A volunteer tram driver at East Devon tourist attraction Seaton Tramway has landed a role in prime-time BBC show Nightsleeper.
Matthew Streeton bagged a cameo in the fictional thriller thanks to his real-life work as the voice of automated announcements at hundreds of train stations.
He can now be heard at various points throughout the new BBC One series about a sleeper train travelling from Glasgow to London being hijacked in a cyber attack.
After working in the railway industry in the South East of England, Matt bagged a job voicing automated platform announcements for around 200 stations between London and Sussex.
His familiar announcements – including the iconic, ‘please mind the gap’, are heard daily by passengers at stations between London Victoria and Brighton.
Matt has also amassed a huge online following with more than 172,000 followers on TikTok as @matt_thetrainguy.
He shares popular content about the world of railways, his experiences as a train announcer, and insights into the behind-the-scenes workings of the UK’s rail services.
Matt’s real-world railway voice made him the perfect choice to lend it to Nightsleeper and brings authenticity to the high-stakes drama.
“Honestly, I never expected to be involved in something like Nightsleeper,” said Matthew.
“It was a bit surreal being asked to lend my voice to the series. I’m just used to hearing my announcements at the stations or sharing little moments on TikTok. But it was an amazing experience, and I’m really grateful for the opportunity.”
