Exclusive: Sam Blewitt on 'Tale of the Brave' and more

Sam Blewitt has detailed on his involvement in the Tale of the Brave feature-length special.

The veteran vocalist of the CGI era of the TV series returned to sing Tale of the Brave.

Earlier this month, Roll Along Thomas spoke to Blewitt about how his song came to being.

In the usual manner, Hit contacts [composer] Robert Hartshorne to put a song together, he contacts me to see when I can sing it, then we get together at his studio and start working. 

We actually recorded two versions of the song. The first one was great, but we (the producers and us) all felt on listening to it that it was a little bit too mature sounding for Thomas the Tank Engine...

It didn't quite fit. So Robert and I recorded another version, which is the one you hear now. 

The song of the same name as the story was used briefly in the special but didn't appear in its full form as an extra on DVD. Blewitt has since reacted to this.

I wasn't aware if it not being used as an extra on the DVD or that it was a shortened version.

The producers used a different type of song by another writer and producer [Eggplant LF] for the end title song [Let's Be Brave], I know nothing about that to be honest.

I'm not aware of any plans of it to be released in full, of course I would like to see that happen.

Lending his voice to more than ten songs in the franchise, the singer commented on the reception he has received.

The feedback has been fantastic. I'm very proud to have been associated with Thomas the Tank Engine, it's part of our heritage in a way. I'm honoured that the fans think so much of my work, I really enjoy working on the songs.

I do keep the songs. [I] also have some of the films and DVDs we've worked on. I need a few more DVD's, so I'll hopefully get the collection up to date soon.

Exclusive: Hit Entertainment talks future Series 19

Another series of Thomas & Friends remains an open phase, Hit Entertainment have said.

A follow-up to the 18th Season is expected in the near future owing to the greater popularity of the brand and the newer seasons of the show.

Roll Along Thomas spoke with Hit in April, who gave no official confirmation, but teased for a press release.

We are all very excited about the prospect of another series of Thomas & Friends, however, we are unable to share more at this time. We will have more content development news to share later this year.

Five never before seen episodes from 2014 are available to buy in the US on the Trouble on the Tracks DVD.

Exclusive: Hit Entertainment on UK Blu-ray question

Hit Entertainment have revealed the reason behind the lack of Blu-rays for the UK.

2011 brought the first high-def release for Britain with the Day of the Diesels double play but remained the singular story met with the treatment.

The US has continued its collection of feature-length specials on HD disc from Misty Island Rescue up to September's Tale of the Brave triple play from Universal Home Entertainment.

Roll Along Thomas talked with Hit in the spring to find out about the lack of future UK Blu-rays.

We release content in formats that best suit the needs of our fans and consumers. We therefore have no plans to release Blu-ray formats in the United Kingdom.

Exclusive: Harvey return in CGI helped by Thomas Land

Drayton Manor's Thomas Land played a part in Harvey's return to the TV series, it has been revealed.

The crane engine made a successful comeback in the 17th Season in two installments, most notably his re-establishment in Gone Fishing.

In 2012, Drayton's UK Thomas theme park were involved in his re-introduction, a recent visit witnessed.

Their involvement came, according to a representative of the land's Discover Thomas & Friends Exhibition.

Harvey was indeed sent back to Hit Entertainment to be modelled for CGI, the exhibition and Bryan's Museum member said.

Thanks to ellsworth.

Exclusive: Hit Entertainment on Railway Stories return

Hit Entertainment have discussed candidly the renewal of The Railway Stories audiobooks.

The seventh volume in the Rev. W. Awdry adapted audios is in the planning stages under new owners Random House Audio.

Speaking to Roll Along Thomas in April, a spokesperson for Hit expressed their enthusiasm for the continuation.

We are very excited about the return of the Thomas & Friends Railway Stories. However, we are still in discussions with other audible partners and therefore unable to share more at this time.

In October 2013, the series' future encountered a bleak phase when former producers AudioGO entered administration before Random House's subsidiary took over the BBC arm a few months later.

The next volume, chronologically, will have Mountain Engines, Very Old Engines and Main Line Engines being told.

Exclusive: Hit explains UK and US DVD format changes

Hit Entertainment have revealed the reasons behind format changes to recent DVD releases.

