Thomas & Friends (series 17)
Thomas & Friends is a children's television series about the engines and other characters working on the railways of the Island of Sodor, and is based on The Railway Series books written by the Rev. W. Awdry.
This article lists and details episodes from the seventeenth series of the show, which was first broadcast in 2013. This series was also the first to be narrated by Mark Moraghan for the U.K. and U.S. audiences.
Note: Episodes 1–20 were first broadcast in the U.K. in 2013 by Channel 5. Episodes 21–24 were first broadcast in the U.K. in July 2014 by Nick Jr., in 2 two-episode programs. Episodes 25 and 26 were first broadcast in the UK on 21 November 2014 by Nick Jr. Too, in a two-episode program. This was also the first series to be produced by Arc Productions.
Production
During production of the sixteenth series, Sharon Miller stepped down as head writer, and Andrew Brenner, formerly head writer for Fireman Sam, was appointed as her successor. Brenner already had a previous history with the brand, having adapted the first two series and subsequently written several original stories for the Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends magazine, published by Marvel Comics from 1987 until the early 1990s. Many of his stories were later adapted by Britt Allcroft and David Mitton for the third series without his knowledge or consent.This also marked the first series since the fifth to include a railway consultant as part of the production team, with Sam Wilkinson in the role.
The CGI animation for this series was provided by Arc Productions, who took over from Nitrogen Studios following completion of Series 16 and Blue Mountain Mystery in 2012.
In April 2013, Lionsgate released the DVD "Railway Mischief", which featured five episodes from the new series. The DVD was available exclusively at Walmart.
Episodes
Characters
Introduced
- Luke
- Millie
- Stephen
- Sir Robert Norramby / The Earl of Sodor
- Porter
Returned
- Duck
- Harvey
- Bill and Ben
Recurring cast
Voices
and Jonathan Broadbent joins the cast along with Bob Golding, Jonathan Forbes, Rebeca O'Mara, Miranda Raison and Mike O'Grady from that years special.Following the number of departures for the previous year, Martin Sherman took over role of Diesel in the US, Keith Wickham took over the roll of Bertie, Ben Small took over the roll of Flynn, Steven Kynman took over the roll of Butch in the US and Dart, and Teresa Gallagher takes over the roll of Mavis in the US while David Bedella officially takes over the roll of Victor in the UK.
Actor/Actress | Region | Role |
Mark Moraghan | UK/US | The Narrator |
Ben Small | UK/US | Rheneas, Flynn, Owen and the Troublesome Trucks |
Ben Small | UK | Thomas and Toby |
Ben Small | US | Charlie |
Martin Sherman | US | Thomas, Percy and Diesel |
Keith Wickham | UK | Edward, Henry, Gordon, James, Percy, Whiff, Harold, the Fat Controller, the Wellsworth Station worker and a workman |
Keith Wickham | UK/US | Harvey, Salty, Den, Norman, Stafford, Skarloey, Sir Handel, Bertie, a Railway Inspector, and the Maron Station Speaker |
Kerry Shale | UK | Diesel and The Zoo Keeper |
Kerry Shale | US | Henry, Gordon, James, Scruff, Kevin, Harold, Sir Topham Hatt and a workman |
Kerry Shale | UK/US | Some groaning passengers |
William Hope | US | Edward, Toby, Whiff, Rocky, Farmer McColl, the Dock Manager and the Wellsworth Station worker |
William Hope | UK/US | A Railway Inspector |
Teresa Gallagher | UK | Emily, Some Children, The Blonde Haired Boy, The School Boy, and The Blonde Haired Girl |
Teresa Gallagher | UK/US | Belle, Mavis, Annie, Clarabel, The Shouting Little Boy, The Ginger Haired Boy, Lady Hatt, and The Duchess of Boxford |
Jules de Jongh | US | Emily, Some Children, The Blonde Haired Boy, The School Boy, and The Blonde Haired Girl |
Matt Wilkinson | UK | Spencer, Charlie, Scruff, Rocky, Cranky, Butch, Kevin, Farmer McColl, the Dock Manager and The Zoo Keeper |
Matt Wilkinson | UK/US | Diesel 10, Winston, Rusty and Merrick |
Glenn Wrage | US | Spencer and Cranky |
David Bedella | UK/US | Victor |
Togo Igawa | UK/US | Hiro |
Steven Kynman | UK/US | Duck, Dart, Paxton, Peter Sam and a Railway Inspector |
Steven Kynman | UK | Porter |
Steven Kynman | US | Butch |
David Menkin | US | Porter |
Michael Legge | UK/US | Luke |
Jonathan Broadbent | UK/US | Bill and Ben |
Bob Golding | UK/US | Stephen and Sidney |
Mike Grady | UK/US | Sir Robert Norramby |
Jonathan Forbes | UK/US | Connor |
Rebeca O' Mara | UK/US | Caitlin |
Miranda Raison | UK/US | Millie |