List of Thomas & Friends voice actors

Thomas & Friends (Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends until 2002) is a British children's television series, first broadcast on the ITV network on 9 October 1984. It is based on The Railway Series of books by the Reverend Wilbert Awdry and his son, Christopher Awdry.


These books deal with the adventures of a group of anthropomorphised trains and road vehicles who live on the fictional Island of Sodor. The books were based on stories Wilbert told to entertain his son, Christopher during his recovery from measles. Many of the stories are based on events from Awdry's personal experience.

Until 2008, all characters were silent, with the exception of the show's narrator. Voices were given to the characters following the switch to full CGI animation in 2009.

Voices

Current voices

Actor Region Role(s)
Mark Moraghan UK/US The narrator ("King of the Railway" onwards)(U.K./U.S. Series 17–present/re-dubbed one episode; Series 13) (2013–present): Actor and singer Moraghan succeeded Angelis and Brandon as narrator of the series in 2013.
John Hasler UK Thomas ("The Adventure Begins" onwards)
UK/US Rheneas (series 20 onwards)[1]
Joseph May US Thomas ("The Adventure Begins" onwards)
David Bedella UK/US Victor (US; "Hero of the Rails" onwards- UK; "Blue Mountain Mystery" onwards) Carlos, the mayor of Sodor (US; series 13 onwards - UK; series 19 onwards) and the Cuban man
Jamie Campbell Bower UK/US Skiff
Jonathan Broadbent UK/US Bill, Ben and "The First Slip Coach"
Nathan Clarke UK/US Alfie
Olivia Colman UK/US Marion
Tina Desai UK/US Ashima
Jonathan Forbes UK/US Connor
Teresa Gallagher UK Emily, Rosie,Lady Hatt, Bridget Hatt's friends, the teacher, the laundry lady, small little boy, some children, the school children, little girl in the red dress, the blonde-hair girl, the blonde-hair boy, and Albert's wife
UK/US Belle, Frieda, Gina, Mavis (UK; "Hero of the Rails" onwards - US; series 17 onwards) Daisy ("Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure" and "The Great Race"), Marion ("The Great Race" only), Annie, Clarabel, Judy, the Duchess of Boxford (series 17 only), Lady Hatt (series 17 only), Judy, the teacher (series 18 only), the ginger-hair boy, the shouting little boy, the lady with the big hat, some passengers, the Knapford Station speaker ("The Adventure Begins"), some children ("The Adventure Begins" onwards), the school children ("Lost Property"), Stephen Hatt (series 19 onwards), Bridget Hatt (series 19 onwards), the lady in the blue dress, the barrow fan, Albert's wife ("Thomas the Babysitter"), the lady in the spring green dress, and the female puppet show entertainer
US the blond-haired girl and the blonde-haired boy ("Very Important Sheep")
Bob Golding UK/US Stephen, Sidney (series 17 onwards), Ivan, some dock workers ("Tale of the Brave") and a railway inspector ("Lost Property")
Mike Grady UK/US Sir Robert Norramby
Rasmus Hardiker UK/US Philip
William Hope US Edward, Toby, Whiff, Bash, Rocky, Stephen Hatt ("Thomas and the Runaway Kite" only), Farmer McColl, the Duke of Boxford, the blond-haired boy ("Merry Misty Island" and "The Way She Does It" only), the Maithwaite stationmaster ("Double Trouble" and "Wonky Whistle" only), The Man in the Gray Shirt and Black Pants, the dock manager and the Wellsworth Station worker
UK/US Bert (the Diesel) (series 16 onwards), a railway inspector, a steamworks worker ("Wonky Whistle"), two farmhands ("Wonky Whistle"), a workman ("Toad and the Whale"), and Captain Joe
Togo Igawa UK/US Hiro and Yong Bao
Rufus Jones UK/US Flying Scotsman
Jules de Jongh US Emily, Rosie, Mavis ("Hero of the Rails" – "Blue Mountain Mystery"), Lady Hatt, Bridget Hatt (series 13–14), the Duchess of Boxford, Bridget Hatt's friends, Stephen Hatt ("Diesel's Special Delivery"), the teacher, the laundry lady, some children, small little boy, the ginger-haired boy ("Pop Goes Thomas", "Diesel's Special Delivery", "Emily and Dash", "Percy the Snowman","Emily's Winter Party Special", and "Pouty James"), little girl in the red dress, the blond-haired boy (series 15 – 18), the blond-haired girl, the school children, and Albert's wife
UK/US Alicia Botti and Emily ("4-D Bubbling Boilers" and singing voice "The Great Race" only)
Ashna Kapur UK the blond-haired girl ("Very Important Sheep")
Steven Kynman UK/US Duck, Ryan (series 20 onwards), Dart (series 17 onwards), Paxton ("Blue Mountain Mystery" onwards), Peter Sam, "The Third Slip Coach", a railway inspector (series 17) and the bird watcher ("Who's Geoffrey?")
UK Porter, Jack and the dock manager ("Tale of the Brave" only)
US Charlie ("The Great Race" onwards) Butch (series 17 onwards)
Michael Legge UK/US Luke
Clive Mantle UK/US Gator
