query: When did Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends first air?
passage: Thomas the Tank Engine
Thomas's on-screen appearances in the TV series were developed by Britt Allcroft. The first series of 26 stories premiered in October 1984 on the ITV Network in the UK, with former Beatles drummer/vocalist Ringo Starr as storyteller. The stories were featured as segments as part of Shining Time Station in the US beginning in 1989 with Starr as the show's Mr. Conductor character. From 1991 to 1993, George Carlin replaced Starr as both the storyteller and as Mr. Conductor for Shining Time Station. Carlin also told the Thomas stories for Shining Time Station in 1995.
passage: Junior Campbell
Campbell co-wrote the music and lyrics for the internationally successful children's TV series "Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends" and "TUGS" with Mike O'Donnell, composing all music and songs during the classic period of Thomas films from 1984–2003, but when ownership of the production changed hands in 2003, Campbell (and his co-writer) departed the series after a protracted dispute with HIT Entertainment, the new owners.