BBC confirms Oscar winner Olivia Colman as guest on Bedtime Stories

The next star for CBeebies Bedtime Stories has been announced!

The beloved children’s programme is renowned for getting many famous faces from the worlds of TV, film, music and beyond, to read a heartwarming bedtime story to little viewers. 

Now, as its latest run on the BBC continues, the producers behind CBeebies Bedtime Stories have revealed their next guest – and it’s a big one, too!

Fancy a bedtime story from Olivia Colman?

You're in luck – she's reading a CBeebies Bedtime Story on Friday 8 November

Get all the info https://t.co/2K7TaR9dFx pic.twitter.com/dWhRIu31U7

— BBC Press Office (@bbcpress) November 6, 2024

Academy Award winner Olivia Colman will be appearing on Bedtime Stories later this week.

The 50-year-old star – who is best known for her roles in royal drama The Crown, crime thriller Broadchurch and her Oscar winning portrayal of Queen Anne in The Favourite – has chosen to read one of her favourite children’s books, The Gruffalo’s Child by author Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler.

The Gruffalo continues to be a hit with little ones across the world, and this particular tale was even adapted into a film, which was shown on the BBC on Christmas Day in 2011.

Speaking ahead of her upcoming appearance on Bedtime Stories, mum-of-three Olivia gushed: “I have loved CBeebies Bedtime Stories with my children over the years, I was so excited to be able to read one. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.”

The synopsis of The Gruffalo’s Child reads: “One wild and windy night, the Gruffalo’s child ignores her father’s warnings and bravely tiptoes out into the snow in search of the Big Bad Mouse. On her big adventure, she meets Snake, Owl and Fox, but there's no sign of the fabled Mouse. He doesn't really exist… or does he?”

Olivia Colman’s episode of CBeebies Bedtime Story will air on CBeebies and BBC iPlayer this Friday (November 8) at 6.50pm.