Britt Allcroft facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Britt Allcroft
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Allcroft holding a picture of Thomas at an Unlikely Fandom event in November 2023
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| Born |
Hilary Mary Allcroft Coote
14 December 1943 Worthing, West Sussex, England
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| Died | 25 December 2024 (aged 81) Los Angeles, California
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| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1964–2024 |
| Spouse(s) |
Angus Wright
(m. 1973; div. 1997) |
| Children | 2 |
Britt Allcroft (born Hilary Mary Allcroft Coote) was a talented English writer, producer, director, and voice actress. She was born on December 14, 1943, and passed away on December 25, 2024. Britt Allcroft is best known for bringing the beloved Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends stories to television. She also created other popular shows like Shining Time Station and Magic Adventures of Mumfie.
Contents
Early Life and Inspiration
Britt Allcroft was born Hilary Mary Allcroft Coote in Worthing, West Sussex, England. She grew up in a simple home without a car or a television. Her aunt often told her stories about her daily train rides to London. These stories sparked Britt's early love for trains.
When she was 15, Britt had some of her stories published in a magazine. At 16, she left school and changed her first name to Britt. She then began her career in British radio and television. During the 1970s and 1980s, she created many shows for the BBC and ITV. She also worked in theatre, putting on shows in famous London venues.
Bringing Thomas to Life
In August 1979, Britt Allcroft was making a documentary about old steam trains. During this time, she met Reverend Wilbert Awdry. He was the author of the popular children's book series, The Railway Series. Britt was fascinated by the train characters and their relationships. She felt a strong connection to the stories.
Britt told Reverend Awdry that she wanted to turn his books into a television series. She made a deal to get the rights to his stories from his publishers.
Creating Thomas & Friends
In 1980, Britt Allcroft started her own company, Britt Allcroft Railway Productions. She co-founded it with her husband, television producer Angus Wright. It took Britt four years to find the money and create the first 26 episodes of Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends. She worked with director David Mitton on the show.
The first two episodes of Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends aired in Britain on October 9, 1984. The famous musician Ringo Starr narrated the stories. The music was created by Mike O'Donnell and Junior Campbell.
Thomas's Global Success
Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends quickly became very popular in the UK. Britt Allcroft had also started a merchandising campaign in 1983. This helped the show become successful in other parts of the world too.
In 1989, Britt Allcroft and American producer Rick Siggelkow created Shining Time Station. This was a live-action children's show. It featured a magical character called Mr. Conductor, who was very small. Mr. Conductor would introduce two Thomas stories in each half-hour episode. Shining Time Station won several awards. It greatly increased the popularity of Thomas in the United States. The show ran until 1995. In 1996, Britt created a short spin-off series called Mr. Conductor's Thomas Tales.
Other Creative Works
In 1994, Britt Allcroft created Magic Adventures of Mumfie. This was a cartoon series made with director John Collins. It was based on books by Katharine Tozer. The show was praised by critics and seen all over the world. Years later, in 2008, Britt brought the Mumfie stories back. A new series eventually aired in 2021.
Britt Allcroft also wrote and directed Thomas and the Magic Railroad. This movie, based on the Thomas stories, was released in 2000. She also provided the voice for the character Lady in the film. After the movie did not do well, Britt stepped down from her company in September 2000.
Britt Allcroft was an active member of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. She was also part of the Sundance Film Institute.
Later Years and Legacy
Britt Allcroft was not happy with the 2021 cartoon series Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go. She had no creative control over this new version. She felt it lacked the "magic" of her original series.
In 2023, a documentary called An Unlikely Fandom was released. This film focused on adult fans of Thomas & Friends. Britt Allcroft was featured in the documentary. She appeared in old interviews and new ones filmed at her home in 2022. She also attended the film's premiere.
Britt Allcroft believed strongly that animals should not be used in circuses. She felt it was harmful to teach children that it's okay to control animals for entertainment. She said, "If we teach children that it’s all right to dominate animals and use them for our amusement, how can we expect children to extend kindness to one another?"
Britt Allcroft passed away on December 25, 2024, in Los Angeles, California. She was 81 years old. Her work continues to bring joy to children and families around the world.
Filmography Highlights
- 1984–2003: Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends – Britt Allcroft was a writer and producer for 182 episodes.
- 1989–1995: Shining Time Station – She was an executive producer and writer for 65 episodes.
- 1994–1998: Magic Adventures of Mumfie – Britt Allcroft directed this series and voiced the character The Queen of Night.
- 2000: Thomas and the Magic Railroad – She wrote, directed, and produced this film, and voiced the character Lady.
