How Ringo Star ended up as the voice of Thomas the Tank Engine…. Ringo Starr wasn’t chosen for Thomas the Tank Engine just because he was famous. He was personally picked by the show’s creator, Rev. Wilbert Awdry, who wanted a warm, friendly voice that felt like a comforting bedtime storyteller — and Ringo was his first choice. His calm Scouse accent turned out to be perfect for children’s TV. When the show launched in 1984, Ringo became both the narrator and Mr Conductor, helping turn Thomas in