‘Bridgerton’ actor and more stars will read bedtime stories for BBC kids’ channel

Regé-Jean Page is the latest big name to sign up for the CBeebies Bedtime Story series.

Airing every evening at 6.50pm on the BBC’s pre-school channel CBeebies, Bedtime Story has featured many famous actors over the years.

Previous stars have included actors David Tennant, David Hasselhoff, Damian Lewis, Rosamund Pike, James McAvoy, Simon Pegg, John Simm, and Sir Patrick Stewart, as well as singer Robbie Williams, physicist Brian Cox, and Olympic athlete Jessica Ennis-Hill.

Page has shot to fame in recent months as one of the stars of Bridgerton.

Based on the bestselling novels by Julia Quinn, Netflix’s hit historical romance series premiered in December and received great reviews from critics.

The 31-year-old actor will read Rain Before Rainbows by Smriti Halls and David Litchfield, about a girl and her companion fox who travel together from a place of loss and despair, through uncertain times, towards the hope of colour, light and life.

They learn that, in the midst of rain, rainbows can be hard to see but, with courage and the help of good friends, there is always a way out of darkness.

Regé-Jean Page’s story will air on Sunday 14th March, which is Mother’s Day in the UK.

On Tuesday 16th March, actress Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything) is reading a bedtime story.

The Northanger Abbey star will read The Huffalots by Eve Coy, about a Mum who wakes up her Huffalots to find they are grumpy.

Eventually, with the help of a big cuddle, they become Lovealots. But it’s been a long day and Mum is now grumpy and tired. It’s a good thing the Lovealots know exactly what to do.

Returning on Thursday 18th March following his previous appearances is Tom Hardy (Taboo, Peaky Blinders) with a story by Sarah Roberts and Hannah Peck.

Somebody Swallowed Stanley is a thought-provoking tale about the eventful journey made by Stanley, who is no ordinary jellyfish. As he drifts through the ocean waves, he is swallowed by a series of unsuspecting animals only for the reader to discover he is, in fact, a plastic bag.

A kindly child comes to the rescue and repurposes Stanley so he is no longer a hazard to wildlife demonstrating how we can all make a difference no matter how small.

Hardy surmises at the end of the story: “If one person can save a turtle, just imagine what we can all do when we work together. We can overcome diseases, invent amazing new things and make the world a better place by helping animals, and helping each other.”

A second season of Bridgerton will begin filming this spring and it’s hoped that the new episodes could premiere this Christmas.

The Bridgerton novels are available on Amazon.