Skip to content
MovieCove
Rob Rackstraw

Rob Rackstraw

Actor · Born October 31, 1965 (60) · Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England, UK

Robert "Rob" Rackstraw (born 31 October 1965 in Sunderland) is a British voice actor. He is perhaps best known for his various voices in the television series Bob the Builder, mainly the scarecrow Spud.  He has an extensive voice over career over 15 years long and is considered to be one of the UK's leading male voice actors. He also played the main villain Pew in The Legends of Treasure Island, and Captain Campion in Watership Down. He also wrote episodes of Avenger Penguins and Fantomcat. Description above from the Wikipedia article Rob Rackstraw, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 31, 1965 (60)
From
Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England, UK
Works as
Actor
Titles
30 on MovieCove · 95 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 15% in 30 days

What are Rob Rackstraw's films like?

Across their 25 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Society and Bonds.

Themes

share of theme weight
Society
34%
Bonds
32%
Self
22%
Ideas
7%
Survival
4%
Morality
1%
Community18 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship13 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeHope4 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 14 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 14 · Serious 0 · Dark 0

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 2 · Stylized 8 · Heightened 4

Gentle: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their gentle movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 13 · Charged 1 · Intense 0

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 14 · Shifting 0 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 1 · Some laughs 13 · Funny 0

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 10 · Even-paced 4 · Relentless 0

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 14 · Engaged 0 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 14 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

13 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 5 of 13 analyzed roles.

Ally
5 of 13
Trickster
4 of 13
Hero
3 of 13
Mentor
1 of 13
Show the 13 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
23
Hopeful
17
Warm
12
Thrilling
5
Absurd
2
Other
5

How their films linger

Feel-good23 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCozy5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy23
  • Ambiguous1
  • Cyclical1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Rob Rackstraw's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 22 of their 30 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Netflix (9).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Rob Rackstraw's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

95 credits, 30 with a MovieCove page.

  • Tricky & The Cereal Killers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Tricky

  • Piggy Builders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Show 52 episodes · as Wilf / Brian / Reg / Fred (voice)

  • 7 Bears(2025)

    Show 10 episodes · as The King (voice)

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all shows

  • Wolf King(2025)

    Show as Lord Vankaskan

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all shows

  • The Octonauts & the Great Summer Adventure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Kwazii (voice)

  • The Discarded (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Cat (voice)

  • The Creature Cases(2022)

    Show 23 episodes · as (voice)

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Lloyd of the Flies(2022)

    Show as Malcolm

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • Sea of Love(2022)

    Show Actor

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • Thomas & Friends: Animal Adventures (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as James / Owen / The Small Controller / The Thin Clergyman / Announcer / Elephant Carer / Troublesome Truck (voice)

  • Milo(2021)

    Show 52 episodes · as Dad (voice)

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • Elliott from Earth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Show 16 episodes · Actor

  • Thomas and Friends: The Super Engine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as James / Announcer / Toby / Worker (voice)

  • Octonauts: The Ring of Fire(2021)

    as Kwazii (voice)

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Octonauts: Above & Beyond(2021)

    Show as Kwazii

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • Octonauts & the Great Barrier Reef(2020)

    as Kwazii (Voice)

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Thomas & Friends: Marvellous Machinery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as James / Toby / Bernie / Professor Friedrich (voice)

  • Octonauts and the Caves of Sac Actun(2020)

    as Kwazii (Voice)

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Thomas & Friends: Carnival Day! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as James (voice)

  • Thomas and Friends: The Royal Engine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as James / The Thin Clergyman / Mainland Engine Cleaners / Toby / Passenger / Thief / Stanley / Owen / Workman (voice)

  • Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth(2020)

    as Crowd Voice (voice)

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Thomas & Friends: Steam Team to the Rescue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as James / Flynn / Big Mickey / Monty / Knapford Stationmaster / Passenger / Troublesome Trucks (voice)

  • Thomas & Friends: A Colourful World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as James / Fat Tiger Hunter / Passenger / Trailer Voice-Over / Film Crew Leader / Giant Panda (voice)

  • Thomas & Friends: Digs & Discoveries (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as James / The Road Finisher (voice)

