Unseen Thomas & Friends footage with Ringo Starr narration airs for first time
The footage from Down The Mine will be shown to co-incide with the 80th anniversary of the British franchise, which follows the adventures of Thomas the tank engine and his friends.
The franchise originally began as a book series published in 1945 and was later adapted into a TV show in 1984, becoming a global success for multiple generations of young children.
Ian McCue, Thomas & Friends Series Producer (2012-2020) inspecting the newly discovered 1983 pilot episode reel 'Down the Mine' from Thomas & Friends. (Mattel/PA)
The 40-year-old recording of the unseen version of the pilot episode, made on 35mm film, was discovered, put back together and digitalised for fans to view on YouTube from Friday.
Beatles drummer Sir Ringo was one of the first storytellers to join the show and can be heard narrating in the new footage alongside a bespoke musical arrangement by Mike O' Donnell, the series' composer between 1984-2003.
Roberto Stanichi, from Mattel, said: 'For 80 years, the Thomas & Friends brand has brought joy to generations, sharing timeless stories and valuable life lessons.
'As we celebrate this momentous year, we're unveiling 40-year-old footage and newly uncovered stories from the vault for the first time ever, offering longtime fans and new audiences the chance to reconnect with the beloved adventures of Thomas & Friends in new and nostalgic ways.'
Along with the unseen footage, the franchise will put original pieces from the brand's history up for auction including artwork and props from the stop-motion scenes that first aired in 1984.
Partnering with specialist memorabilia auctioneer Propstore, fans also have the opportunity to take home items signed by celebrities who have voiced some of the characters on the series, including English actress Olivia Colman, The Theory Of Everything's Eddie Redmayne and Downton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville.
The net proceeds will be donated by Mattel UK to the National Autistic Society, a charity that provides support, guidance and advice for autistic people and their families.
The auction will open for registration on May 8, with bidding to commence from the May 12-28.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
an hour ago
- Metro
Persona 4 remake, Keeper, High On Life 2 and the best of Xbox Games Showcase
Persona 4 Revival is real! (YouTube) Microsoft's Xbox Games Showcase has revealed a host of new multiformat games, including Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, Super Meat Boy 3D, and Grounded 2. The June Xbox Games Showcase has been on a roll since its inception, repeatedly showing up Sony's attempts to fill the E3 gap. Even though this year is a relatively quiet one for Xbox, it was still generally more interesting than the PlayStation State of Play last week. It's still unclear if there'll be a Nintendo Direct this month, given the Switch 2 has only just launched, but there was no mention of the new console at Microsoft's event, especially when it came to Call Of Duty: Black Ops 7. Arguably the biggest reveal of the show (despite the fact it had been leaked previously) was the two new ROG Xbox Ally portable devices, but there was also plenty of other traditional news, as you can see from this bountiful selection of trailers below. The format of the Xbox Games Showcase has always been the same, with an hour or so of various different first and third party titles, followed by a 30 minute showcase of a specific game. Previously that's been Starfield and Black Ops 6, but this year it was The Outer Worlds 2, followed by a bonus 30 minutes on the newly revealed Grounded 2 – also by Obsididan Entertainment. Oh, and before you ask, Hollow Knight: Silksong was not featured, although Xbox exec Sarah Bond did mention in passing that it was still coming out this year. Although we'll believe that when we see it. Expert, exclusive gaming analysis Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. High On Life 2 Somewhat surprisingly, given what happened to creator Justin Roiland, there is going to be a sequel to comedy first person shooter High On Life. Roiland quit developer Squanch Games in 2023 (apart from anything he was the voice of the main character) but the sequel will carry on regardless, with the pre-rendered reveal trailer featuring a range of new weapons but surprisingly few jokes. It's actually out this winter too, for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC. Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy Leaked a few hours before the show itself, a third entry in the Plague Tale series is now confirmed for sometime next year, on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC. Although the trailer makes it unclear when the game is set exactly, it apparently tells the origin story of Sophia. Although there's obviously a lot of references to the myth of Theseus and the minotaur from Ancient Greece, as well as what looks like a Roman amphitheatre. Strangely, there's no rats at all, nor any obvious sign that part of the game will be set in the modern day, which was hinted at by the ending of the previous entry. Super Meat Boy 3D One of a few genuine surprises during the showcase, there hasn't been a new Super Meat Boy game since the disastrous Super Meat Boy Forever in 2021. Developer Team Meat are back though, with a new game that is 3D in the sense of Super Mario 3D World rather than Super Mario Odyssey. It seems to have captured the look and feel of the originals perfectly, but as the previous title showed getting the right balance between difficult and head-gnawingly frustrating is not easy. It'll be out on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC next year. Ninja Gaiden 4 Microsoft has long seen Ninja Gaiden as one of the few Japanese-made franchises that is inextricably linked to Xbox, despite its many multiformat releases, and they're probably right. Although the game had