More Bedtime Stories from Tom Hardy for CBeebies

Tom Hardy is returning to CBeebies with six new Bedtime Stories in what is being dubbed "Tom Week".

The actor first appeared on CBeebies in 2016. Hardy's return to Bedtime Stories was requested over one million times on BBC iPlayer before the end of last year, the BBC said.

Hardy "wanted to play a part in keeping the children of the UK entertained at this challenging time" so will read a new story each day starting Monday 27th April until Friday 1st May. The date of his sixth and final story is yet to be confirmed.

Hug Me by Simona Ciraolo will be Hardy's first reading at 6.50 p.m. on April 27th. Hug Me 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.

Hardy will remind viewers that: "It’s not always possible to hug the ones that you love. But they’re always there, in your heart."

Other stories in "Tom Week" include Under the Same Sky by Robert Vescio and Nicky Johnston on Tuesday 28th April, There’s a Tiger in the Garden by Lizzy Stewart on Wednesday 29th April and Don’t Worry, Little Crab by Chris Haughton on Thursday 30th April. Finally, to conclude the week, Hardy will read The Problem with Problems by Rachel Rooney and Zehra Hicks on Friday 1st May.

Cheryl Taylor, head of content at BBC Children’s, said: "It goes without saying how thrilled we are to have Tom reading more stories for us. It’s during challenging times like this that the BBC serves its purpose to entertain the whole of the UK and these new stories are guaranteed to do just that with their themes of long-distance friendship, sharing problems and true courage in overcoming seemingly impossible challenges."

Hardy's stories were filmed in his garden in line with the latest social distancing guidelines, the BBC said.