Thomas the Tank Engine TV show creator Britt Allcroft has reportedly died (Picture: Getty/Allstar)
Britt Allcroft, the ‘visionary’ creator behind the hit children’s TV show based on Thomas the Tank Engine, has reportedly died aged 81.
The tragic news was announced by friend and filmmaker Brannon Carty on behalf of the Allcroft-Wright family with ‘great sadness’ to Thomas and the Tank Engine fans online.
Carty is the creator of the 2023 feature-length documentary, An Unlikely Fandom, exploring the adult fandom behind the popular British children’s series Thomas & Friends which includes interviews with longtime fans and ‘series veterans’ including Allcroft.
The tribute reads: ‘The family is currently in mourning and asks that their privacy be respected at this time.
‘Britt was an adoring mother and wife. A visionary producer. She brought so much joy and happiness to people everywhere during her time on Earth.
‘Over the years of knowing Britt, we developed a close connection. It was truly a privilege to have her as both a mentor and a friend, and I’m so glad that so many fans were able to meet her at the New York screening of An Unlikely Fandom.’
Britt Allcroft was a writer, director and producer across the Thomas the Tank Engine onscreen franchise (Picture: PA)
He called it an ‘honour’ for her to feature in the documentary and remain a ‘vocal supporter’ of the cause.
The message continued: ‘I think I can speak for the entirety of the fandom when I say that all of us will deeply miss her. Without her, so many of us would never have met.’
The tribute ended by sharing her family’s request to consider a charitable donation to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) in her name.
Adding: ‘While I am devastated by her passing, we can all find comfort in the certainty that her legacy will endure forever through Thomas and his fans around the world.’
There has been a flurry of tributes from fans.
Thomasfanno123 wrote: ‘Absolutely heartbreaking news… Thank you Britt for making the childhood of many, thank you for all you’ve done for Thomas. I think I speak for everyone when I say we’ll miss you dearly.’
‘The woman who introduced the cheeky little blue tank engine we all know and love to the TV screen around the world. Rest in Peace Britt, and thank you so much for all the wonderful childhood memories!’ 3801Productions added.
The TV series was adapted by Allcroft in 1984 (Picture: Clearwater Features/
Britt Allcroft Ltd)
It has cultivated a huge worldwide fanbase (Picture: Getty)
‘May she rest in peace. Her memory will live on in the joy she created in thousands of childhoods,’ MaxMonty1516 echoed.
Thomas the Tank Engine was created in the 1940s by author Rev. V. Awdry and his son Christopher in The Railway Series.
It was adapted to the screen as Thomas & Friends by the award-winning producer and first aired in October 1984 through her production company Britt Allcroft Railway Productions, co-founded with TV producer husband Angus Wright.
It was introduced to American television in 1989 through the PBS series Shining Time Station.
The show, originally titled Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends, ran for decades, coming to an end in 2021 after 584 episodes, 13 feature-length films and one theatrical release.
It aired across 185 countries and territories, amassing a wide-spanning, devoted fanbase and brought on board acclaimed narrators such as Ringo Starr, George Carlin and Alec Baldwin.
In an interview with Hollywood.com in 2000, ahead of her feature debut Thomas and the Magic Railroad, she reflected on the appeal of the series.
Allcroft said: ‘I think part of the appeal of these stories is they contain emotions and feelings and playfulness that is universal. We live in a very fast-forward world, a very noisy world, with lots of high technology, which is great in many ways.
‘But human beings are still the same, and little children are still the same. And they need fun, and they need love and adventure and security, and they need to be given a sense of hope and self-esteem.’
Metro has reached out to Britt Allcroft’s representatives for comment.
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