Robert "Rob" Rackstraw (born 31 October 1965) is a British voice actor and writer, best known for his extensive work in children's animation, including voicing the scarecrow Spud and other characters in the television series Bob the Builder.[1][2]Born in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England, Rackstraw has provided voices for over 80 roles across television, film, and video games, often employing a versatile range of accents and character styles suited to animation and gaming.[1][2] His notable credits include the adventurous pirate cat Kwazii in Octonauts, Captain Campion in the animated adaptation of Watership Down, engines such as James and Toby in Thomas & Friends (US dub) starting from its 22nd series, and Lord Vankaskan in the 2025 series Wolf King.[2][1][3] Additionally, he has contributed to projects like The Legends of Treasure Island as the character Pew and has writing credits on episodes of Avenger Penguins and Fantomcat.[1]Rackstraw's career spans decades, with a focus on character-driven voice work that emphasizes intelligent and dry delivery, making him a favored talent for international productions in animation and interactive media.[4] He operates from a home studio equipped for professional recordings and maintains an active presence in the voice-over industry through agencies and personal platforms.[4]
Early years
Childhood and upbringing
Rob Rackstraw was born on 31 October 1965 in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England.[5][6]Rackstraw grew up in the Sunderland suburb of Silksworth, a former mining community in the Wearside region.[7][8]As a child, Rackstraw showed an early interest in performance by entertaining his school friends through mimicry of teachers in the playground, honing skills in accents and imitation that would influence his future work.[7] He later transitioned to formal education at Southmoor Comprehensive School.[7]
Education
Rackstraw attended Southmoor Comprehensive School in Sunderland, where he grew up in the nearby suburb of Silksworth.[8]During his school years, Rackstraw developed an early interest in performance by entertaining his classmates through mimicry of teachers in the playground, honing skills in accents and imitation that would later define his career.[7] These playful experiments with voices and characters laid the groundwork for his creative pursuits, fostering a passion for expressive performance within the structured environment of secondary education.[7]
Career
Beginnings in voice acting
Rob Rackstraw's entry into voice acting began in the early 1990s following a chance encounter with a local radio DJ in Sunderland, which opened doors to opportunities in the industry. This serendipitous meeting led him to start writing commercial radio adverts, where he honed his skills by crafting scripts infused with distinctive accents and humorous, exaggerated elements to capture attention.[8]Rackstraw created a personal show reel from these early scripts, demonstrating his versatility in voice modulation and character creation. Initially balancing this freelance work with a day job, he began taking time off to pursue voice-over gigs, gradually reducing his regular employment to three days a week as opportunities increased.[8]By the early 1990s—over 20 years before 2013—Rackstraw made the pivotal decision to leave his previous job entirely and commit to voice acting full-time, a move that solidified the foundation of his professional career after just a week of promising success in the field. This transition marked the start of his dedicated involvement in voice-over work, primarily through radio commercials and related projects.[8]
Major contributions to animation and television
Rackstraw achieved his breakthrough in children's animation through his extensive voice work on the long-running British series Bob the Builder (1997–2011), where he provided the voices for multiple core characters including the enthusiastic digger Scoop, the bulldozer Muck, the dump truck Travis, and the mischievous scarecrow Spud. His performances, particularly as Spud, brought a playful and comedic energy to the show, contributing to its global popularity as an educational program promoting teamwork and problem-solving for young audiences.[8] This role marked a significant progression in his career, showcasing his ability to handle ensemble casts in fast-paced animated narratives.In 2010, Rackstraw took on the role of Kwazii Kitten, the adventurous pirate cat, in the underwater exploration series The Octonauts (2010–2021), delivering an energetic and swashbuckling performance that emphasized the character's daring personality and love for excitement.[9] His portrayal helped define Kwazii as a fan-favorite, supporting the show's focus on marine science and environmental themes for preschool viewers.[10]Rackstraw's contributions extended to other prominent UK animated TV series, including voicing characters in The Adventures of Paddington Bear (1997–2000), where he added to the whimsical storytelling; Uncle Louis in Angelina Ballerina (2001–2003); various Mr. Men characters such as Mr. Fussy and Mr. Tickle in The Mr. Men Show (2008); Professor Professor in The Secret Show (2006–2007); and in Thomas & Friends (2015–2021), voicing Toby, James, and additional engines like Donald and Flynn.[8] These roles highlighted his versatility in creating distinct voices for anthropomorphic animals, vehicles, and quirky figures, often incorporating varied accents to suit the characters' personalities.[4]Building briefly on his early radio training, Rackstraw's adeptness with accents and character differentiation solidified his reputation as a key figure in the UK animation scene, particularly for children's programming that blends entertainment with moral lessons.[11] His intelligent, dry delivery and range from 30- to 80-year-old timbres made him a favored choice for ensemble-driven series.[4]
Work in video games and film
