Latest news with #ThomasandFriends
Daily Record
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
'I was a huge children's TV star in the 1990s but now people recognise me for something very different'
Many kids in the 80s and 90s grew up with T-Bag, but now a whole new generation is growing up with one of it's characters For a generation of kids growing up in the 1980s and '90s, John Hasler was a household name, instantly recognisable as the mischievous magical-tea-brewing-sidekick 'T-shirt' in the hugely popular CITV series T-Bag. Yet while the iconic colourful attire and whacky plot of the show is a distant memory for many, Hasler's voice is still heard by millions - although not as you might expect. His breakout show first aired in 1985 when he was just 11-years-old. It followed a witch-like character who obtained magical powers from drinking the special drink but is incapable of brewing it properly, in-steps their assistant T-shirt who does it for them in return for a share of their magical powers. The series would usually begin with T-Bag trying to increase her power and to stop her, the girl in the series would have to collect artefacts from across space and time before T-bag could find them. Despite his role working for the "baddie" T-Shirt acted as more of a hero, sneaking behind his boss often helping the girl to foil his boss's plans. He was the only actor to be in all nine seasons of the show, first being a young boy before growing up to be a teenager that towered over his witch-boss. Long after T-Bag brewed its last magical potion in 1992, Hasler has become somewhat famed for his work as a voice actor in TV and shows across the UK, lending his voice to a whole host of characters you may have heard but would have never related back to T-Shirt. Despite no longer being a routine of a Saturday morning, Hasler's career has taken him from the fictional Pride Lands of Africa to voicing a beloved train. For many younger fans today, unaware of the magical time-travelling adventures captured on T-Bag, Hasler is the voice bringing Thomas the Tank Engine alive for English audiences around the world in the widely popular Thomas and Friends. Speaking to Red Carpet News on playing Thomas, Hasler said: "Thomas is an enduring character so it makes it even more pressurised to play the lead role, you think 'oh my gosh lots of people have loved this character for a long time' and to take on the mantel is an extreme privilege." But his performances aren't kept to the tracks, Hasler has also made his mark on the stage, voicing the beloved meerkat Timon in the hugely successful West End adaptation of The Lion King, touring around the UK voicing the iconic animal original played by Nathan Lane. The 51-year-old also appeared in the teen-drama the Renford Rejects as well as classic BBC soap Casualty. He continued his voice work after joining the cast of Fireman Sam in 2012, voicing Sam's nephew James Jones.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Former Beatle, 84, Reveals the Surprising Origins of His Catchphrase
Former Beatle, 84, Reveals the Surprising Origins of His Catchphrase originally appeared on Parade. When the average person hears the name Ringo Starr, a few things might come to mind: The Beatles. Drums. "Yellow Submarine." Thomas and Friends. And, of course, there's always the musician's iconic catchphrase: "Peace and love." It's long been assumed by many that Starr, 84, came up with his motto after visiting India with the other Beatles — John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison — in 1968. But as he recently told the Associated Press, Starr was actually inspired to coin the phrase after spending time in a particular American city. 'It actually came, for me, from San Francisco, where the hippies were,' Starr said. 'They were, of course, great peace and lovers, and then it changed. But I found a picture the other day of the four of us [giving the peace sign]...I didn't invent it, I just picked it up. Johnwas a big proponent of peace and love, and it just came to me.' In the years since, however, Starr has come to appreciate the true value of his message, which the world might need to hear now more than ever. 'I think it's important every day — and right now the world is going through a madness. Maybe it'll help,' Starr said. Later in the same interview, the drummer admitted that he's naturally 'an optimist, not a pessimist," referencing the challenges of his early life (which included contracting tuberculosis and spending two years in a sanatorium, where he learned to play the drums). 'I just feel positive,' he explained, 'Not every day, and not all my life, but some of those things I knew I needed from what I was 13, really ill in hospital.' Starr's sunny attitude has clearly paid off — and he's apparently not slowing down anytime in the near future. Later this month, the soon-to-be 85-year-old is heading out on tour with his All Star Beatle, 84, Reveals the Surprising Origins of His Catchphrase first appeared on Parade on Jun 2, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
NDTV
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Watch: Vlogger Shares Video Of 'Thomas And Friends' Train In Japan, Internet Gets Nostalgic
Raise your hands if you're a fan of Thomas & Friends? Of course, we all are. Most of us have grown up watching the fun animated TV series. To be honest, at some point, we also desired to hop on a fun-filled trip with Thomas. Didn't we? Well, we're happy to announce that you can ride on a Thomas-themed train in Japan. In a clip shared by the Instagram page @debosdiary, we get a glimpse of the locomotive, which is designed to look like the main character from the long-running children's show, Thomas and Friends. The inside of the train is also designed with the theme in mind. Once aboard the train, you can buy exclusive souvenirs from the snack cart and munch on Thomas-themed bento boxes. In the caption, the vlogger mentioned that the Thomas-themed train is operated by the Oigawa Railway in Shizuoka Prefecture. It runs between Shin-Kanaya Station and Kawaneonsen-Sasamado Station, providing a nostalgic journey through picturesque landscapes. The one-way ticket for the locomotive starts at 3,000 yen. The vlogger added that the best times to visit this tourist attraction are spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November), as they offer pleasant weather and vibrant seasonal scenery. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Debo | デボ (@debosdiary) Since being shared, the video has garnered more than 1 million views on Instagram. Several people have shared their thoughts in the comment section. One user wrote, "My dream world when I was a kid. I wish I could have visited here." Another added, "Thomas and Friends raised an entire generation." Someone commented, "Yeah, I missed this last year! It wasn't running during Golden Week. Looks so nice." "Added to the list," read a comment. "New trip to unlock, but at what cost?" remarked a user. A person shared, "Want to experience this once in life."