Oliver McCue UK the blond-haired boy ("Very Important Sheep")
David Menkin US Stanley ("Samson At Your Service"), Porter and Jack
Joe Mills UK/US Donald (Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure and The Great Race), Douglas, Oliver, Toad, the Welsh bird watcher and a Knapford Station yard workman (Toad and the Whale)
Lucy Montgomery UK/US Hannah
Tracy-Ann Oberman[2] UK/US Daisy (Series 20 onwards)
Maggie Ollerenshaw UK/US Henrietta
Rebecca O'Mara UK/US Caitlin and the Second Slip Coach
Nigel Pilkington UK Percy (Series 19 onwards) and Trevor
Rob Rackstraw UK/US Donald (Series 20 onwards), Stanley (series 19), Raul, Axel, Étienne, Flynn (series 19 onwards, excluding "Toad and the Whale"), Bradford, The Great Railway Show announcer, some passengers, and the man in the blue shirt and brown hat
UK Toby ("Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure" onwards)
US James ("The Adventure Begins" onwards) and Stanley ("Saving Time")
Christopher Ragland[3] US Percy (Series 19 onwards) and Trevor
UK/US The Troublesome Trucks (The Adventure Begins onwards) and Percy (singing voice) (The Great Race)
Miranda Raison UK/US Millie and the Knapford Station speaker
Kerry Shale US Henry, Gordon, James ("Hero of the Rails"), Dash, Scruff, Harold, Kevin, Sir Topham Hatt ("Hero of the Rails"), Mr. Percival, Sir Lowham Hatt, Farmer Trotter, the Maithwaite stationmaster ("Time For a Story" and "A Blooming Mess"), a railway inspector, the photographer (series 16), the railway coal inspector, the zoo keeper and some workmem
UK the zoo keeper ("Not Now, Charlie!")
UK/US Diesel (UK: series 13 onwards; US: series 19 onwards) 'Arry, Bert (the Diesel) (series 14 – 15), Norman ("Day of the Diesels"), Sidney ("Day of the Diesels"), some groaning passengers ("Calm Down Caitlin") and the man on the bridge
AUS/NZ Mr. Percival ("Duncan and the Grumpy Passenger" only)
John Schwab UK/US Vinnie
US Stanley (series 20 onwards, excluding "Saving Time")[4]
Tom Stourton UK/US Duncan and Rex
Tim Whitnall UK/US Timothy, Mike, Jerome, Oliver the Excavator, Reg, the deputy minister and some workmen
US the man with the hat ("Spencer's VIP")
Keith Wickham UK Edward, Henry, Gordon, James, Percy ("ero of the Rails", "Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure"), Whiff, Dash, Harold, the mayor of Sodor (series 13 – 16), the Thin Controller, Sir Lowham Hatt, Mr. Bubbles, the railway coal inspector, the man at the fire, the Wellsworth station worker, The Man in the Gray Shirt and Black Pants, the Fat Controller's assistant, some workmen, some passengers, Gator's driver, and Steamworks workman
UK/US Harvey, Glynn, Salty, Den, Norman (series 17 onwards), Paxton ("Day of the Diesels"), Stafford, Skarloey, Sir Handel, Bert, Bertie (series 17 onwards), captain, Sir Topham Hatt (UK: "Hero of the Rails" onwards; US: "The Adventure Begins" onwards), Dowager Hatt, Lord Callan, the photographer ("Wild Water Rescue"), a railway inspector, the great composer, the Maron station speaker, the Wellsworth stationmaster, Thomas' guard, the grumpy passenger, Father Christmas, the groundsman, the postman, Gordon's driver ("The Adventure Begins"), James's guard ("The Adventure Begins"), a Knapford station worker ("The Adventure Begins"), some workmen, some signalmen, the dock manager ("Who's Geoffrey?" only), a Sodor search & rescue centre worker ("Toad and the Whale"), a policeman ("Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure"), a diver ("Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure"), some passengers, Albert, the man in the sea green shirt and glasses, the welsh bird watcher, one of Dowager Hatt's friends ("Best Engine Ever" and "Sidney Sings), the museum manager, and male puppet show entertainer
Robert Wilfort UK/US Samson and The Great Railway Show Judge (The Great Race)
Matt Wilkinson UK Spencer, Stanley, Charlie, Bash, Scruff, Victor ("Hero of the Rails"), Rocky, Cranky, Butch (series 16 onwards), Kevin, Stephen Hatt ("Thomas and the Runaway Kite"), Farmer McColl, the Duke of Boxford, the photographer (series 16), the Maithwaite stationmaster, Farmer Trotter, the Knapford stationmaster, the bird watcher ("Henry's Good Deeds"), the blond-haired boy ("Merry Misty Island"), the dock manager, a railway inspector, some dock workers, the island inspector, the Sodor search & rescue centre manager, the Blue Mountain Quarry workman, the zoo keeper and the man with the hat
UK/US Diesel 10, Winston, Rusty, Merrick, Captain Joe and some workmen
Glenn Wrage US Spencer, Charlie (Series 13 – 15), Ferdinand, Cranky, Butch (Series 15 – 16), the Sodor search & rescue centre manager, Sir Topham Hatt's Assistant, Gator's driver and a Steamworks worker
UK/US Flynn ("Toad and the Whale")