Rackstraw entered the video game industry in the mid-2000s, providing voices for multiple characters in the English version of The Witcher (2007), including Savolla, Olaf, Salamandra Bandits, and Salamandra Mages.[12] His work in this fantasy role-playing game marked an early foray into interactive media, where he adapted his versatile vocal range to suit diverse non-human and antagonistic roles. Building on this, Rackstraw voiced Death Eaters and additional characters in the video game adaptation of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011), contributing to the immersive narrative of the wizarding world in a action-adventure format. Later, in 2015, he lent his voice to the droid 2V-R8, along with additional characters like Apprentice Girik and Arrax, in the expansion Star Wars: The Old Republic - Knights of the Fallen Empire, showcasing his ability to deliver precise, personality-driven performances in expansive online multiplayer environments.[13]In film, Rackstraw's contributions began earlier with uncredited performances providing all voices in the animated short Zit: The Video (1993), a comedic adaptation of the British comic strip that highlighted his early skill in multi-character voicing for short-form animation. He expanded into feature-length projects through the Bob the Builder direct-to-video films from 2001 to 2011, voicing key machines like Scoop, Muck, and Spud, as well as human characters such as Mr. Bentley, in titles including A Christmas to Remember (2001) and The Knights of Can-A-Lot (2003). From 2015 to 2018, Rackstraw joined the voice cast for Thomas & Friends specials, such as The Adventure Begins (2015) and Journey Beyond Sodor (2017), where he provided voices for engines like James, Donald, and Stanley, adapting his style to the blend of narration and character interaction in these cinematic extensions of the long-running series. More recently, in the 2024 animated feature Fox and Hare Save the Forest, he voiced Beaver, Rat, Tusk, and Jack, contributing to an ensemble that emphasized ensemble dynamics in a family-oriented environmental adventure.Rackstraw's transition to video games and film involved tailoring his voice acting from static animation to interactive and cinematic demands, emphasizing timing for player responses and emotional depth for visual storytelling, often drawing from his foundational experience in television series to build a portfolio for these formats. Based in London since the early 2000s, this shift facilitated international recognition, with roles in globally distributed franchises like Star Wars and Harry Potter elevating his profile among voice directors for high-profile productions.[4]
Filmography
Film
Rob Rackstraw's voice acting credits in feature films and direct-to-video releases include the following, presented chronologically:
1993: Zit: The Video – All voices (uncredited).[1]
2001: Bob the Builder: A Christmas to Remember – Scoop, Muck, Mr. Bentley, Spud, Travis.
2003: Bob the Builder: The Knights of Fix-a-Lot – Scoop, Muck, Spud, Mr. Bentley, Mr. Ellis.
2010: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I – Announcer / Death Eater (minor voice role).[14]
2015: Thomas & Friends: The Adventure Begins – James (US dub).
2024: Fox and Hare Save the Forest – Beaver, Rat, Tusk, Jack (multi-role performance).[15]
Television
Rackstraw's television voice work primarily features recurring roles in British children's animated series, showcasing his versatility in voicing machines, animals, and quirky characters.[16]In Bob the Builder (1997–2011), he provided the recurring voices for the construction vehicles and characters Scoop, Muck, Travis, and the scarecrow Spud across multiple seasons.[2]He voiced various characters, including the eccentric Professor Professor, in the spy comedy The Secret Show (2006), appearing in guest capacity throughout the series.From 2010 to 2021, Rackstraw recurrently voiced the adventurous pirate cat Kwazii in The Octonauts, a role spanning all four seasons of the underwater exploration series.[2]In Thomas & Friends (2015–2021), he took on several recurring engine and vehicle voices, including Toby and James starting in season 19, as well as Merrick, Owen, and Bert in later seasons.[17] Note: Fandom not ideal, but for now.Additional credits include:
Angelina Ballerina (2001–2003): Guest voices for supporting roles in select episodes.[16]
The Legends of Treasure Island (1993–1995): Blind Pew (recurring, uncredited).[16]
Watership Down (1999–2001): Recurring voices for Campion and Holly.
The Mr. Men Show (2008): Various guest voices for Mr. Men characters.
These roles highlight his core contributions to children's animation on television.[2]
Video games
Rob Rackstraw has voiced characters in a variety of video games, often providing multiple roles per title and contributing to major franchises such as The Witcher, Harry Potter, and Star Wars.[18][3]
2007
The Witcher: Savolla, Olaf, Salamandra Bandit, Salamandra Mage, Citizens, Knights (a fantasy RPG where these characters include key antagonists and supporting figures in the story's criminal underworld).[19]
2010
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1: Kingsley Shacklebolt (a prominent Order of the Phoenix member and Ministry official), Announcer, Death Eater.[20]
2011
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2: Kingsley Shacklebolt, Death Eater (continuing his role as the authoritative wizard in the game's climactic events).[21]
Star Wars: The Old Republic - Knights of the Fallen Empire: 2V-R8 (a sarcastic protocol droid companion central to player interactions and story progression).
Rackstraw has also provided additional voices or minor roles in numerous other titles, including Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King (2004), Venetica (2009), Broken Sword 5: The Serpent's Curse (2013), Game of Thrones (2014), The Dwarves (2016, as Glandallin), Blasphemous (2019, as The Guardian of the Ossuary, a significant boss character), The Lord of the Rings: Gollum (2023, as Orcs), and Dragon's Dogma II (2024).[22]