2014 saw a shift in focus with the brand's DVDs, reflecting the TV series' fresh continuation in Season 17.

In late January in the UK, The Thomas Way's associating credits were removed in between episodes, allowing a better flow through its feature.

In March, rumours proved true when Spills & Thrills became the first regular US DVD to be presented in widescreen, continuing with Trouble on the Tracks.

On the now popular changes, Hit spoke with Roll Along Thomas about the initiatives, starting with the US.

As most TV households have televisions that show programing optimally in widescreen, we are pleased to offer Thomas & Friends in a widescreen format that best showcases our content.

Their answer also applied to the UK market; We work closely with our distributor to release content in formats that best suit the needs of our fans and consumers.

Last week saw Universal Studios Home Entertainment announced as the successors to Lionsgate Entertainment, distributing future US DVD releases beginning in October. 

Exclusive: UK Series 18 air in 2014 and 'Tracks' in 2015

The 18th Season is on course to be broadcast on British television later this year.

Hit Entertainment's tenth series of the show at the helm, heading for the US in the autumn, is set to be on Channel 5 milkshake! sometime in 2014.

The plans were confirmed by the makers to Roll Along Thomas, as was a DVD release for the British version of Trouble on the Tracks.

In the UK, Series 18 will broadcast on Channel 5’s milkshake later on this year with Trouble on the Tracks being released on DVD in 2015.

Mark Moraghan and Teresa Gallagher both tweeted recently about their recording sessions for the run of new episodes.

Thomas & Friends' 18th season marks its network premiere on Channel 5 milkshake! in the UK later this year, with Trouble on the Tracks coming soon to DVD in 2015.

Exclusive: Season 18 to air on US television in autumn

Thomas & Friends' 18th Series is set to air on PBS Kids in the US at autumn time.

The 2014 run and the second to have full CGI from Arc Productions will arrive on the American network in the fourth quarter of the year.  

Hit Entertainment confirmed the plans to Roll Along Thomas, at least reflecting recent DVD Trouble on the Tracks.

Trouble on the Tracks [was released] exclusively at Walmart in the US on April 8th with five never-before-seen episodes. The episodes on this DVD will air on PBS KIDS this autumn in the US.

A spokesperson also revealed why new episodes have been previewed from Walmart.

With the demand for Thomas content at an all-time high, we think this is a great way to give the fans an exclusive first look at new content before it airs on TV.

Thomas & Friends' 18th season marks its network premiere on PBS Kids in the US in the autumn.

Exclusive: Hit talks 'Spills & Thrills' UK television hiatus

The last six episodes of Season 17 are still planned to air on UK television this year.

Spills & Thrills, released in March, premiered the season's yet to air stories only on the DVD.

Involved were Away from the Sea, The Smelly Kipper, No More Mr. Nice Engine, Gone Fishing, Thomas' Shortcut and The Afternoon Tea Express. 

In response to the continuous gap on Channel 5's milkshake! block, Hit Entertainment explained the reason to Roll Along Thomas.

All scheduling decisions are made by the broadcaster, and while we expect the Spills & Thrills episodes to air shortly as part of Season 17, we cannot provide specific dates at this time. 

Last December, the Christmas set No Snow for Thomas, Santa's Little Engine, The Missing Christmas Decorations and Frozen Turntable made their way to the channel.

Exclusive: Moraghan confirms start on Series 18 UK dub

The British dub of Season 18 has commenced recording with the voice cast in London.

Today, Mark Moraghan took to Twitter on his return to record more episodes; Early into dat Lundon back on the little blue tank engine. Nice morning but a bit parky, four degrees, brrr! 

Roll Along Thomas meanwhile contacted the storyteller to clarify the series; Yes it is [Season 18]! I'm not really allowed to talk about it!

The American dub was completed sometime before, with the Trouble on the Tracks DVD offering the first glimpse of the season.

At the tailing end of March, Moraghan tweeted his excitement ahead of his sessions; Looking forward to recording the next series of Thomas & Friends very soon!

Thomas & Friends' 18th series premieres on UK and US television this fall.

