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Henry Golding is returning to a childhood favourite in a rather unexpected way: he's now the narrator of Thomas & Friends: Railway Stories
The Malaysian-born actor shared the news on Instagram, calling it an "absolute joy" to take on the role.
"This one's for all the kiddos out there," Golding wrote.
And, naturally, he signed off his post with a very fitting "Peep! Peep!"
But Golding isn't just lending his voice to a franchise he knows well. He also grew up watching Thomas & Friends.
"I think young Henry would be extremely excited," he said in an interview with AP.
Golding also shared that he always saw himself as Henry, one of the trains in the series, because, well, they share the same name.
Golding is following in the footsteps of some pretty recognisable narrators
Ringo Starr famously narrated Thomas & Friends for several years, while Pierce Brosnan also lent his voice to the franchise, including the 2008 movie special The Great Discovery.
"I mean, Ringo Starr, what a champ. Of course, an absolute legend. And you've had a whole host of amazing stars, including Pierce Brosnan. But, you know, I'm in the shadow of giants," said Golding.
Ringo Starr.
Image via ttte
Pierce Brosnan.
Image via ttteGolding said the new series also puts a fresh spin on the classic franchise
"I think we bring a new spin and a new sort of excitement to Thomas, and we're kind of bringing it back up to date, which is the exciting part," he shared.
For Golding, one of the things that makes Thomas & Friends special is its focus on friendship and teamwork.
"I think some of the most important sort of themes that run through Thomas & Friends really is sort of all about friendship and teamwork. And this series and special strengthens that," he said.
He hopes those lessons will stick with children beyond the show.
"I think it's so important to impart that on our children because, you know, sometimes we often feel alone but we need to realise that our friends are more than willing to help. Sometimes we just have to ask them," he added.
The new series brings Thomas back with updated 3D animation and character designs
The first 30-minute special, Really Helpful Engines, was released on YouTube on 17 September, with the full Thomas & Friends: Railway Stories series expected to debut in early 2027.
"I played and watched Thomas as a kid and now I get to be Thomas. It just feels insane.
"I think it's just amazing because it has such a big history to it. Like, he's 80 now and now I get to be part of that history and I get to be part of something which kids from the next generation will get to grow up to watch," Golding shared.
