Hurrah!

Radio 4 has commissioned a 15-part series on the history of mail, to broadcast in late 2011.

More interesting than it sounds, Royal Mail started life in 1516 as a system to control information and to keep tabs on potential dissidents. It wasn’t until 1840 and the advent of the Penny Black that it became readily available to the general public. Over the centuries, the post office has become a cherished social institution, linking people together and extending their vision outward into the wider world. How the people made it their own is a fascinating story that has not been told.

As Royal Mail confronts an uncertain future, we’ll chart the development of the British postal service and discover, through the correspondence of ordinary people, the role the post has played in forging our national identity, at the heart of which is freedom of speech.

Looking forward to going into production in 2011.