The Fat Controller's Bedtime Story is a segment in the UK Thomas and Friends magazines. Since early 2012, bedtime stories have been published without titles. For the first few months, the section featured previously released stories, but starting on April 25th, 2012, new stories were frequently featured, although sometimes repeats of stories are sill published. The new stories usually focus on characters introduced in the CGI series such as Flynn, Belle, the Logging Locos, and Charlie. Each story features at least one image usually taken from a CGI series episode.
Issue 639
- “Two fires in one day and I'm still not needed.”
- ― Flynn
This bedtime story was first published on April 25th, 2012.
Plot
At the Sodor Search and Rescue Centre, Flynn is feeling very sorry for himself. He tells Thomas that there have not been any fires for days and if he does not have anything to do, he worries that the Fat Controller will send him away. Thomas assures him that it is not his fault that he is not busy all the time and the important thing is that he is there when he is needed. This cheers Flynn up.
Then, a siren wails and Belle rolls up. The Fat Controller emerges on the Search and Rescue Centre's balcony and tells the engines that there is a fire at Farmer Trotter's Pig Farm. Belle volunteers to go and races off before Flynn can speak. He inquires as to what he can do, but no one is there to hear him. Then, the siren wails again and the Fat Controller reappears. He calls over to Harold and tells the helicopter that there is a fire on a hillside near Bluff's Cove. Flynn tries to inquire again, but everyone has gone again. Now Flynn is even more upset; there had been two fires in one day and he still was not needed.
Then, Bash and Dash came rushing up. They tell Flynn that there is a forest fire on Misty Island and that all of the Jobi Wood will be lost if it is not stopped. Flynn thinks he should tell the Fat Controller, but Bash and Dash tell him there is not time. Flynn races through the Misty Island Tunnel and soon reaches the fire. He cannot put the fire out by himself, but he does manage to keep the fire at bay. After a while, he starts to get tired and his tanks start to run dry.
Then, Harold appears overhead with a big tank of water which he dumps on the fire. Behind Flynn, Belle appears as well. She adds her two powerful jets to the fire and soon the fire is out. The Fat Controller arrives on Thomas just in time to see the last swirls of black smoke raise into the sky. Bash and Dash tell the Fat Controller that Flynn had managed to keep the fire under control single-handedly. The Fat Controller tells him that he is a really useful engine and Flynn blushes with pride.
Characters
- Thomas
- Bash and Dash
- Flynn
- Belle
- Sir Topham Hatt
- Harold (does not speak)
- Farmer Trotter (mentioned)
Trivia
- After this story, readers are given the chance to win a TrackMaster Flynn.
Issue 641
- “What do hedgehogs like to eat with their cheese?"
"This isn't the time for jokes, Charlie. I'm trying to be really useful!"
"And I'm trying to be really funny! The answer is prickled onions!” - ― Charlie and Thomas
This bedtime story was first published on May 23rd, 2012.
Plot
One spring day, Thomas is at Brendam Docks collecting a new hat for Lady Hatt when Charlie chuffs up. He tells Thomas is favourite joke, but Thomas does not think it is the right time for telling jokes. Despite initially not being interested in Charlie's joke, Thomas cannot help smiling when he hears the punchline. The Fat Controller arrives and he is definitely not smiling; Percy has overslept and has therefore not collected his milk train from the Dairy. He orders Charlie and Thomas to collect and deliver the milk. Charlie tells another joke before setting off, prompting the Fat Controller to jokingly declare that Charlie needs an audience.
As Thomas and Charlie travel to the Dairy, rain clouds form overhead. Charlie knows a joke about rain, but before he has a chance to tell it, rain pours down. At the Dairy, Charlie is splashed with a big, muddy puddle.
After completing their job, the two engines head to the washdown. Charlie is washed and polished until he shines like a star, giving Thomas an idea. He rushes to share his idea with Sir Topham Hatt who is very impressed with Thomas' idea.
Two days later, it is the Fat Controller's birthday party. Everyone is having a wonderful time, when the Fat Controller introduces their star entertainer. The audience gasp as Charlie rolls forwards and starts sharing his best jokes with the crowd. Charlie continues to tell his jokes until he had used them all up. He had found an audience and made the Fat Controller very happy indeed.
Characters
- Thomas
- Charlie
- Sir Topham Hatt
- Percy (mentioned)
- Lady Hatt (mentioned)
Trivia
- Images are taken from the thirteenth season episodes, Play Time and Splish, Splash, Splosh!
