Test your knowledge

Last week, popular children’s TV programme, Blue Peter, celebrated the sheer volume of fan mail they receive each week by hosting a fun fact quiz about ‘post, letters and how the mail gets delivered!’

Where does the ‘Royal’ in Royal Mail get its name from?

1. It was invented by the king
2. Originally only the Royal Family could use it
3. Because ‘Royal’ makes it sound posh
4. Because the Queen appears on the postage stamp

Which animal was crucial in delivering important letters around the UK (and beyond) during World War II?

1. Cats
2. Dogs
3. Pigeons
4. Rats

In 2012 in celebration of the UK’s success at the London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, which colour were more than 100 post boxes painted?

1. Gold
2. Blue
3. Green
4. Yellow

True or false, in the past, actual people have been posted through the mail system.

1. True
2. False

Mail companies often use Letter Sorting robots to sort the mail. How many items of post can one of these machines sort though in one hour?

1. 2,000
2. 12,000
3. 24,000
4. 36,000

Finally, how many letters were sent into Blue Peter in 2018?

1. 61,875
2. 87,034
3. 123,545
4. 131,841

Click here for the answers and some ‘fun facts’ about the post and how we deliver it.

Blue Peter has said that they love receiving post from their young viewers and reply to every single letter they receive. Fans who write in to the programme have the chance to win one of their ever-popular Blue Peter badges - a special award given to viewers and fans aged 6-15. Badge owners can gain free entry into more than 200 Blue Peter Badge attractions around the country, like theme parks, zoos and castles.