Thomas & Friends is a children's television series about the engines and other characters working on the railways of the Island of Sodor, and is based on The Railway Series books written by the Rev. W. Awdry. This article lists and details episodes from the ninth Series of this show, which was first broadcast in 2005. This series was narrated by Michael Angelis for the UK audiences, although Michael Brandon narrated the episodes for the US audiences. Some episodes in this series have two titles: the original titles from the UK broadcasts are shown on top, while the American-adapted titles are shown underneath. Starting in this series, at the beginning of each show, the characters' numbers would appear on each cab starting from Henry to Edward to Thomas as the countdown, the workmen would then get Thomas ready for the new day and Thomas' driver would signal the workmen that Thomas is ready by blowing Thomas' whistle and Thomas would start his adventures. Towards the end of each show, the countdown would begin again, Thomas would return to the station, the workmen would get Thomas ready for tomorrow, and Thomas would go to sleep with a white sleeping cap with blue stripes on his funnel. In later seasons, these sketches would be shortened because the series would be funded by LEGO Duplo.