An overhaul of Thomas the Tank Engine will see two male engines turfed out to make way for female characters.
Henry and Edward will be moving out of Tidmouth Sheds to make way for Nia, an orange engine from Africa, and Rebecca, a yellow-coloured engine.
They will join Emily, the other female engine, as well as the boys Thomas, Percy James and Gordon.
And the tradition of Liverpudlian narration – which first began with Ringo Starr – will disappear, as well as the theme tune with its roll-call of engine names.
But the most dramatic change will be Thomas leaving his home on the Island of Sodar as he embarks on adventures across the globe.
Thomas the Tank Engine to turf out male engines for female trains and to introduce an African character https://t.co/CKZAtsmbFg
— Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) October 15, 2017
Mattel, the US toy giant that owns rights to the much-loved show, collaborated with the United Nations to help meet the organisation’s Sustainable Development Goals.
The storylines have been written to meet five of the goals: quality education, gender equality, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, and life on land.
Mattel said the changes are a ‘groundbreaking refresh’ and is based on extensive market research with hundreds of parents and their children.
The show had previously come under fire and was criticised as sexist, classist and anti-enviromentalist.
But its creators have introduced small changes…