining services of post bus services and its subsequent replacement by private rural bus operators in the mid-2000's till the 2010's in the UK.
- Stock footage from Postman Pat and the Job Swap Day and Postman Pat Clowns Around is used.
- The songs, "Something New" and "The Camping Song" feature in this episode.
- The Camping Song was the only song Ken Barrie ever sang during series 3 to 5, apart from the opening theme.
- The water coming out of Meera's hose is actually cling film.
- The original Woodland Animations PAT 2 appears, The old and new PAT 2 can be differentiated by the font used for the number plate and the iron guard not being present on the new model.
- A piece of the fallen tree from Postman Pat's Windy Day can be seen in the place where Pat, Jess, Mr. Pringle and the children go camping.
- When Julian and Katy take the camping gear out of Pat's van, the sling that Pat used to carry Jess in Postman Pat takes a Message can be seen.
- The original Woodland Animations PAT 1 model is used on one of the country sets when they all go back to the school.
Goofs[]
- Because stock footage from Postman Pat and the Job Swap Day is used, most of the children (except Charlie) look depressed about Mr. Pringle's announcement at the school trip even though they are meant to be happy about them.
- When Mr. Pringle suggests that the class go camping, Sarah and Lucy's expressions show opposite opinions about it compared to the rest of the episode.
- The tyres on the post bus are flat when Meera squirts water on the outside of the bus, even though Mr. Pringle pumped them up earlier. You can also see a flat tyre when Meera and Julian put their paint brushes in the tin of yellow paint.
- When Mr. Pringle pumps up the bus' tyres, the pump is not attached to where the valve should be.
- In one shot after PAT 1 and 2 have driven away from the school, PAT 1 does not have its rear number plate. It is also missing when they have arrived at the camping spot.
- At a few points, Tom has only one eye brow.
- At the end, Ajay had no eyebrows.
Gallery[]