  • Thomas & Friends: Monkey Trouble! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Toby / James / Isla's Radio / Dock Worker / Bradford (voice)

  • Thomas & Friends: Here Comes the Steam Team! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as James / Passengers (voice)

  • Thomas & Friends: Big World! Big Adventures!(2018)

    as James / Toby / Donald / Sam / Big Mickey / The Thin Clergyman / African Race Announcer (voice)

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Thomas & Friends: On the Go with Thomas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as James / Toby / James' Driver / Knapford Workman (voice)

  • Thomas & Friends: Danger at the Docks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Big Mickey / Sea Serpent / Toby (voice)

  • Thomas & Friends: Christmas on Sodor(2017)

    as Flynn / Carolers / The Thin Clergyman / James / Donald / Signalman / The Small Controller (voice)

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Thomas & Friends: Journey Beyond Sodor(2017)

    as James / Toby / Troublesome Trucks (voice)

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Thomas & Friends: Extraordinary Engines (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as James / Hugo / The Thin Clergyman (voice)

  • Thomas & Friends: Tales from the Rails (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Passenger / Toby / Quarry Workers / Bradford (voice)

  • Thomas and Friends: Ultimate Friendship Adventures (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Quarry Workers / James / Passenger / Stanley / Flynn / Painter (voice)

  • Octonauts - 15 Underwater Adventures (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Kwazii

  • Thomas & Friends: Full Steam to the Rescue! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Flynn / Painter / Toby (voice)

  • Thomas & Friends: Tinsel on the Tracks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as James / Donald / Douglas' Driver (voice)

  • Thomas & Friends: The Great Race(2016)

    as Axel / Raul / Carlos / Ivan / Etienne / Flynn / Great Railway Show Announcer (voice)

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Thomas & Friends: Start Your Engines! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as James / Soccer Players (voice)

  • Thomas & Friends: Tales on the Rails (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as James (voice)

  • Thomas & Friends: Thomas' Christmas Carol (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as James (voice)

  • Messy goes to OKIDO (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 52 episodes · as (voice)

  • Thomas & Friends: Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure(2015)

    as Toby (voice)

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Thomas & Friends: Whale of a Tale and Other Sodor Adventures (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as James / Stanley / Passengers (voice)

  • Bob the Builder: Hammer Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Spud / Mr. Bernard Bentley

  • Bob the Builder: Teamwork Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Spud / Mr. Bentley / Grabber

  • Bob the Builder: Build It and They Will Come (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Actor

  • Bob the Builder: Adventures by the Sea(2012)

    as Mr. Bentley

  • HiT Favorites: Preschool Fun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Mr. Bentley (voice)

  • Pet Squad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Show 52 episodes · as (voice)

  • Bob the Builder: Big Dino Dig(2011)

    as Spud (voice)

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Amazing World of Gumball(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Gruber (voice)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Verne on Vacation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Horace / Gaston (voice)

  • The Octonauts(2010)

    Show 143 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Bob the Builder: The Legend of the Golden Hammer(2009)

    as Scoop / Muck / Travis / Spud / Mr. Bentley / Packer / Splasher (voice)

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Dennis & Gnasher (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 87 episodes · Actor

  • Bob the Builder: Race to the Finish(2008)

    as Spud / Mr. Bentley / Grabber (voice)

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Bob the Builder: On Site - Houses & Playgrounds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Roley

  • Chop Socky Chooks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 26 episodes · as Chuckie

  • The Space Place (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 12 episodes · as Narrator

  • Bob the Builder: Scrambler to the Rescue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Spud / Mr. Bentley

  • Thomas & Friends: Thomas & Friends on the Big Screen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Mr. Bentley (voice)

  • Robin Hood: Quest for the King (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as (Voice)

  • The Secret Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 52 episodes · as Professor Professor (voice)

  • Bob the Builder: Built to be Wild(2006)

    as Spud / Mr. Bentley / Rusty Rogers / Dollar / Brandy (voice)

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • HiT Favourites: Happy Children's Favourites (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Scoop / Muck / Travis / Spud (voice)

