Thomas and Friends
Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends (otherwise referred to as Thomas and Friends, Thomas the Tank Engine or Thomas for short) is a British children's television series. It was first broadcast on CITV in September 1984. It is based on The Railway Series books by the Rev. W. Awdry and his son, Christopher. The main character is Thomas the Tank Engine, a tank engine that is painted blue. The show takes place on the made-up island of Sodor. There are some route systems there. One of them is a standard-gauge heritage railway run by Sir Topham Hatt known as the North Western Railway. Thomas runs on that route system.
Thomas and Friends | |
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![]() Logo used since 2008 | |
Genre | Children's television series |
Created by | Rev. W. Awdry |
Based on | The Railway Series by
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Developed by | Britt Allcroft |
Directed by |
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Voices of | See List of Thomas & Friends voice actors |
Narrated by | |
Opening theme |
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Ending theme |
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Composers |
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Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Original language | English |
No. of series | 24 |
No. of episodes | 584 + 14 films and 6 double-length specials (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producers |
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Producers |
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Production locations |
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Running time | |
Production companies |
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Original release | |
Network | |
Release | 9 October 1984 20 January 2021 | –
Related | |
Characters
changeThe show is mainly about the locomotives, other machines, humans and other animals who populate the fictional Island of Sodor in the United Kingdom. Since 2004, the show has had ten main characters:
History
changeThe first attempt to adapt Awdry's stories for television came in 1953, when the editor of the Railway Series books, Eric Marriott, was approached by the BBC, who wished to use live-action model trains to re-create two stories from Awdry's first book, The Three Railway Engines. 00 gauge Hornby Dublo models appeared on sets that reflected the style of the original illustrations. The first episode (based on "The Sad Story of Henry") was broadcast live on the evening of Sunday 14 June 1953 from Lime Grove Studios.[9] The live broadcast did not fare well: a failure to switch the points caused the model of Henry to derail and it had to be replaced on the rails by one of the operators. The models moved jerkily, and all effects and music had to be superimposed.[10]
News of the broadcast hit the front pages of The Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail. Awdry branded the episode "unprofessional", and the point-switching debacle an "elementary mistake". As a result, the second episode scheduled for 28 June 1953 was put on hold, and then later cancelled.[9][11] The BBC offered Awdry and the Railway Series publishers greater creative control over the production, but the publishers declined, preferring to focus on publishing new books for the series.[10]
Nearly twenty years later, the BBC featured Awdry's stories in the television story-telling show Jackanory. Fourteen years before Thomas and Friends was aired, Ted Ray (sitting in a stationmaster's office) read five Railway Series books in episodes that aired between 20 September to 2 October 1970.
Cast
changeVoices
changeActor | Region | Role(s) |
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John Hasler | UK | Thomas (The Adventure Begins onwards) |
UK/US | Rheneas (Season 20 onwards) | |
Joseph May | US | Thomas (The Adventure Begins onwards) |
Christopher Ragland | US | Percy (Series 19 onwards) and Trevor (Season 20 onwards) |
UK/US | Troublesome Trucks (The Adventure Begins onwards), a Passenger | |
Tim Bain | UK/US | Aiden, Madeleine's Father, some Passengers and some Workmen (UK/US) |
David Bedella | US | Victor and The Mayor of Sodor |
UK/US | Victor (Blue Mountain Mystery onwards) and The Cuban Man | |
Sanjeev Bhaskar | UK/US | Shankar |
Sheena Bhattessa | UK/US | Noor Jehan and Charubala |
Hugh Bonneville | UK/US | Merlin |
Darren Boyd | UK/US | Theo |
Jonathan Broadbent | UK/US | Bill & Ben, and A Slip Coach |
Jamie Campbell Bower | UK/US | Skiff |
Chipo Chung | UK/US | Hong-Mei and Dr. Kim |
Flamina Cinque | UK/US | Ester and Dam Bella |
Nathan Clarke | UK/US | Alfie |
Olivia Colman | UK/US | Marion |
Sophie Colquhoun | UK/US | Frankie |
Laura Cucurullo | UK/US | Cassia, a Batucata Musician and Marcia |
