Thomas the Tank Engine has a new narrator as the former Brookside actor Mark Moraghan becomes the voice of the show. He follows Ringo Starr and Michael Angelis and continues the programme's association with a Liverpudlian accent.

Moraghan, 50, who has also appeared in Heartbeat and Holby City as well as Celebrity MasterChef, will be heard when Thomas and Friends begins a new series on Channel 5 on 3 June. He has become the voice of the programme in all English language territories including the US.

The first series of 26 stories premiered in September 1984 on ITV in the UK, with Starr as storyteller and Mr Conductor in the first and second season. From 1991 to 1993 George Carlin replaced Starr as both the storyteller and as Mr Conductor for the American version of the show. He continued to narrate the stories in the US until 1995. Michael Angelis, who appeared in The Liver Birds and Boys from the Blackstuff, succeeded Starr in the UK and has narrated the British version since the third season in 1991.

The new CGI version of Thomas now features actors playing each of the engines, but Moraghan will continue the tradition of having a narrator for the programme. He said: "It is fantastic to be associated with such an iconic series and a great legacy for my children and grandchildren. I am very proud to be part of it."

Michael Carrington, head of content and production at programme-maker Hit Entertainment, said: "The voices of the series are almost as iconic as the little engine himself and Mark's lyrical, understated storytelling complements the on-screen action beautifully." There will be new characters on the island of Sodor, on which the stories are set, including narrow gauge engine Millie.