Former voices

Actor Region Role(s)
Rupert Degas UK Butch (series 15)
UK/US Diesel 10 ("Misty Island Rescue"; original cut only), Dart (series 15 and 16), Den ("Fiery Flynn"), Flynn (series 15 and 16) and Bertie (series 15 and 16)
Martin Sherman US Thomas ("Hero of the Rails" - series 18), Percy ("Hero of the Rails" – series 18), Diesel ("King of the Railway" – series 18), The Bird Watcher ("Henry's Good Deeds") and some children ("Time for a Story", "Pop Goes Thomas" and "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 – series 18) and Charlie (series 16 – 18)
UK/US Rheneas (season 16 – series 18), Flynn (series 17), Troublesome Trucks (series 16 – 18) and Owen ("Blue Mountain Mystery" – series 18)

Guest voices

Actor Region Role(s)
Sir John Hurt UK/US Sailor John ("Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure")
Eddie Redmayne UK/US Ryan ("Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure")

Narrators

Current narrators

Actor Region Years Role(s)
Mark Moraghan UK/US 2013–present The Narrator ("King of the Railway" onwards)(U.K./U.S. Series 17–present/re-dubbed one episode; Series 13): Actor and singer Moraghan succeeded Angelis and Brandon as narrator of the series in 2013.

Former narrators

Actor Region Years Role(s)
Ringo Starr UK/US UK: 1984–1986
US: 1989–1990		 The Narrator (U.K./U.S. Series 1–2): Former Beatles drummer Starr was the first storyteller of Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends, and arguably the one most frequently associated with the show. Offered the part after Allcroft overheard him being interviewed on television by Michael Parkinson, Starr was initially reluctant to take it. He had never read any of the Railway Series books and felt that children would be more interested in "dinosaurs with lasers." He changed his mind after having read the books, even going as far to considering himself "one of the few children who had been deprived of them," and accepted the role, narrating the first two series from 1984 to 1986. In 1989, he also appeared in the first season of Shining Time Station, playing Mr. Conductor – the character who would relate the Thomas stories to the other characters at Shining Time – and re-recording parts of his narration to improve his voice quality and to include terminology more familiar to U.S. audiences. Starr did not return for the third series of Thomas, citing an interest in focusing on his musical career, although he remained in contact with Wilbert Awdry until the latter's death. Starr made a brief return to the franchise for the 2009 BBC Children in Need appeal, providing the voice of Thomas for The Official BBC Children in Need Medley single.[5]
George Carlin US 1991–1996 The Narrator (U.S. Series 3–4/re-dubbed Series 1–2): Best known for his stand-up comedy roles, Carlin was chosen as the storyteller for the third and fourth series, replacing Ringo Starr who left the role in 1990. He took over the role of Mr. Conductor on Shining Time Station and, in turn, told all of the stories from Series 3 to 4. He also re-narrated all of the episodes in Series 1 and 2. While Carlin was known for his adult comedy routines, Britt Allcroft attests that he was gentle and enthusiastic in his approach to the series. Allcroft states that Carlin was nervous recording his voice alone in a sound booth – their solution was to keep a stuffed teddy bear in the booth as Carlin's "audience" for the run of the show. Allcroft also recalls that the two of them discussed their lonely childhoods, and felt that Thomas was a way of "filling some kind of void."[6]
Alec Baldwin US 1998–2003 The Narrator (U.S. Series 5–6): Known as a film and television actor, Baldwin was selected as the narrator for the fifth series, replacing George Carlin who left the role in 1996. His narrations were heard by means of the program's U.S. home video releases and on Storytime with Thomas (1999-2001). He became the third actor to play Mr. Conductor in Thomas and the Magic Railroad. Baldwin returned for the sixth series in 2002.
Michael Angelis UK UK: 1991–2012
US: 2004		 The Narrator (U.K. Series 3–16/U.S. video release, 2004): In 1991, television actor Angelis was hired as the next U.K. narrator for the series after Starr left to continue his music career. He had the longest tenure as storyteller of Thomas & Friends for his home country, filling the role for 21 years. In 2000, Angelis was hired to voice James and Percy in Thomas and the Magic Railroad, but then he was cut out of the film because the test audience thought his voice made them sound too old, he was replaced by Susan Roman and Linda Ballantyne. He narrated every direct-to-video release (minus The Great Discovery). Angelis narrated one U.S. video release before Michael Brandon took over. In 2007, it was reported that Angelis dropped his role as U.K. narrator following the appointment of Pierce Brosnan to narrate Series 12, but Brosnan didn't return and Angelis was called back to continue as narrator from Series 12 and left after Series 16. He had been involved with Thomas outside of the TV series as well; among other things, he lent his voice to a series of story-and-song tapes in 1995 and, from 2006, the first five volumes of The Railway Series on CD.
Michael Brandon US 2003–2012 The Narrator (U.S. Series 7–16/re-dubbed six episodes; Series 6), Diesel (Series 13 – Blue Mountain Mystery), Mr. Bubbles (Series 13 – 15) and the Stationmasters (Series 13 – 16)): When the series debuted in its new half-hour format, Brandon was hired to narrate series 8 and series 7. He also re-narrated six of the episodes of Series 6. Brandon provided his voice for all of the educational intermissions in the new format, replacing Alec Baldwin who left the role in 2002. He also narrated every direct-to-DVD release for the US (minus The Great Discovery). In 2007, it was reported that Brandon had left the series, following the appointment of Pierce Brosnan to narrate The Great Discovery, as well as the TV series starting with Series 12. However, Brosnan left the series after narrating the special, and Brandon returned for Series 12 and left after Series 16. He is the second longest serving narrator in the series, after Michael Angelis, and the longest serving narrator in the U.S. He also worked alongside the CGI voice cast.

