Boy, 13, is new voice of Thomas the Tank Engine
Thirteen-year-old Harry Sparkes has been cast as the new voice of Thomas the Tank Engine in a refreshed animated series. He stars alongside actor Henry Golding, who serves as the show's narrator.
Why it matters
The casting of a young, unknown actor in a globally recognized children's franchise highlights the evolution of long-standing media properties.
Image source, PA Media Image caption, Harry Sparkes said he kept his role a secret from his school friends
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 alongside Crazy Rich Asians actor Henry Golding, who narrates the series in a role made famous by Sir Ringo Starr.
For nine months, Sparkes kept his weekly recording sessions secret from his classmates by 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.
Image source, PA Media Image caption, The new series sees Thomas and his friends return to 3D animation
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