Tina Desai | UK/US | Ashima and The Indian Fashion Designer |
Jonathan Forbes | UK/US | Connor |
Anna Francolini | UK/US | Gina, some Italian Children, and some Italian Passengers |
Teresa Gallagher | UK | Emily, Rosie, Mavis, Lady Hatt, Stephen Hatt (Diesel's Special Delivery), Bridget Hatt, The Duchess of Boxford, Bridget Hatt's Friends, The Teacher, The Laundry Lady, The School Children, The Girl in Red Dress, The Blond-hair Boy and Some Passengers |
UK/US | Belle, Mavis (Series 17 onwards), Annie & Clarabel, Lady Hatt (Series 17 onwards), Judy and The Lady with the Big Hat | |
Bob Golding | UK/US | Stephen, Sidney, Baz and Some Dock Workers |
Mike Grady | UK/US | Sir Robert Norramby |
Rasmus Hardiker | UK/US | Philip |
William Hope | US | Edward, Toby, Whiff, Bash, Rocky, Stephen Hatt, Farmer McColl, The Duke of Boxford, The Maithwaite Stationmaster (Double Trouble and Wonky Whistle only), Farmer Trotter, The Dock Manager, and The Wellsworth Station Worker |
UK/US | Bert (Series 16 onwards) and A Railway Inspector | |
Jim Howick | UK/US | Hurricane |
Siu-see Hung | UK/US | An An and the Chinese Women |
Togo Igawa | UK/US | Hiro |
Shane Jacobson | UK/US | Shane |
Rufus Jones | UK/US | Flying Scotsman |
Jules de Jongh | US | Emily, Rosie, Mavis (Hero of the Rails - Blue Mountain Mystery), Lady Hatt, Bridget Hatt, The Duchess of Boxford, Bridget Hatt's Friends, The Teacher, The Laundry Lady, The Blond-haired Boy and The School Children |
UK/US | Alicia Botti | |
Harriet Kershaw | UK/US | Jenny Packard and Darcy |
Steven Kynman | UK | Porter, Jack, and The Dock Manager (Tale of the Brave only) |
US | Butch (Series 17 onwards) and a Child | |
UK/US | Duck, Peter Sam, Dart (Series 17 onwards), Paxton, A Slip Coach, and A Railway Inspector | |
Francisco Labbe | UK/US | Gustavo and a Batucata Musician |
Michael Legge | UK/US | Luke |
Dan Li | UK/US | Yong Bao and Chinese Railway Inspector |
Windson Liong | UK/US | Yin-Long and the Chinese Men |
Montserrat Lombard | UK/US | Mia and some Italian Passengers |
Monica Lopera | UK/US | Gabriela |
Antoino Magro | UK/US | Stefano, the Italian Stationmaster, and some Italian Workmen |
Clive Mantle | UK/US | Gator |
David Menkin | US | Porter and Jack |
Genevieve McCarthy | UK/US | Aubrey |
Matt McCooey | UK/US | Kenji |
Ian McCue | UK/US | Tiger Hunter #1 and The Crown Thief 1 |
Colin McFarlane | UK/US | Bulgy and Beresford |
Rachael Louise Miller | UK/US | Rebecca |
Joe Mills | UK/US | Donald (Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure and The Great Race only), Douglas, Oliver, Toad, Skiff and The Welsh Bird Watcher |
Lucy Montgomery | UK/US | Lexi, Hannah and Carly |
Vincenzo Nicoli | UK/US | Lorenzo, Beppe, An Italian Workman, and some Italian Passengers |
Rebecca O'Mara | UK/US | Caitlin and A Slip Coach |
Maggie Ollerenshaw | UK/US | Henrietta |
Nikhil Parner | UK/US | Rajiv, the Indian Friendly Stationmaster, the Indian Grumpy Stationmaster, and the Indian Troublesome Trucks |
Rosamund Pike | UK/US | Duchess |
Nigel Pilkington | UK | Trevor |
Gabriel Porras | UK/US | Emerson and Fernando |
Miranda Raison | UK/US | Millie and The Knapford Station Speaker (Missing Gator) |
Rob Rackstraw | UK/US | Donald (Season 20 onwards), Bradford, Monty and Flynn (Season 19 onwards, excluding Toad and the Whale) |
UK | Toby (season 19 onwards) | |
US | James (The Adventure Begins onwards) and Stanley (Season 20 onwards) | |
Eddie Redmayne | UK/US | Ryan |
John Schwab | UK/US | Vinnie |
Peter Andre | UK/US | Ace |
Yvonne Grundy | UK/US | Nia |
Kerry Shale | US | Henry, Gordon, James (Hero of the Rails - Season 18), Dash, Scruff, Harold, Kevin, Sir Topham Hatt (Hero of the Rails - Season 18), Mr. Percival, Sir Lowham Hatt, The Maithwaite Stationmaster (Time For a Story and A Blooming Mess only), A Railway Inspector, The Railway Coal Inspector, The Zoo Keeper, and Workmen |
UK | The Zoo Keeper (Not Now, Charlie! only) | |
UK/US | Diesel (UK, Season 13 onwards, US, season 19), 'Arry, Bert (Series 14 - 15), Max, Beau, and Some groaning passengers (Calm Down Caitlin) | |
Tom Stourton | UK/US | Duncan, Rex and Terence |
Federico Trujillo | UK/US | Raul, a Batucada Musician, a Brazilian Workman and Marcio |
Tim Whitnall | UK | The Deputy Minister |
UK/US | Timothy, Mike, Oliver (Excavator), Jerome, Duke and Reg | |
Keith Wickham | UK | Edward, Henry, Gordon, James, Percy, Whiff, Dash, Harold, The Mayor of Sodor, The Thin Controller, Sir Lowham Hatt, Mr. Bubbles, The Railway Coal Inspector, The Man at the Fire, The Wellsworth Station Worker, The Wellsworth Stationmaster, Some Workmen, Some Passengers, Gator's Driver, A Steamworks Worker, A Groundsman, and A Postman |
