Thomas &amp; Friends (series 17)Thomas &amp; Friends (series 17) Thomas & Friends (series 17) "Thomas (the Tank Engine) & Friends" is a children's television series about the engines and other characters working on the railways of the Island of Sodor, and is based on The Railway Series books written by the Reverend W. Awdry. This article lists and details episodes from the seventeenth series of the show, which was first broadcast from 2013 to 2014. This series was also the first to be narrated by Mark Moraghan for the United Kingdom and United States audiences. Note: episodes 1–20 were first broadcast in the United Kingdom in 2013 by Channel 5  (20 single episodes). Episodes 21–24 were first broadcast in the United Kingdom in July 2014 by Nick Jr. (UK), in 2 two-episode programs. Episodes 25 and 26 were first broadcast in the UK on 21 November 2014 by Nick Jr. Too (formerly Nick Jr. 2), in a two-episode program. This was also the first series to be produced by Arc Productions. Production. During production of the sixteenth series, Sharon Miller stepped down as head writer, and Andrew Brenner, formerly head writer for Fireman Sam, was appointed as her successor. Brenner already had a previous history with the brand , having adapted the first two series and subsequently written several original stories for the "Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends" magazine, published by Marvel Comics from 1987 until the early 1990s. Many of his stories were later adapted by Britt Allcroft and David Mitton for the third series (plus a further one for the fifth) without his knowledge or consent. This also marked the first series since the fifth to include a railway consultant as part of the production team, with Sam Wilkinson in the role. The CGI animation for this series was provided by Arc Productions, who took over from  Nitrogen Studios following completion of Series 16 and "Blue Mountain Mystery" in 2012. In April 2013, Lionsgate released the DVD "Railway Mischief", which featured five episodes from the new series (episodes 4, 1, 2, 3 & 6) months before they were broadcast on television. The DVD was available exclusively at Walmart. Episodes. <onlyinclude></onlyinclude> Voices. David Menkin and Jonathan Broadbent joins the cast along with Bob Golding, Jonathan Forbes, Rebeca O'Mara, Miranda Raison and Mike O'Grady from that year's special. Following the number of departures for the previous year, Martin Sherman took over role of Diesel in the US , Keith Wickham took over the role of Bertie, Ben Small took over the role of Flynn, Steven Kynman took over the role of Butch in the US and Dart, and Teresa Gallagher takes over the role of Mavis in the US while David Bedella officially takes over the role of Victor in the UK. Thomas & Friends (series 17) "Thomas (the Tank Engine) & Friends" is a children's television series about the engines and other characters working on the railways of the Island of Sodor, and is based on The Railway Series books written by the Reverend W. Awdry. This article