In the lead up to Radio 2 in the Park 2024 in Preston in September, the station’s beloved presenters are bringing a special treat to families across the UK with a CBeebies Bedtime Story takeover, across CBeebies, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds.
Radio 2 - the UK’s most listened to radio station with 13.3m listeners each week (RAJAR Q2 2024) - welcomes CBeebies Bedtime Stories to its studios where 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 2nd September and available on CBeebies, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds, each story will bring the world of radio to families, inspiring them with a love of music and sounds.
Jo Whiley spins the deck first on Monday 2nd September with a reading of Rock Stars Don’t Nap by Jason Perkins and Cale Atkinson which will help rock little ones to sleep. On Tuesday 3rd September Scott Mills will then 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 4th September which encourages children to celebrate and delight in their own special voice. On Thursday 5th September 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 6th September with Kitsy Bitsy’s Noisy Neighbours by Polly Faber and Melissa Crowton.
The takeover week ends on Saturday 7th September 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 builds up to a weekend of music, entertainment and festival fun with their flagship annual weekender, Radio 2 in the Park which this year takes place in Preston from 6th – 8th September, which gives 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. Full details at www.bbc.co.uk/radio2inthepark.
Jo Whiley, says: “I loved reading my Bedtime Story to the next generation of CBeebies rockstars! I have so many precious memories of reading with my children when they were growing up and this was a lovely nostalgic thing to do. I’m a huge fan of the storytellers and illustrators who gift us these books and stories and it was a privilege to be part of the CBeebies Bedtime Story gang!
Scott Mills, says: “Appearing on Bedtime Stories has been on my bucket list for a long time, it’s one of those iconic shows, especially as so many amazing names have taken part, so to be able to record my own episode and tick it off my list is a life goal achieved!”
Trevor Nelson, says: “I thoroughly enjoyed reading this Bedtime Story. It was an unusual experience for me, but I totally morphed into it. I wanted to do it because I am aware that so many of my listeners watch CBeebies with their kids and grandkids and what better way to connect with the newest generation, you never know there may be one or two future DJs amongst them”.
Vernon Kay, says: “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.”
Sara Cox, says: “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 & 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, bringing families together 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.
The schedule is:
Monday 2nd September – Jo Whiley
Tuesday 3rd September – Scott Mills
Wednesday 4th September – Trevor Nelson
Thursday 5th September – Vernon Kay
Friday 6th September – Sara Cox
Saturday 7th September – All together!
