13-year-old boy becomes new voice of Thomas the Tank Engine
Harry Sparkes takes on the iconic role in a new animated series alongside narrator Henry Golding.
A 13-year-old schoolboy has made his voice-acting debut as Thomas the Tank Engine in a new animated series. Harry Sparkes, from Harpenden, Hertfordshire, stars in Thomas & Friends: Railway Stories.
For nine months, Sparkes kept his weekly recording sessions secret from his classmates, telling them he was attending physiotherapy for a foot injury. "It feels amazing, because I played and watched Thomas as a kid, and now I get to be Thomas. It just feels insane," he said. Sparkes added that he thought his friends would be shocked to find out he was voicing the character and expressed excitement at being "part of something which kids from the next generation will get to grow up to watch."
Henry Golding, known for his roles in "Crazy Rich Asians" and "Last Christmas," narrates the series. The role of narrator was previously made famous by Sir Ringo Starr. Franchise owners Mattel stated that the new series will "introduce fans to a refreshed world of Sodor, while still celebrating the iconic railway action we have all known and loved since its debut as a classic book in 1945."
Golding commented that he felt he was in the "shadow of giants" following in the footsteps of previous narrators like Sir Ringo Starr and Pierce Brosnan, who narrated a 2008 movie special. "I think we bring a new spin and a new sort of excitement to Thomas, and we're kind of bringing it back up to date, which is the exciting part," Golding said.
The character of Thomas the Tank Engine first appeared in The Railway Series, created by children's author Reverend Wilbert Awdry. The new series is set to launch on the Thomas & Friends YouTube channel on September 17, followed by a Netflix debut on September 30. A full series is slated to debut in early 2027.