Daniel Postgate, the cherished illustrator and BAFTA-winning TV figure, was found dead inside a shed on his property in Whitstable, England, in June. It has now emerged that he received a heartbreaking letter only one day before his death.
Postgate, aged 61, was discovered in the shed at his home after recently ending a 35-year relationship. According to The Sun, he had been diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome — a type of blood cancer — shortly thereafter.
An inquest revealed that Postgate had previously undergone intense treatment for aplastic anaemia in 2019. He left a note for his family explaining that he had received a letter from the National Health Service (NHS) concerning his diagnosis.
His family told police that Daniel would have meticulously analyzed everything written in that letter and believed it played a role in his decision to end his life. They described it as “the final straw.”
The award-winning writer had already completed one round of chemotherapy. In a handwritten message, he admitted to his family that he feared his illness was beyond treatment.
“I hope you all have wonderful lives. Remember to love one another,” he wrote.
Two days before his death, Daniel had spoken with his brother Simon, who testified that Daniel seemed calm and talkative but had lived with underlying depression for around four decades. This made it difficult to gauge his emotional state.
Coroner Sarah Clarke told the Daily Mail she believed Postgate intentionally ended his life, adding that such decisions often cannot be fully explained. She noted that he expressed a desire not to continue with the painful treatments.
Postgate became head of Smallfilms in Blean, Canterbury, in 2008 after his father’s death. The company produced beloved children’s classics such as Bagpuss, which won a BAFTA Children’s Award in 2015. He received a nomination for Best Writer the following year.
He had recently been involved in plans to bring Bagpuss to cinemas in 2027. In a tribute after his passing, Smallfilms shared their grief:
“I am absolutely heartbroken to announce the loss of my dear friend and guardian of all things Smallfilms, Daniel Postgate. He was a kind and wonderful man who will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Our thoughts are with his family during this very difficult time.”