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Yep, you read that right. CBeebies’ most popular Bedtime Stories reader ever, Tom Hardy, will soon be back on our screens with a load of new stories to settle down your kids before they go to bed.
The Hollywood actor and father of three wanted to make the coronavirus lockdown that little bit easier for children and parents, so he’s going to read a new story every day for a whole week from Monday 27 April to Friday 1 May.
Hardy made his CBeebies debut back in 2016 and since then, his stories have been played more than a million times on BBC iPlayer.
Helpfully, the new stories he’s reading – running during what the BBC have joyfully dubbed ‘Tom Week’ – it is what it says it is – have themes of long-distance friendship, problems shared, and courage in overcoming seemingly impossible challenges.
Hardy – who may be accompanied by his adorable French bulldog, Blue, for some of the stories – will read his first one, Hug Me by Simone Ciraolo, on 27 April at 6.50pm. It’s about Felipe, a young cactus who really needs a hug but his family isn’t the touchy-feely kind – so he sets off to find a friend of his own.
At the end, the actor reassures viewers: “It’s not always possible to hug the ones that you love. But they’re always there, in your heart.” Topical, eh?
Other stories include: Under the Same Sky by Robert Vescio and Nicky Johnston, about two children on opposite sides of the world who crave friendship; There’s a Tiger in the Garden by Lizzy Stewart, about the power of your imagination to take you anywhere; and Don’t Worry, Little Crab by Chris Haughton, which is about mustering the courage to try something new.
‘Tom Week’ will drawer to a close on 1 May with The Problem with Problems by Rachel Rooney and Zehra Hicks.
Let’s be honest, it’s as much for us adults as it is for the kids, right?
CBeebies Bedtime Stories in on each weekday at 6.50pm on the CBeebies channel and is also available on BBC iPlayer.