Tom Hardy's week long special on Cbeebies Bedtime Stories begins on Monday, April 27 at 6.50pm

Tom Hardy's highly anticipated week-long Cbeebies special begins this week.

The popular British actor is the children's television channel's most requested Bedtime Stories reader, and so in an attempt to bring some cheer and light relief to families isolating at home, producers have brought him back for an entire week.

The 42-year-old first appeared on Cbeebies Bedtime Story back in 2016. Since then his appearances have been searched for more than one million times on the BBC iPlayer.

From Monday night (April 27) Tom Hardy fans and their families across the county will be able to snuggle down and listen to six new stories read by the award-winning actor.

All of the stories have been carefully selected to reflect the changes which parents and their offspring have had to make since the spread of coronavirus brought school and nursery closures and strict social-distancing measures.

The British actor has recorded all stories from his garden to take into account social distancing guidelines.

The first story he will read is Hug Me by Simone Ciraolo. It is a story 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.

And in reference to many children's lack of contact with wider family and friends the Peaky Blinders actor finishes by saying: “So, in the end Felipe found someone to hug. It’s not always possible to hug the ones that you love. But they’re always there, in your heart.”

The first five stories will run every evening at 6.50pm, finishing on Friday, May 1. The date for the sixth bonus story is yet to be confirmed.

For more family-related news and events including how to add your free message to grandparents to our special pull-out please visit www.mykentfamily.co.uk