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Thomas & Friends
Thomas and Friends Logo USA.png
Also known as Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends (original title; series 1–6)

Thomas & Friends (series 7–21)

Thomas & Friends: Big World! Big Adventures! (series 22–present)
Genre Television series
Format:
Scale model (1984-2008)
CGI (2008-2020)
Flash animation (2021-present)
Created by Britt Allcroft
Written by
  • Rev. W. Awdry (original; 1984–1995, 2015, 2017)
  • Christopher Awdry (original; 1986, 1995)
  • Britt Allcroft (1984–1998, 2000)
  • David Mitton (1984–2002)
  • Various (2002–present)
  • Sharon Miller (2005–2012; script editor/head writer)
  • Andrew Brenner (1991–92, 1998, 2013–2019; head writer)
  • David Stoten (2020 - present; head writer)
Directed by
  • David Mitton (1984–2003)
  • Steve Asquith (2002, 2004–2008)
  • Greg Tiernan (2008–2012)
  • David Baas (2013–2014)
  • David Stoten (2014–present)
  • Rob Silvestri (feature length specials 2013–14)
  • Don Spencer (2014–2015)
  • Dianna Basso (2015–present)
Voices of See List of Thomas & Friends voice actors
Narrated by
Composer(s)
  • Mike O'Donnell and Junior Campbell (1984–2003)
  • Robert Hartshorne (2004–15)</small
  • Ed Welch (2004–08)
  • Peter Hartshorne (2011–15)
  • Chris Renshaw (2016–present)
  • Oliver Davis (2016–2017)
Country of origin United Kingdom
No. of series 24
No. of episodes 551 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)
  • Britt Allcroft (1984–1986, 2002)
  • Angus Wright (1991–1998)
  • Peter Urie (2002–2003)
  • Jocelyn Stevenson (2003–2006)
  • Christopher Skala (2007–2011)
  • Marion Edwards (2009–2015)
  • Lenora Hume (2009–2010)
  • Karen Barnes (2011–2013)
  • Kallan Kagan (2013–2017)
  • Jeff Young (2013–2015)
  • Steven Hecht (2013–2015)
  • Michael Carrington (2013–2014)
  • Christopher Keenan (2014–present)
  • Edward Catchpole (2015)
  • Marianne Culbert (2016)
  • Kyle MacDougall (2016–present)
  • Jamie LeClaire (2016–present)
  • Phil LaFrance (2016–present)
Producer(s)
  • David Mitton (1984–1998)
  • Robert D. Cardona (1984–1986)
  • Britt Allcroft (1991–1998)
  • Phil Fehrle (2002–2003)
  • Simon Spencer (2004–2008)
  • Nicole Stinn (2008–2012)
  • Ian McCue (2011–2017)
  • Halim Jabbour (2013)
  • Robert Anderson (2013; 2015–2017)
  • Brian Lynch (2013–2015)
  • Jennifer Hill (2014–2015)
  • Lynda Craigmyle (2016)
  • Jane Sobol (2016)
  • Tracy Blagdon (2016–present)
  • Micaela Winter (2016–2018)
Production location(s)
  • Shepperton Studios (1984–2008)
  • Nitrogen Studios (2008–2012)
  • Arc Productions (2013–2015)
  • Jam Filled Toronto (2016–2020)
  • Nelvana (2021–present)
Editor(s)
  • Michael Dixon (1984)
  • Rebecca de Burgh Mound (1986)
  • John Wright (1991–2002)
  • Kate Buckland (2003–2008)
  • Kevin Pavlovic (2009–2012)
  • Adam Garner (2013–2015)
  • Gavin Ebedes (2014–present)
  • Craig Barnikis (2015–2018)
Running time
  • 5 minutes, 30 seconds (Series 1-7)
  • 10 minutes (Series 8-12)
  • 11 minutes (Series 13-present)
Production company(s)
Distributor Various distributors
Release
Original network
Picture format
Audio format
  • Stereo (1984–1995)
  • Dolby Surround (1998–2002)
  • Dolby Digital 5.1 (2003–present)
Original release 9 October 1984 (1984-10-09) – present

Thomas & Friends (originally known as Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends or simply Thomas the Tank Engine; later called Thomas & Friends: Big World! Big Adventures!) is a British children's television series. It was first broadcast on CITV in October 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 two main railways there. One of them is run by Sir Topham Hatt. The other one is a different size. Thomas runs on the main one (the one that is run by Sir Topham Hatt).

Characters

The show is mainly about the machines and people who populate the fictional Island of Sodor. Since 2004, the show has had eight main characters:

Cast

Voices

Current voices
Actor Region Role(s)
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)
David Bedella US Victor and The Mayor of Sodor
UK/US Victor (Blue Mountain Mystery onwards) and The Cuban Man
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
Nathan Clarke UK/US Alfie
Olivia Colman UK/US Marion
Sophie Colquhoun UK/US Frankie
Tina Desai UK/US Ashima
Jonathan Forbes UK/US Connor
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 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
Togo Igawa UK/US Hiro
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
Steven Kynman UK Porter, Jack, and The Dock Manager (Tale of the Brave only)
US Butch (Series 17 onwards)
UK/US Duck, Peter Sam, Dart (Series 17 onwards), Paxton, A Slip Coach, and A Railway Inspector
Michael Legge UK/US Luke
Clive Mantle UK/US Gator
David Menkin US Porter and Jack
Colin McFarlane UK/US Bulgy and Beresford
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
Maggie Ollerenshaw UK/US Henrietta
Rebecca O'Mara UK/US Caitlin and A Slip Coach
Nigel Pilkington UK Trevor
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
Rachael Miller UK/US Rebecca
Dan Li UK/US Yong Bao
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 Some 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
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
Former voices
Actor Region Role(s)
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

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Thomas y sus amigos para niños

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