Guest narrators

Actor Region Years Role(s)
Pierce Brosnan UK/US 2008 The Narrator (U.K./U.S. narrator for DVD special The Great Discovery): FBrosnan said he was enthusiastic to take up the role, recalling his experience with Thomas as a father, reading the stories for his sons.[7] In 2007, HiT Entertainment announced that Brosnan had signed on for "all English-language releases for the brand, including three upcoming Thomas & Friends television series and three DVD specials."[7] The announcement preceded Series 12 by several months, and Brosnan recorded lines for Series 12 episodes,[8] and was intended to succeed both Angelis and Brandon as narrator for the series. However, Brosnan did not continue as narrator, and Series 12 aired without his narrations, instead having Angelis and Brandon resume as narrators for Series 12 as well as all subsequent releases. As a result, Brosnan has been credited as a "guest narrator" for The Great Discovery.[9]

Timeline

Narrator Series 1 Series 2 Series 3 Series 4 Series 5 Series 6 Series 7 Series 8 Series 9 Series 10 Series 11 Series 12 Series 13 Series 14 Series 15 Series 16 Series 17 Series 18 Series 19 Series 20
Ringo Starr
Michael Angelis
George Carlin
Alec Baldwin
Michael Brandon
Pierce Brosnan*
Mark Moraghan

* Pierce Brosnan narrated the original cut of Series 12, but withdrew from the series, and his narrations left unreleased.

References

  1. ↑ https://twitter.com/john_hasler/status/689414032076382208?s=03
  2. ↑ https://twitter.com/TracyAnnO/status/766983794339569665
  3. ↑ "Christopher Ragland on Twitter: "@Wellsworth96 no, I do the UK and U.S. Trucks...only do Percy U.S."". Twitter. Retrieved 2016-01-01.
  4. ↑ https://twitter.com/johnschwab/status/799205488286171137
  5. ↑ "Children in Need poster on sale". BBC News website. 26 November 2009. Retrieved 26 November 2009.
  6. ↑ Allcroft, Britt (26 June 2008). "Los Angeles Times – "The George Carlin I knew"". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  7. 1 2 "Pierce Brosnan Announced As New Narrator For Thomas & Friends". (Press Release). HIT Entertainment. 19 July 2007. Retrieved 29 October 2007.
  8. ↑ "Behind the Scenes with Pierce Brosnan," The Great Discovery DVD. 9 September 2008.
  9. ↑ "HIT Entertainment – Prestigious National Organizations Honor DVDs from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment". Hitnewsonline.com. 23 October 2008. Retrieved 5 May 2012.

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