Sir Topham Hatt as Father Christmas.
Sir Topham Hatt (more formally referred to as The Fat Controller) is the head of the railway in The Railway Series of books written by the Rev. W.V. Awdry. In the first 2 books in the series (The Three Railway Engines and Thomas the Tank Engine), he is known as the Fat Director. In the 3rd book (James the Red Engine), he becomes the Fat Controller, as the railway has been nationalized. His full name is revealed in the foreword to the book Henry the Green Engine. Sir Topham Hatt also appears in many episodes of the television series Thomas & Friends, adapted from the books. In this, he was usually portrayed in the form of a static figure, but from Season 12 onwards was portrayed using CGI. The name or term "fat controller" has since been adopted in various contexts in the English language, beyond the sphere of the original stories.
Appearances in Christmas specials[]
- "Thomas' Christmas Party"
- "Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree"
- "Thomas and Percy's Christmas Adventure"
- "It's Only Snow"
- "Snow Engine"
- "Not So Hasty Puddings"
- "Gordon Takes Charge"
- "Thomas and the Toy Shop"
- "Keeping up with James"
- "Thomas' Tricky Tree"
- "Thomas' Frosty Friend"
- "Henry's Lucky Day"
- "Merry Winter Wish"
- "Merry Misty Island"
- "Henry's Magic Box"
- "Let It Snow"
- "Percy the Snowman"
- "Tree Trouble"
- "Salty's Surprise"
- "Santa's Little Engine"
- "The Missing Christmas Decorations" (does not speak)
- "Long Lost Friend"
- "Last Train for Christmas"
- "The Perfect Gift"
- "A Cranky Christmas"
- "Diesel's Ghostly Christmas"
- "The Christmas Coffeepot"
- "Terence Breaks the Ice"
- "Kangaroo Christmas" (stock footage cameo)