UK/US | Harvey, Skarloey, Sir Handel, Bert (Arlesdale Railway), The Fat Controller (UK, Season 13, US, The Adventure Begins onwards), Salty, Den, Norman, Stafford, Bertie (Series 17 onwards), Captain, Dowager Hatt, A Railway Inspector, The Great Composer, The Maron Station Speaker, The Fat Controller's Assistant, Thomas' Guard, The Grumpy Passenger, and Father Christmas | |
Robert Wilfort | UK/US | Samson |
Matt Wilkinson | UK | Spencer, Stanley, Charlie, Bash, Scruff, Victor (Hero of the Rails - Series 16), Rocky, Cranky, Butch (Series 16 onwards), Kevin, Stephen Hatt, Farmer McColl, The Duke of Boxford, The Photographer, The Maithwaite Stationmaster, Farmer Trotter, The Knapford Stationmaster, The Bird Watcher, The Dock Manager, A Railway Inspector, Some Dock Workers, The Island Inspector, The Sodor Search & Rescue Centre Manager, The Blue Mountain Quarry Workman, and The Zoo Keeper |
UK/US | Diesel 10, Rusty, Winston, and Merrick | |
Glenn Wrage | US | Spencer, Charlie (Series 13 - 15), Ferdinand, Cranky, Butch (Series 15 - 16), The Sodor Search & Rescue Centre Manager, Gator's Driver, and A Steamworks Worker |
Actor | Region | Role(s) |
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Martin Sherman | US | Thomas (Hero of the Rails - Series 18), Percy (Hero of the Rails - Series 18), Diesel (King of the Railway - Series 18), and some children (Toby and Bash) |
Ben Small | UK | Thomas (Hero of the Rails - Series 18), Toby (Hero of the Rails - Series 18), and Ferdinand (Misty Island Rescue - Series 16) |
US | Stanley (Series 15 - 18) and Charlie (Series 16 - 18) | |
UK/US | Rheneas (Blue Mountain Mystery - Series 18), Flynn (Series 17, only), Troublesome Trucks (Series 16 - 18) and Owen (Blue Mountain Mystery - Series 18) | |
Michael Brandon | US | Diesel (Series 13 - Blue Mountain Mystery), Mr. Bubbles (Series 13 - 15), and The Knapford Stationmaster (Series 13 only) |
Rupert Degas | UK | Butch (Series 15 only) |
UK/US | Diesel 10 (Misty Island Rescue; original cut only), Dart (Series 15 - 16), Flynn (Series 15 - 16), and Bertie (Series 15 - 16) |
Narrators
changeUnited Kingdom
change- Ringo Starr (Series 1-2)
- Michael Angelis (Series 3-16)
- John Hasler (Series 21-24, in-character as Thomas)
United States
change- George Carlin (Series 1–4) (1984–1994)
- Alec Baldwin (Series 5–6) (1998–2002)
- Michael Brandon (Series 7-16) (2003)
- Joseph May (Series 21-24, in-character as Thomas)
Both
change- Pierce Brosnan (The Great Discovery)
- Mark Moraghan (Series 17-21)
References
change- ↑ These series also aired in a half-hour format.
- ↑ Until Series 20, these series also aired in a half-hour format. As of series 22, the episodes themselves only run for 7 minutes, with the remainder of the episodes being used for educational segments.
- ↑ The first half of series 3 was released straight-to-video before airing on TV. ITV also rebroadcast series 6-8 after the Nick Jr. airings.
- ↑ Series 6-8 were rerun on CITV, while series 8-11 were rerun on Channel 5.
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Paul Willistein (30 August 1999). "Rolling along new adventures for Thomas the Tank Engine". The Morning Call. Archived from the original on 26 June 2022. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Starr (19 July 2007). "'Thomas' has new friend in Brosnan". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
- ↑ Haring, Bruce (31 May 2020). "Michael Angelis Dies: Voice Of 'Thomas The Tank Engine' Was 68". Deadline. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
- ↑ Allcroft, Britt (26 June 2008). "Los Angeles Times 'The George Carlin I knew'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
- ↑ "Former Brookside actor to be Thomas the Tank Engine narrator". The Guardian. 17 May 2013. Archived from the original on 17 June 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
- ↑ "John Hasler CV". johnhasler.co.uk. Archived from the original on 11 February 2023.
- ↑ "Joseph May". sp-agency.co.uk/. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
- ↑ "Thomas the Tank Engine launches gender-balanced, multi-cultural Steam Team". The Independent. 1 September 2018. Archived from the original on 7 May 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Mallory, Michael; Whitlock, Natalie (6 November 2006). "Thomas the Tank Engine and TV". Ultimate Guide to Thomas the Tank Engine. TLC. Archived from the original on 30 October 2013. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "The TV Series – A History of Thomas on Screen". Sodor Island. Archived from the original on 1 May 2010. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
- ↑ Clark, Rhodri (19 May 2005). "Still Building Steam at 60". The Journal. Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
Other websites
change- "Official Thomas and Friends website". Archived from the original on 29 October 2006.
- Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends on IMDb