HiT announced multiple changes to the show beginning in 2009. One new aspect was the introduction of live-action host segments to "Thomas" home video releases. The host took the form of a character who worked on The Fat Controller's (Sir Topham Hatt's) railway, who would instruct viewers in craft projects. For the final 2 DVDs released for series 12 in 2009, the host was named Mr. Arkwright, played by Robert Slate. In 2010, beginning with the DVD "Splish Splash Splosh", the host was named Mr. Perkins, played by Ben Forster, and has remained host until Forster died in 2017 after a battle with cancer and was replaced by Mark Moraghan, who played "Mr Evans" in the web series.