been revealed earlier in the year the big news here was that it's out – on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC – on October 21 (the same day as Jurassic World Evolution 3, which also featured in the showcase, just in case you wanted further proof of how terrible publishers are at scheduling). Indiana Jones And The Order Of The Giants The only obvious hook for DLC in Indiana Jones And The Great Circle was a sub-villain that didn't get killed. There's no obvious sign that they're involved in this first expansion, so maybe they're being saved for the next. As it is, this is set in Rome (so expect some nods to The Last Crusade) and involves exploring the origins of the giants from the main game, possibly incorporating the secret ending from the original. Although the fact that actor Tony Todd has sadly died since then, may have changed MachineGames' plans. The DLC will be out on September 4 for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC. Beast Of Reincarnation The idea of Pokémon developer Game Freak making multiformat games is not a new thing, although usually they tend to have a similarly family friendly appeal. This looks to be a more serious affair – some manner of action adventure that almost has a Soulslike feel to it. It also features robots, samurai, and a pet wolf so we're immediately interested. But if Game Freak can put out graphics like this for a side project they're going to have even less excuse if the next Pokémon game is the usual broken mess of low-tech visuals. Beast Of Reincarnation is out next year on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC. Clockwork Revolution One of the longest gameplay trailers of the evening was this new action role-player from Wasteland developer inXile Entertainment. Its tone is awkwardly similar to The Outer Worlds but with a neat set of time-altering powers and lots of steampunk style gadgets and world design. It's being co-developed by new studio Shapeshifter Games, who are made up of a lot of Saints Row veterans. It's also one of the few games in the showcase that is not coming to PlayStation 5, likely because the studios are quite small and they started work on the game before Microsoft began their current multiformat policy. Grounded 2 Another genuine surprise was a sequel to Obsidian's pint-sized survival game, which will also be making heavy use of early access to evolve its design. It's the same basic idea as before – of trying to survive as one of a group of tweens shrunk to smaller than ant size – but this time in a local park instead of a back garden, plus now you can use various creepy crawlies as mounts. The original Grounded was one of the first of Microsoft's games to go multiformat (including on Switch), but the sequel will only be on Xbox Series X/S and PC, at least when it launches on Xbox Game Preview on July 29. Cronos: The New Dawn Developer Bloober Team went from zero to hero with the remake of Silent Hill 2, so if they can pull it out the bag a second time, for this new original IP, they will have established themselves as one of the most important horror game developers of the moment. Cronos seems to have something of a Dead Space vibe going on, as well as perhaps influences from Returnal, at least in terms of the story. It's due out this autumn on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC. Aphelion Don't Nod's mountain climbing adventure Jusant is an underappreciated gem, so if this sci-fi adventure ends up being a spiritual successor we will be more than happy. That's certainly what it looks like, although with a less laidback atmosphere and what sounds like some considerably more dangerous monsters. It's coming to Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC next year. Aphelion means the point at which a planet or moon is furthest from its star, which we guess explains all the snow. There Are No Ghosts At The Grand One of the best surprises of the showcase was this bizarre new game from a previously unknown studio in Bristol, called Friday Sundae. The set-up is that you've inherited a hotel, as well as a bunch of implausible gadgets that are used to repair and prettify it and the rest of the town. However, they can also be used to bust ghosts at night, as you battle a Lovecraftian invasion. And on top of that it's a musical. It's due out next year, but only for Xbox Series X/S and PC, which implies Microsoft must have put up some of the budget. Planet Of Lana 2: Children Of The Leaf We weren't as impressed by 2023's Limbo inspired platformer Planet Of Lana as some people but there's no doubting it was a very pretty game. There's also no doubt that the sequel looks to be even prettier, especially with its new underwater sequences. Whether the gameplay and storytelling proves to be any more substantial though, remains to be seen. It'll be out on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC next year. At Fate's End As attractive as Planet Of Lana 2 might be, this new game from the makers of Spiritfarer looks even better, with some really gorgeous animation. We're not entirely sure what's going on with the playing cards but it's clearly not just a simple action game. If this ends up playing as good as it looks it's going to be amazing; it's out next year on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC. Gears Of War: Reloaded It's already had one remaster but this new version of the first Gears of War will also be released on PlayStation 5 (but not Switch 2 – in fact, there wasn't a single game for Nintendo's new console in the whole showcase). The release date was already announced as August 26, with confirmation of 4K resolution, 120fps support, and modernised multiplayer with cross-play and cross-progression across all formats. Persona 4 Revival It's been rumoured for ages, and it's always been pretty obvious it was real, but Atlus chose the Xbox Games Showcase as the venue to announce their remake of Persona 4. Not much was shown but it seemed a pretty major glow up in terms of graphics, although it's unclear if there'll be any substantial new gameplay or story elements. There's no indication of a release date, but it'll be released on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC. Invincible Vs All of a sudden, superhero themed 2D fighters are all the rage but there seems to be a gulf of difference between this, from unknown developer Quarter Up, and Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls from genre masters Arc System Works. Maybe it'll be good though; it certainly seems bloody enough to be authentic, although there's something a bit off about the visuals that doesn't really match the look of the show. It's out next year on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC. Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade and Final Fantasy 16 It was always inevitable that these two would end up on Xbox Series X/S sooner or later, but while Final Fantasy 16 is out now there's no date for Final Fantasy 7 Remake other than later this year. That practically guarantees that Rebirth, and the third game, will follow eventually. Many fans had hoped that Square Enix would announce the final chapter this month but as the Xbox Game Showcase was the last major preview event it looks like that's not going to happen. Keeper Psychonauts developer Double Fine were rumoured to be about to unveil their next game but, funnily enough, no one guessed that it would involve a sentient, preambulatory lighthouse, whose best friend is a bird. Despite the wonderfully weird visuals and fantastical designs the game is apparently set on a 'post-human' Earth and features no dialogue of any kind. We sense something of an early era Pixar vibe but it won't be long until we know for sure, as it's out on October 17, for Xbox Series X/S and PC – again, a PlayStation 5 version will probably follow later. The Outer Worlds 2 Although the 2019 original didn't seem to set the world on fire the sequel to Obsidian's satirical sci-fi role-player is looking considerably more refined. Although they've made plenty of games in their time, including this year's Avowed, we've never heard Obsidian compare one of their games quite so much to Fallout: New Vegas before. That's clearly intentional and the original certainly did have a Fallout vibe, in terms of its critique of capitalism and the hubris of humanity. It was never quite as funny as Obsidian seemed to think but it appears that aspect may also have improved in the sequel. The guns certainly have, and we really like the look of that BFG style one towards the end. The game's out on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC on October 29… a week before Ninja Gaiden 4, which is just four days after Keeper. So, very impressive showcase, typically moronic release scheduling. Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. Arrow MORE: Best new mobile games on iOS and Android – June 2025 round-up Arrow MORE: Best of Summer Game Fest 2025 trailers – Mortal Shell 2, Game Of Thrones and more Arrow MORE: Resident Evil Requiem trailer reveals release date and new main character
Scotsman
2 hours ago
- Scotsman
‘Significant challenges' in use of AI within UK screen sector
Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images Scottish researchers were among those to create the report Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The use of artificial intelligence (AI) within the UK screen sector raises 'significant legal, ethical, and practical challenges' such as the use of copyrighted material being used without the permission of the rights holders, a report has warned. Other issues highlighted by the British Film Institute (BFI) report include the safeguarding of human creative control, the fear of jobs being lost as positions are replaced through the use of AI, and investment in training in new skills. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad High energy consumption and carbon emissions, and the risks to creative content around biased data, are also described as being of concern. The report, which has been carried out in partnership with CoSTAR universities Goldsmiths, Loughborough and Edinburgh, analyses how the screen sector is using and experimenting with rapidly evolving generative AI technologies. It warned that the 'primary issue' was the use of copyrighted material – such as hundreds of thousands of film and TV scripts – in the training of generative AI models, without payment or the permission of rights-holders. 'This practice threatens the fundamental economics of the screen sector if it devalues intellectual property creation and squeezes out original creators,' the report said. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But it added that the UK's strong foundation in creative technology – as it is home to more than 13,000 creative technology companies – means that the UK screen sector is well positioned to adapt to the technological shift. Getty Images The report – titled AI in the Screen Sector: Perspectives and Paths Forward – said generative AI promises to democratise and revolutionise the industry, with the BBC, for example, piloting AI initiatives. Meanwhile, projects such as the Charismatic consortium, which is backed by Channel 4 and Aardman Animations, aim to make AI tools accessible to creators regardless of their budget or experience. It said this could empower a new wave of British creators to produce high-quality content with modest resources, though concerns about copyright and ethical use remain significant barriers to full adoption. