Tom Hardy Gifting Us with a Week of Bedtime Stories

Tom Hardy is one of our favorite actors. He’s great in everything, no matter the role. He’s also starred in some of our all-time favorite films, and been the best part in plenty of others. It’s why we’re always excited for any project he’s involved with. However, with his history of being difficult to understand sometimes, he might seem like the last celebrity we’d expect to be good at one specific job—reading bedtime stories to kids. But you should never, ever doubt Tom Hardy, because he’s not only great at it, he’s the best. And now he’s returning to the U.K.’s CBeebies network to help get your little tykes to sleep during these difficult days.

The BBC announced Tom Hardy is returning to CBeebies Bedtime Stories “with a selection of brand new stories to settle the nation’s children down before they make their weary way to bed.” He first appeared on the program in 2016, and at the end of December 2019 his Bedtime Stories were requested 1.07 million times on the BBC’s iPlayer, making him their most popular reader.

The BBC says the actor, whose upcoming film Capone just released its first trailer, “wanted to play a part in keeping the children of the U.K. entertained at this challenging time.” Starting on Monday, April 27 at 6:50 pm, he’ll read a story for six days straight, ending on Friday, May 1. All of his readings took place in his garden with his French bulldog Blue. The pair practiced safe social distancing while recording.

His first story will be Hug Me by Simone Ciraolo. “It is about Felipe the young cactus who really needs a hug but his family just isn’t the touchy-feely kind so he sets off to find a friend of his own—and a hug.

He will also read:

–Under The Same Sky by Robert Vescio and Nicky Johnston (Tuesday April 28). “About two children on opposite sides of the world who crave friendship. Is it possible to be friends across the miles?”
—There’s A Tiger In The Garden by Lizzy Stewart (Wednesday April 29). “About the power of imagination being able to take you anywhere, even for Nora who doesn’t believe her Grandma when she says she’s seen a tiger in the garden.”
—Don’t Worry, Little Crab by Chris Haughton. “About mustering the courage to try something new and how saying: ‘Don’t worry, I’m here’ can help tentative little crabs discover the brilliant worlds that await when they take the plunge.”
—The Problem With Problems by Rachel Rooney and Zehra Hicks (Friday May 1). “The bold, humorous and insightful story about how to deal with problems.”

The network has not yet announced the sixth story. Not that it matters. We want to listen to Tom Hardy even when we don’t understand what he’s saying.

CBeebies Bedtime Stories airs at 6:50 pm on the CBeebies channel. You can also download Hardy’s recordings on the BBC iPlayer.

Featured Image: BBC