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# Chance for youngsters to enjoy a bedtime story from the Fat Controller to mark launch of new ride
- URL: https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/chance-for-youngsters-to-enjoy-a-bedtime-story-from-the-fat-controller-to-mark-launch-of-new-ride/
- Published: 2017-03-30T07:56:06.000Z
- Updated: 2017-03-30T07:56:06.000Z
- Description: Children in Lichfield and Burntwood can enjoy a bedtime story with the Fat Controller to mark the launch of a new theme park ride.
- Author: Lichfield Live
- Tags: #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-07-22 18:27, News

Children in Lichfield and Burntwood can enjoy a bedtime story with the Fat Controller to mark the launch of a new theme park ride.

[![An artist's impression of the new James and the Red Balloon ride](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e3/90/e390c3da-0866-4d2a-8ffe-ca4999d7ce1c/content/images/lichfieldlive-co-uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/james-and-the-red-balloon-at-drayton-manor-park-artists-impression.jpg)](//lichfieldlive.co.uk/2017/01/16/drayton-manor-confirms-new-250000-thomas-land-ride/james-and-the-red-balloon-at-drayton-manor-park-artists-impression/)

An artist’s impression of the new James and the Red Balloon ride

Drayton Manor will officially open the James and the Red Balloon ride at 11am on Saturday (April 1).

The new £250,000 attraction will lift visitors up and around, offering views across the ThomasLand section of the park.

To mark the opening, the Fat Controller will read youngsters a bedtime story on Facebook Live the night before.

A spokesperson said: “The tale of James and his cheeky antics with a hot air balloon is set to delight fans of the little blue engine, both young and young at heart.”

The Fat Controller’s bedtime story will be streamed on [the theme park’s Facebook page](http://www.facebook.com/DraytonManorPark) at 6.30pm tomorrow (March 31) live from Drayton Manor.