Exclusive: Henrietta face gain to be explained in series

Henrietta's change from a faceless to a non-faceless character will be explained in a new episode.

The coach close to Toby was revealed to grow a face for the show's 18th Series, in a hero shot released by the Mexican Thomas & Friends Twitter. 

Speaking to Roll Along Thomas this week, a Hit Entertainment spokesperson responded to the move.

While we were hoping for this to remain a surprise for Thomas & Friends fans, you’ll just have to wait and see Series 18. [An] episode will explain the decision to give Henrietta a face and voice.

Despite having no face in the majority of the show, Toby and the Stout Gentleman and Daisy allowed dialogue for the character.

Exclusive: New Christmas DVD coming to US in October

A new forthcoming DVD release is to head to the United States for the Autumn.

The as-of-yet named title will feature Christmas themed episodes, although it is unknown if it would be related to the 18th Series.

A representative from Hit Entertainment confirmed the plans to Roll Along Thomas.

In the US, we recently released two episodic titles on March 4, Spills & Thrills which includes six never-before-seen episodes and Railway Mischief.

Trouble on the Tracks [was] released on April 8 exclusively at Walmart. This autumn, we are thrilled to offer our new movie Tale of the Brave on DVD and digital download followed by an all-new Christmas themed DVD in October.

The studio also reaffirmed minor details for Tale of the Brave's DVD; Tale of the Brave will introduce new engines and characters and an exciting new destination on the Island of Sodor.

The DVD will have some bonus features, which are still to be announced.

Exclusive: Studio Hansa on Thomas Innovation Institute

Animators Studio Hansa have created a short film about the Thomas & Friends brand.

The London based film and animation company released The Thomas & Friends Institute of Innovation on their website in March, with only two clips and screencaps present for public viewing.

The full film was set up to devise a way to show the developments being made with regards to the Thomas & Friends franchise whilst protecting the integrity and heritage in terms of unnecessary modernisation. 

Describing it as a distinctly British, Monty Python and Willy Wonka-esque world where all manner of research takes place, the studio were tasked by the brand's current producers.

Speaking to Roll Along Thomas last month, Studio Hansa's Art Director, Gary Roberts, reaffirmed the details of the agreement.

Hit Entertainment asked us to help make a scheme to promote Thomas & Friends to commissioners and merchandising partners worldwide.

Sadly due to the confidentially of the project, everything and what's on the site is as much as we can share about the project, by all means.

WATCH CLIPS FROM 'THE THOMAS & FRIENDS INSTITUTE OF INNOVATION' FROM STUDIO HANSA

Exclusive: Channel 5 milkshake! talks Season 17 hiatus

Channel 5 milkshake! have spoken about their reasoning behind the UK airing of Season 17.

The 2013 series began broadcasting on the channel on June 3rd with ten episodes across two weeks before taking a break on the 17th.

Another five episodes then continued the run from September 30th for one week only after King of the Railway had debuted in Vue cinemas and on DVD.

Speaking to Roll Along Thomas, the milkshake! team revealed why the series didn't enjoy a consistent airing; The new Thomas episodes have not been confirmed in the schedules at milkshake! yet.

You are quite correct there was a hiatus occurrence as we tied the new Thomas episodes in with a [Super Special Thomas] themed week here on milkshake!

Watch this space for more information about new up and coming episodes of Thomas!

The series is scheduled to make a brief return on November 5th with Too Many Fire Engines tie-ing in with Guy Fawkes Night.

Season 17 of Thomas & Friends in the UK returns for one day only on November 5th on Channel 5 milkshake! at 7:35am, with the episode Too Many Fire Engines.

Exclusive Interview with...: Marketing Manager of Hornby, Simon Kohler, at the Barrow Hill Roundhouse

With the UK's Hornby Thomas & Friends range in seemingly good stride, 2009 saw a decline in quantity over new products, with the series resurrected in 2011 after a two year hiatus.

2012 however, became the first year in which no new engines from the Thomas franchise were made and only consisted of five pieces of rolling stock and limited models of few select engines, continuing on from the previous year.

To talk more, Hornby's Simon Kohler appeared at the Barrow Hill Roundhouse Chesterfield model rail event on September 29th, where Hawk01 was on hand to question the marketing manager for Roll Along Thomas.

