Thomas and the Rumours

"Harold wants to get rid of us." "He doesn't need tunnels!" "Don't worry; he's just counting sheep!" "Counting sheep? Pah! He's counting how many engines he can get rid of!"

- Gordon, Henry and Percy

Thomas and the Rumours, spelt Thomas and the Rumors in American releases, is the seventeenth episode of the fifth season.

Plot
Some children are upset that their playground has been closed, but before Thomas can tell the others, Percy butts in with news that Harold has been hired to show a special visitor around Sodor. A few days later, Gordon is going to collect his train when he sees Harold and goes down the wrong line and into a tunnel under repair. Thomas is worried that Gordon will be scrapped, but the Fat Controller laughs and says that Harold was hired so the man could find a new site for the playground from the air. The man declares that the sand cleared from the tunnel will be perfect for the playground and after that, the engines know that Harold is being really useful.

Characters

 * Thomas
 * Henry
 * Gordon
 * James
 * Percy
 * Sir Topham Hatt
 * The Special Visitor
 * Bridget Hatt (not named)
 * Harold (does not speak)
 * Duck (cameo)
 * Annie and Clarabel (cameo)
 * Stephen Hatt (cameo)
 * Jem Cole (cameo)
 * Farmer Trotter (cameo)

Locations

 * Callan
 * Tidmouth Sheds
 * Glennock
 * The School
 * The Windmill
 * Standard and Narrow Gauge Tunnel Runby
 * Stepney's Branch Line
 * The Mountain Line
 * Sodor Hay Company

Trivia

 * Stock footage from Trucks! is used.
 * This episode was adapted from the magazine story, Rumours and Speculation by Andrew Brenner. However, BoCo and Daisy were replaced with Thomas and Henry for unknown reasons.
 * When Gordon puffs onto the wrong line, the music in the UK dub fades in later and fades out earlier than the US dub and other international versions.
 * The episode was released on the Spooks and Surprises VHS a day before it aired on TV.

Goofs

 * When Thomas puffs into Tidmouth Sheds, the decals on one of the milk wagons beside him are incorrectly placed higher up.
 * When Percy first appears, he rushes in from a dead end.
 * When Percy is on the turntable, part of its fencing is snapped.
 * Studio equipment can be seen in the top-left corner in the close-up of Henry before he enters the tunnel.
 * When Thomas puffs out of Callan, a signal tilts slightly to one side.
 * When the children tell Thomas about the playground, one child looks happy.
 * The title card for the US version uses the UK spelling of rumours.
 * When Thomas passes the playground, there is a sign saying: "Playground closed until further notice," at the back of the playground. However, when Gordon passes the playground, the sign is gone.
 * Percy's roof is lifted during the evening scenes at Tidmouth Sheds.
 * Percy's eyes are wonky when Gordon replies about counting sheep.
 * The special visitor's small scale model is wearing a grey suit while his large scale model is wearing a yellow suit.
 * Henry's eyes are wonky when Harold leaves the sheds at the end of the episode.

Quotes

 * Henry: "The Fat Controller/Sir Topham Hatt has chosen Harold because he thinks he's more important than me, well he's not! Harold can't fly through tunnels!"
 * Percy: "I know what he's doing! He's counting sheep!"

Home Media Releases
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UK

 * Spooks and Surprises (Direct-to-Home Video)
 * 5 Episode Video
 * The Complete Fifth Series
 * Edward, Trevor and the Really Useful Party/Thomas and the Rumours

DVD Boxsets

 * Classic Collection

US

 * Make Someone Happy and Other Thomas Adventures
 * Season 5 (Digital Download)

DVD Packs

 * Totally Thomas Volume 1

AUS

 * Spooks and Surprises
 * The Complete Fifth Series

DVD Packs

 * Complete Series 1-10
 * Classic Collection
 * Series Five and Series Six Double Pack

JPN

 * New Thomas the Tank Engine 2 Vol.5
 * The Complete Works of Thomas the Tank Engine 2 Vol.5
 * Crash and Smash! Look Out!

NOR

 * The Old Coach (Norwegian VHS/DVD)

GRC

 * Time for Work

DK

 * Forward and Backward and Other Stories

ITA

 * Back All!

SWE

 * Little Engines Help Out

PHL

 * Oliver's Great Adventure

MYS

 * Put Upon Percy and Other Adventures
 * Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree and Other Thomas Adventures

THA
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 * Thomas and Friends - Volume 18 (Thai DVD)
 * Thomas and Friends Volume 12 (Thai DVD)