  • Outback Christmas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Buster / George / Sammy

  • Le roman de Renart(2005)

    as Rufus (voice)

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Bob the Builder: Bob's Big Plan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Spud (US & UK), Mr. Bentley (US & UK), Scoop (UK), Muck (UK)

  • Bob the Builder: Bob Saves the Day! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Actor

  • Bob The Builder: Scoop's Favorite Adventures (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Actor

  • The Koala Brothers(2003)

    Show 79 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • Yoko! Jakamoko! Toto! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 52 episodes · as Toto

  • Bob the Builder: The Knights of Fix-A-Lot(2003)

    as Scoop / Muck / Roley / Spud / Mr. Beasley / Mr. Bentley (voice)

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Bob the Builder: A Christmas to Remember(2001)

    as Various (voice)

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Doctor Otter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 26 episodes · as Dr. Otter (voice)

  • Angelina Ballerina(2001)

    Show 39 episodes · as Uncle Louis / Grandpa Mouseling (voice)

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all shows

  • Little Grey Rabbit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 26 episodes · Actor

  • Watership Down (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 26 episodes · as Campion / Captain Holly / Hickory (voice) · as Raincloud / Granite (voice)

  • Sooty Heights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 26 episodes · as Butch

  • The Foxbusters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 26 episodes · as Voracious / Attila / Farmer Farmer (voice)

  • Bob the Builder(1997)

    Show 256 episodes · as Scoop / Muck / Travis / Spud (voice)

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all shows

  • Lavender Castle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 26 episodes · as Roger / Isambard (voice) · as Roger/Isambard

  • Gogs: Gogwana (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Actor

  • Soul Music (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 7 episodes · Actor

  • Wyrd Sisters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 6 episodes · as Duke Felmet (voice)

  • Pond Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 20 episodes · Actor

  • Fantomcat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 26 episodes · Actor

  • Friendly Monsters: A Monster Christmas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as (voice)

  • Friendly Monsters: A Monster Easter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Actor

  • Friendly Monsters: A Monster Holiday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Actor

  • Gogs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 13 episodes · Actor

  • Zit: The Video (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as (voices)

  • Avenger Penguins (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 26 episodes · Writer · Actor

  • Thomas & Friends(1983)

    Show 72 episodes · as James (voice) · as James / Toby (voice)

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 88th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 90 titles from 1984 to 2025.

Biggest box office

Octonauts: The Ring of Fire (2021)

$5.5M worldwide

Highest rated

Bob the Builder: A Christmas to Remember (2001)

Midcredits 75th

Most popular right now

Bob the Builder (1997)

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting90 of 90: 89 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score52ndWriting1 of 90: 0 only writing, 1 with another role

By decade

1980s1 · acting1990s16 · 16 acting · 1 crew2000s23 · acting2010s32 · acting2020s18 · acting

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Rob Rackstraw's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 56th percentile, the median of the 16 of 17 with a score; across their 14 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 58th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Approval · how many liked their films

62ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Reach · how many have seen their films

42ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Midcredits score across 29 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up4
  • 50th to 74th13
  • 25th to 49th9
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

15 of their 29 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Divisive3
  • Cult Classic8
  • Crowd Pleaser2
  • Mixed15

Most divisive · actor

Thomas & Friends: Christmas on Sodor (2017)

99th percentile spread · 47% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth (2020)

Midcredits 89th · 76% liked

Reviewers score the acting 63/100 in their films, across 3 reviewed titles; fans 71, detractors 35. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Rob Rackstraw's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 4 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 44 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 25 · mildMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 22 · mildMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 24 · mildMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 39 · moderateMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Rob Rackstraw work with?

People who share at least 2 of Rob Rackstraw's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Teresa Gallagher shares the most, 11.

Directors

Writers

Actors

  • Teresa Gallagher11 titles    See all 11 shared titles with Teresa Gallagher
  • Keith Wickham11 titles    See all 11 shared titles with Keith Wickham
  • Jo Wyatt6 titles    See all 6 shared titles with Jo Wyatt
  • Neil Morrissey6 titles    See all 6 shared titles with Neil Morrissey

Composers and editors

Producers