Whose decision is it to produce a sought after character that’s often been suggested or requested?
It’s me really. What we do is if there is a new character, a new film or program, and there is a key character, we may suggest it. But it’s a question of do we have a chassis that will fit or that'll work? Although It’s not always the case.

Part of the problem is, you’ve got to imagine that the chassis for the Q1 is retailed now at over £100, and you’ve got to ask yourself, if we produced a character like Neville, the cost to produce that would result in the cost of the item or loco being £100, now it would be much for what would be considered for a child.

There have been discontinuations of old favourites while some were brought back as limited editions, like the stamped versions of Thomas, Percy and James. Can they and others return as standard editions?
The thing is, you end up with a range that is very popular and to people who will introduce something, you’ll run it for a year or two years and then we’ll give it a rest, but we’ll bring something else back and that’s really how you operate something as popular as the Thomas range.

Over your time at Hornby, who has been your favourite character to produce?
It would actually have to be Thomas because he is the first character. We’ve been producing Thomas for nearly 30 years and for the early years with Britt Allcroft right at the beginning, it was a great and exciting time and we had a lot of respect for Britt for what she did. It was a pleasure to work for her. When the range came out, she was pleased with it plus the entire team at Hornby too. I couldn’t do my work without that team.

The TV series nowadays is produced in CGI and merchandising has followed the show's facelift through the designs of the characters. Would Hornby continue this staple to tie-in with the brand's modern look?
It would depend on what Hit [Entertainment] would ask us to do. We’re in a position where they will dictate on what they would see on the characters but dictate in a nice way seeing as it’s their characters and Hornby, more or less, borrows it from them.

For the range itself, how long is it guaranteed for and is a good future in for it?
Yes, but nothing ever lasts forever. So to say, will it go on forever, I couldn’t possibly answer that, but certainly in the near future.

You appeared in the BBC's James May's Toy Stories episode Hornby and its follow-up The Great Train Race trying to help James build the longest running model railway. What was it like to trying to make this happen?
It was good fun, it was hard work. A lot of people put a lot of effort into it, getting up at the very early hours, on their hands and knees putting the track together. I did indeed fall down a ditch covered in mud, [it was] one of my proudest moments! When it was all done, all the tracks had to be picked up. So the next day, we did it all again only this time picking the track up. Driving the van full of boxes, it was a daunting task but good fun.

Kohler also spoke of the discontinuation of the 2011 standard design buildings confirming that they didn’t live up to what had been previously done with the Great Waterton line.

Exclusive: David Menkin named as US voiceover of Jack

The producer of Thomas & Friends has confirmed the identity of the American voice of Jack.

The front loader of Miss. Jenny's The Pack team returned in the King of the Railway special after his last appearance in the Season 12 episode, Percy and the Bandstand.

In the UK, Steven Kynman voiced the character, but his US counterpart was thought to be provided by Thomas and Diesel current voice actor, Martin T. Sherman.

Roll Along Thomas can exclusively reveal a response from the show's current producer Ian McCue, who reveals that a new cast member has joined the series.

You are [all] correct in assuming Steve Kynman for the UK voice of Jack, but for the US voice it was an actor called David Menkin who does have a similar tone to Martin.

David Menkin is an American actor and voiceover artist based in London who has acted in several stage shows such as The Green Violin and Christmas with the Rat Pack.

He has occasionally played a part in television shows such as the fourth series of Strike Back, Shadow Warfare and voices Scoop in the US version of Bob the Builder: Ready, Steady, Build!.

More recently, Menkin gained opportunities to feature in the Oscar winning film, Zero Dark Thirty and provide several voices for the animated picture, Arthur Christmas

Thanks to Daniel Coffey.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DAVID MENKIN ON IMDB

Exclusive: Hit confirms 'Big Bang Surprise' DVD episodes

The episodes for the Merry Winter Wish bonus disc have been confirmed for the United Kingdom.

The Christmas release was revealed this week to contain an additional DVD called Big Bang Surprise. Five episodes were teased but not named.

Hit Entertainment's marketing department has spoken to Roll Along Thomas about what stories will feature.