Goofs
- Percy should not have been able to oversleep as he should have been woken by his crew or the firelighter.
- In the sentence "We don't know shouted the audience", the quotation marks are in the wrong place.
Quotes
- The Fat Controller (referring to Charlie): "That engine needs an audience!"
Gallery
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Issue 642
- “We just think that we're more useful than you smaller engines!"
"That's a very silly thing to say!” - ― Henry and Percy
This bedtime story was first published on June 6th, 2012.
Plot
Henry and Gordon are boasting to Percy and Toby about how they are superior to the little engines. Percy and Toby are annoyed and determined to show the bigger engines just how useful they can be. Toby has a plan and suggests to Percy that they hide for the day and see how the railway copes without them. Percy agrees and the two hide in the bushes near the shed.
Later that morning, Henry is making an urgent delivery when he is suddenly stopped in his tracks. A branch from a tree is hanging low over the railway and Henry is too tall to squeeze under it. His driver insists that they go back. Across the Island, Gordon is having problems of his own. It was raining hard and Gordon is having trouble getting up the hill; his wheels keep slipping on soggy leaves. After a short while, Gordon goes back to the station. Another engine will have to pick up his passengers today.
Later that afternoon, Percy and Toby emerge to find Henry and Gordon at the Sodor Steamworks looking very cross. Thomas, who is passing by, tells Toby and Percy that the two big engines have not been able to complete their jobs. Just then, the Fat Controller rushes in. He asks Percy to take Henry's urgent delivery as he will be small enough to fit under the low-hanging branch. The Fat Controller then asks Toby to pick up Gordon's passengers as he is too light to slip on the wet leaves. Henry has to admit that the smaller engines can be useful as Toby and Percy just smile to one another.
Characters
'Arry or Bert makes a brief cameo in one of the photographs.
Trivia
- The images are taken from the episodes Henry's Happy Coal and Toby's New Whistle. It is unknown which episode the photograph of Toby is taken from.
Goofs
- A lighter engine is more likely to slip on wet leaves than a heavy engine.
Issue 643
- “I know I'm one of the newest engines on the Island, but I would love to be painted!"
"Well, I don't suppose he'll choose a big, ugly engine like her!"
"Those two big pumps are just hideous!” - ― Belle overhears Emily and Rosie loudly whispering
This bedtime story was first published on June 20th, 2012. According to the front page of the magazine, this story is titled Beautiful Belle.
Plot
The Fat Controller has asked an artist to paint some pictures of engines to put on his new office's wall at the Sodor Search and Rescue Centre. On the day the artist is due to arrive, the Fat Controller tells his engines to look their best as the cleanest and shiniest engines are sure to be chosen. All of the engines want to be on the Fat Controller's office wall and they are all very excited - especially James. When James comes back from the wash-down he refuses to do any more work as he is worried about becoming dirty. Belle expresses her wish to be painted, but she then overhears Emily and Rosie whispering about her appearance, calling her "ugly". Belle is embarrassed; she knew her water pumps were really useful and had never thought of them as ugly before!
Suddenly a siren goes off and the manager of the rescue centre calls out for help. None of the engines volunteer, except Belle who decides if she will not be chosen for the picture, she might as well be really useful instead. Thomas and Percy volunteer to go with her to the site of the emergency. The fire is in an old shed near the fuel store and has to be put out quickly. Belle points her pumps at the flames as Thomas and Percy carry more water to the site. By the time the fire is under control, all three engines are covered in thick black soot. Belle is now surer than ever that they will not be chosen for the picture now.
At the Search and Rescue Centre, the artist has arrived and the Fat Controller orders Belle, Thomas and Percy to line up with the other engines who were all moving back and forwards, trying to catch the artist's eye. The artist walks down the line dismissing the engines one-by-one - even James who is horrified. When the artist comes to Belle, he calls her beautiful and says she looks like a hard-working engine. The artist then declares that he will paint Belle, Thomas, and Percy.
A few weeks later, the artist returns with the pictures. When the Fat Controller sees them, he is delighted and glad that the artist chose his two hard-working little tank engines and his beautiful Belle!
Characters
Quotes
- The Fat Controller: "I am so glad the artist chose you - my two hard-working, little tank engines and my beautiful Belle!"