📺 'Thomas the Tank Engine' Tuesday 09 October 1984 - ITV: 12:00 'Thomas the Tank Engine' debuts for the little 'uns. Although a hit with tiny tots in forty-three countries, the programme was disliked by Thomas' creator Rev W. Awdry, who urged children not to watch, citing as his reason “their lamentable gross ignorance” about railway practices. The Reverend was particularly bemused by the Americans who insisted, at the alter of political correctness, in calling the Fat Controller - Sir Topham H