Thomas the Tank Engine has had a team of multicultural female trains join the Steam Team in an equality overhaul.

The new series of the children’s animated show Thomas and Friends will see the beloved locomotive leave his home in Sodor to travel the world for the first time.

Now called Thomas And Friends: Big World! Big Adventures!, the new series also marks the first collaboration between a children’s TV programme and the United Nations to promote the Sustainable Development Goals.

HongMei, one of the new multi-cultural female characters Thomas will meet on his world travels (Picture: PA)

He will also meet Rajiv, as he and his friends visit China, Australia and India(Picture: PA)

Isla the Australian medical plane will also be a new ‘strong female character’ in the new series (Picture: PA)

The changes mark the biggest relaunch the brand has had in its 73-year history (Picture: PA)

For the first time Thomas will discover new countries and cultures by travelling to China, India and Australia.




The changes mark the biggest relaunch the brand has had in its 73-year history and were unveiled at a premiere at Bafta’s headquarters in London.

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There will also be a new theme tune for the show, a faster-paced format, increased humour and music and fantasy elements and dream sequences.

The Steam Team, the core group of trains on the fictional island of Sodor, will now comprise three male and three female characters.

New additions Nia and Rebecca will join long-running favourites Thomas, Percy, Gordon, James and Emily.

The Fat Controller also has a new female counterpart in Charubala the railway controller (Picture: PA)

Ashima, one of the new characters from around the world (Picture: PA)

In addition to these, the series will feature new characters from around the world, including Ashima from India, Yong Bao from China and Shane from Australia.

Other female characters, described by show bosses as ‘strong girl characters’, include Isla, an Australian flying medical plane, Noor Jehan, a royal express engine from India and a Hong-Mei, a number one blue tank engine from China.

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Even the Fat Controller has a new female counterpart in the form of railway controller Charubala, from India.

The changes were made to represent the female viewership of the series, which is thought to be more than 40%, and send a strong message of gender equality to the young audience.

Another first for the show will see Thomas talk directly to the audience to narrate it himself.

YongBao from China. In addition to the new characters, there will also be a new theme tune (Picture: PA)

New character Rebecca will feature as a new member of the Steam Team (Picture: PA)

New addition Nia will join the original Steam Team gang on their worldwide adventure (Picture: PA)

The programme’s redevelopment included a collaboration with the UN Department of Public Information’s Creative Community Outreach Initiative to develop content inspired by the Sustainable Development Goals appropriate for a pre-school audience while in keeping with the Thomas And Friends brand.

Ian McCue, senior producer at Thomas And Friends, said: ‘The show has undergone an evolution to remain relevant for the next generation of parents and children by opening up the world of Thomas And Friends so children can discover the world around them while being entertained.

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‘The changes and new additions of characters and geographies will make the show more entertaining, inclusive and global – whilst ensuring all the favourite characters and storylines that fans around the world love remain at the heart of the action.’

Thomas the Tank Engine was created more than 70 years ago by Reverend Wilbert Awdry as part of his Railway Series of books, which have become a global brand including TV programmes, films, toys and live attractions.



Awdry’s granddaughter, Claire Chambers, welcomed the changes to the franchise, saying she thinks he would be ‘very happy’ with them.

‘If the gender-balanced Steam Team encourages more girls to maintain an interest then that can only be a good thing,’ she said.

Thomas And Friends will air daily from September 3 at 7am on Channel 5’s Milkshake.

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