Actor Michael Angelis dies at the age of 76

The Liverpudlian actor voiced the children’s programme for 13 series and was known for TV work in The Liver Birds and Auf Wiedersehen, Pet

Michael Angelis, best known as the narrator of Thomas the Tank Engine series Thomas and Friends, has died at the age of 76.

The actor died suddenly while at home with his wife on Saturday, his agent said.

Angelis lent his voice to the children’s TV programme for 13 series, taking over from Ringo Starr in 1991, when the programme was called Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends.

He was best known to adult audiences for his role as Arnie in September Song, Martin Niarchos in GBH, Lucien Boswell in The Liver Birds and as Mickey Startup in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet.

He also made appearances in Casualty, The Bill, Holby City and Heartbeat.

Born in Liverpool, Angelis first appeared on screen in the 1970s in programmes such as Z Cars, Thirty-Minute Theatre and an episode of Coronation Street, before stints in Minder, World’s End and Boys from the Blackstuff.

He was married to Coronation Street actress Helen Worth, who plays Gail Platt, from 1991 to 2001, and later married Jennifer Khalastchi.

Tributes to the late actor have poured in on Twitter, with actor Matt Lucas describing him as “one of the greatest TV actors I’ve ever seen… What a loss.”

Fans of the classic children’s show were left devastated by the news, and took to Twitter to lament his loss.

On fan wrote in a touching tribute: ‘It breaks my heart to hear that the legendary Michael Angelis has passed away. However his legacy will live on within the hearts of many Thomas fans. He shaped so many people’s childhoods and gave people so many laughs.”

One fan described Angelis as “the best narrator for the series” and “a huge part of my childhood”.