In answer to enquiries, the bonus disc of Merry Christmas Thomas is called Big Bang Surprise. As mentioned, it contains five episodes, and here are the episode titles.

Sodor Surprise Day, Thomas and the Sounds Of Sodor, Percy and the Calliope, Happy Birthday Sir! and Percy and the Monster Of Brendam.

The Christmas Tree Express, Ho Ho Snowman!, Salty's Surprise, Emily's Winter Party Special, Percy the Snowman and Tree Trouble star in the main release itself.

Merry Christmas Thomas!/Big Bang Surprise hits UK DVD shelves on October 28th. 

PRE-ORDER 'MERRY CHRISTMAS THOMAS!/BIG BANG SURPRISE' ON AMAZON.CO.UK

Thanks to Daniel Coffey.

Exclusive: Mr. Perkins to explore railways in new DVDs

Watch with Mr. Perkins is to be continued after the next DVD, Santa's Little Engine in the US, Roll Along Thomas can confirm.

The interactive segments, which serve as fillers in-between episodes on the current UK and US DVDs, will mark their 20th appearance on the October release. Splish, Splash, Splosh! was the first to include Perkins.

Set in the Engine Drivers Commonroom, the 13 new sketches will move from studio to location settings across several of the United Kingdom's railways.

Speaking to Roll Along Thomas, Lighting Cameraman, Ben Jones, revealed more on the interactive series' new beginning; [We] went out on location filming on the South Tyndale Railway and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

We filmed on the platform around the signal box and even did a few shots on one of the steam trains. As a small bit of trivia, we filmed one sequence where Mr. Perkins drives away from the station, waving to the camera.

It looks like the camera is on a bridge and the train is about to pass under it, however, its actually at the end of the line and so the train had to stop as soon as it left the bottom of frame. These were for Nickelodeon [Jr.] in the US.

Alston Station is lovely, it's well worth a day out if you're ever up near that way. Over two blocks of filming, we filmed 13 'documentary' style shorts with Perkins explaining the various aspects of train travel and life on the rails.

Jones also talked about producers, Scruffy Dog Media; I've been lucky to work with Scruffy Dog on a number of projects. [They] have filmed two more blocks of Perkins on location as I have been in Ireland on a childrens animation.

Thanks to Hawk01.

Exclusive: AudioGO on more 'Railway Stories' update

The Railway Stories audios in the UK are still planned for a continuation at some point in the future.

The audiobook range has been in limbo since the release of Branch Line Engines and Other Stories in 2011.

Producers AudioGO spoke of their intention to continue the franchise by adapting The Railway Series books Mountain Engines, Very Old Engines and Main Line Engines for a seventh volume.

Speaking to Roll Along Thomas, the team have given a short update on the prolonged release; We hope to be able to carry on with the range, perhaps later next year. Many apologies that we can't be more specific.

A CD compilation of all six volumes to date was announced for September 1st by amazon.co.uk in last month.

Thanks to SteamTeam.

Exclusive: Channel 5 to celebrate new series UK launch

Channel 5 are to celebrate the return of Thomas & Friends on their milkshake! show, with a number of features planned.

June 3rd sees the launch of the brand new Season Seventeen narrated by Mark Moraghan. Each new series of Thomas since 2010 have been preceded by previews and the occasional visits from The Fat Controller in the studio.

Roll Along Thomas have been granted a response from milkshake!, as the team are to go a step further with the celebrations.
We have a number of exciting special features planned for this week. The Fat Controller will be visiting us and we will be showing footage from our visit to Drayton Manor as well as some new activities on the website.

We will also be launching the new series of Thomas and Friends and running a new competition. So be sure to tune in every day from 6:00 to 9:15am on the 3rd to the 7th June.

A one day's filming in Drayton Manor's Thomas Land occurred on May 16th with presenters Amy Thompson, Derek Moran, Kemi Majeks and Olivia Birchenough joining in on the fun.

The Fat Controller even broke out some dance moves on the day infront of Thomas who was residing at Knapford Station.

The brand new seventeenth series of Thomas & Friends marks its world premiere on Channel 5 milkshake! in the UK on June 3rd 2013 with the episode, Kevin's Cranky Friend.