The Fat Controller - Biography (television Series)

Biography (television Series)

In the television series The Fat Controller is always the same man, with the same wife and grandchildren. He is in his mid 40's (as evident in a newspaper article in the Great Discovery), although his voice in the UK versions sometimes hint at old age, and he has even appeared with a white moustache in certain episodes. Very little of his history is revealed, although we do see more of his extended family, including his mother (Dowager Hatt), and his mischievous brother (Sir Lowham Hatt).

He is shown to be a qualified railway engine driver when he brings Percy to the yard for the first time. He is in charge of all the engines on Sodor and seemingly has a great deal of say over other vehicles. As a young man, he learnt to drive in Elizabeth the vintage Sentinel lorry.

He has overseen the construction of a number of lines, railway services, and has been involved with the opening of several tourist attractions on Sodor.

Narrator Michael Angelis portrayed the character with a strong Yorkshire accent, a trait of which has been continued when Pierce Brosnan briefly took over the mantle, and also when individual voice artists were brought in to voice the characters (The Fat Controller being voiced by Keith Wickham in the UK version, and Kerry Shale in the US version).

In the American version, he has almost always been referred to by his actual name, Sir Topham Hatt, possibly because "fat" is a more pejorative term in the U.S.

In episode 18 of Series 14, the Dowager Hatt called her son "Bertram" when he met her at the station after Thomas had taken her for a trip around Misty Island.