Former James Bond Pierce Brosnan is going to be voicing Thomas the Tank engine.

Pierce is the latest in a long-line of distinguished talents, including former Beatle Ringo Starr, Alec Baldwin and Michael Brandon, to take on the role since the TV series first aired in 1984.

Brosnan said: “One of my fondest memories as a father was sharing the stories of Thomas the Tank Engine and watching the series with my children when they were young.

“I am thrilled by the opportunity to be the narrator for this beloved series, following in the shoes of so many famous names and helping introduce Thomas and Friends to many more generations of children.”

New Zealand Herald

Did anyone ever see Pierce’s other foray into cartoon voiceovers? On The Simpsons, when he voiced a murderous household appliance that falls in love with Marge and tries to put Homer in the garbage disposal? Could we have a sinister tank engine? I grew up with the little blue engine, voiced at the time by Ringo Starr, so I am really not quite sure about Pierce Brosnan. I keep imagining him hitting on the other engines Bond-style, demanding shaken martinis and packing guns in his coal bins. I guess for a whole generation of children Pierce will be Thomas, not Bond, the same way that for me Ringo is always going to be Thomas’ voice, instead of a Beatle worthy of inspiring mania.

Note by Celebitchy: George Carlin is the narrator on the US version of Thomas the Tank Engine. Don’t ask me how I know this.