Some of Radio 2’s best-loved presenters are bringing a special treat to families across the UK next week, with a CBeebies Bedtime Story takeover across CBeebies, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds.
Jo Whiley, Scott Mills, Trevor Nelson, Vernon Kay and Sara Cox are taking the mic in a special week-long celebration of the joy of music. Starting on Monday September 2, each story will bring the world of radio to families, inspiring them with a love of music and sounds.
Jo Whiley steps up to the mic first on Monday September 2with a reading of Rock Stars Don’t Nap by Jason Perkins and Cale Atkinson which will help rock little ones to sleep. On Tuesday, Scott Mills will read What Makes a Lemur Listen by Samuel Langley-Swain and Helen Panayi – a story about the power of listening. Trevor Nelson reads Whisper Shout Let it Out by Madhvi Ramani and Anuska Allepuz on Wednesday, which encourages children to celebrate and delight in their own special voice. On Thursday Vernon Kay reads Hip and Hop by Akala and Sav Akyuz packed full of rhythm and rhyme and Sara Cox makes a bedtime boom on Friday with Kitsy Bitsy’s Noisy Neighbours by Polly Faber and Melissa Crowton.
The takeover week ends on Saturday with a mega-mix of all five of the presenters coming together to read One Sweet Song by Jyoti Rajan Gopal and Sonia Sánchez which celebrates the power of how music connects us.
The special week of CBeebies Bedtime Stories also builds up to a weekend of music, entertainment and festival fun with the flagship annual weekender, Radio 2 in the Park which this year takes place in Preston from 6 – 8 September, giving listeners across the UK a chance to hear their favourite radio presenters in a whole new setting as they introduce an incredible line-up of artists to the stage, including Sting headlining Saturday night and Pet Shop Boys headlining on Sunday.
Vernon Kay said: “One of my favourite things to do when my kids were young was to read to them at night, so to now get the chance to read a story to the nation’s children is an utter privilege and joy.”
Fellow Boltonian Sara Cox added: “It was absolutely dreamy reading a CBeebies Bedtime Story and I hope with the help of my A-Level Theatre Studies I managed to bring the book alive! When after a long, busy day you’re reading an average of three books to three kids for quite a few years it’s easy to forget the magic a bedtime story can bring. Now my kids are teenagers and too big for stories, taking part in this really reminded me of the fun and importance of a cuddled-up bedtime story.”
CBeebies Bedtime Story is on each weekday at 6.50pm on CBeebies and BBC iPlayer, and has been a daily, family favourite since the channel launched in 2002. It continues to get the nation reading with its star-studded guests, meaningful partnerships and brilliant stories that inspire a passion for the shared experience of reading. A digital library of over 300 archived episodes is available on BBC iPlayer CBeebies channel.