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The report sets out nine key recommendations it suggests should be addressed within the next three years to enable the UK screen sector to thrive in using AI. These include establishing the UK as a world-leading market of IP licensing for AI training, and embedding sustainability standards to reduce AI's carbon footprint. It also calls for structures and interventions to pool knowledge, develop workforce skills and target investments in the UK's creative technology sector, while it urges support for independent creators through accessible tools, funding and ethical AI products. The BFI's director of research and innovation, Rishi Coupland, said: 'AI has long been an established part of the screen sector's creative toolkit, most recently seen in the post-production of the Oscar-winning The Brutalist, and its rapid advancement is attracting multimillion investments in technology innovator applications. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'However, our report comes at a critical time and shows how generative AI presents an inflection point for the sector and, as a sector, we need to act quickly on a number of key strategic fronts. 'Whilst it offers significant opportunities for the screen sector such as speeding up production workflows, democratising content creation and empowering new voices, it could also erode traditional business models, displace skilled workers, and undermine public trust in screen content. 'The report's recommendations provide a roadmap to how we can ensure that the UK's world-leading film, TV, video games and VFX industries continue to thrive by making best use of AI technologies to bring their creativity, innovations and storytelling to screens around the globe.' Professor Jonny Freeman, director of CoSTAR Foresight Lab, said: 'This latest CoSTAR Foresight Lab report, prepared by the BFI, navigates the complex landscape of AI in the screen sector by carefully weighing both its transformative opportunities and the significant challenges it presents. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The report acknowledges that while AI offers powerful tools to enhance creativity, efficiency, and competitiveness across every stage of the production workflow – from script development and pre-production planning, through on-set production, to post-production and distribution – it also raises urgent questions around skills, workforce adaptation, ethics, and sector sustainability.' CoSTAR is a £75.6 million national network of laboratories that are developing new technology to maintain the UK's world-leading position in gaming, TV, film, performance, and digital entertainment.
Metro
2 hours ago
- Metro
Brit Awards to make drastic change after 48 years in 'end of era'
The Brit Awards are making a huge change to the ceremony for the first time in nearly 50 years by relocating the entire show. This year's biggest night in music lived up to usual dramatic expectations, with Charli XCX proving Brat is forever with five wins. Elsewhere, Sabrina Carpenter's racy performance got plenty of Ofcom complaints, and Jack Whitehall's joke failed to land with Becky Hill. Next year, on Saturday, February 28, the prestigious ceremony will take place in Manchester – the first time in the history of the Brits. London has played host for the past four decades but Manchester's Co-op Live arena has been chosen for the 2026 and 2027 ceremonies. 'For the Brit Awards to move out of London is a massive coup for Greater Manchester,' said Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester. He continued: 'After 48 years, it is great that this prestigious global event is about to arrive in the UK capital of music and culture. 'Greater Manchester has an unparalleled music heritage known around the world, and this summer will play host to some of the biggest gigs on the planet.' The Co-op Live arena was opened last year — with some teething issues — but has quickly become a major gig location for the likes of Olivia Rodrigo, Robbie Williams, and Pulp. Of course, Manchester's Heaton Park will see one of the biggest shows of 2025 as Oasis reunite for the first time in 16 years in their hometown. 'That was only made possible by our strong commitment to new talent and giving emerging artists the opportunities to make their name,' the mayor added. 'We thank our friends at the BPI for choosing Manchester and we will pull out all the stops to show they made the right decision. 'Celebrating the Brit Awards right here in the home of 24 hour party people is the next chapter in its story and you can be sure that we will help them do it in style.' The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) is the trade body for the UK's music industry. The move isn't the only shake up for the biggest night in British music as the Brit Awards 2026 will be the first of three years under the stewardship of Sony Music UK. Jason Iley, chairman and chief executive of Sony Music UK & Ireland said: 'This is a very exciting time for The Brit Awards. 'Moving to Manchester, the home of some of the most iconic and defining artists of our lifetime, will invigorate the show and build on the Brits' legacy of celebrating and reinvesting in world-class music. 'Hosting the show in Manchester, with its vibrant cultural history, perfectly captures the spirit and energy of the Brit Awards. I can't wait to see the show at the amazing state-of-the art Co-op Live venue.' The 2026 ceremony on Saturday February 28 will be broadcast exclusively on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player. Mastercard will continue its long-standing headline sponsorship, now in its 28th year. Charli XCX was the stand-out star at this year's Brit Awards at London's O2 Arena, taking home five awards including album of the year for her sixth studio release, Brat. More Trending US pop star Sabrina Carpenter was the recipient of the global success award, while former Little Mix star Jade Thirlwall collected the best pop act award. US pop star Chappell Roan won international song of the year for Good Luck, Babe! Co-op Live is currently Britain's biggest indoor arena and opened in May 2024 after several delays. British band Elbow opened the 23,500-capacity venue and since then acts including Sir Paul McCartney and Charli XCX have held gigs. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.
