Zebedee (TUGS)

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Zebedee is a fictional character who appeared in the 1988 television series TUGS, created by the producers of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends.

One of the devious Z-Stacks and a former member of the Star Fleet, he is Captain Zero's second tug, a who is used for a wide variety of tasks around Bigg City Port. Like the rest of the Z-Stacks, Zebedee is based on the tugs of the Moran fleet from the 1920's. He speaks with a Liverpudlian accent.

Zebedee is one of the more complex characters in TUGS, mean and vindictive on the outside, but on the inside there is much to his personality. In the episode 'High Winds' his guilty conscience proves he has good in him, when he helps the Star fleet tow the liner Princess Alice. The lighter side of Zebedee was never examined again in the series, but it was an interesting factor that might have been further revealed had the series continued..

According to sources, Zebedee is voiced by British actor Nigel Anthony, who provides the voices of Big Mac and the fire tug.

Although loud, Zebedee's whistle produces a single flat note with a sound that would best be described as 'bwaa-!'

In the animated series Salty's Lighthouse Zebedee later became a nice Z-stack and was voiced by Ian James Corlett. It was previously thought that his name was changed, but since it remained visible on his hull, it seems that the producers interpreted it wrong. On Salty's Lighthouse, his name was always pronounced as "Zeebee".

In the Thomas and Friends episode Something in the Air (Season Five), Zebedee (along with Zip) made a "cameo" as one of the tugs who helped Henry after a water accident. Of course, Zebedee's face and hat had been removed, but if you look closely you can see the area where he could turn his "head" and the Z Stacks logo on his funnel.

In the Japanese version he was voiced by Kōji Ishii.