Tom Hardy's Valentine's Day Bedtime Stories teaser sends hearts racing

People have been thanking CBeebies for ‘putting the grown-ups first’

Despite playing villainous characters such as Bane in The Dark Knight Rises, both Kray twins in Legend, and John Fitzgerald in The Revenant, Tom Hardy has proven himself an excellent bedtime story teller.

Last New Year's Eve, the actor appeared on the last CBeebies Bedtime Stories of 2016, reading You Must Bring a Hat, by Simon Philip and Kate Hindley, alongside his dog, Woody.

Earlier this year, Hardy announced his return to the children’s television channel, this time reading The Cloudspotter by Tom McLaughlin. Appropriately, the episode will air later today - Valentines Day.

To get viewers warmed up, CBeebies aired a 25-second teaser, featuring Hardy alongside his dog once sitting on a balcony, surrounded by teddy bears.

“Cloud spotting is definitely more enjoyable, especially if your best friend is a dog,” the actor read. “And I’ve spotted you’re not in bed yet. Get yourself tucked up and I’ll see you very soon for another Bedtime Story. Night night!”

After posting the clip on Facebook, the BBC received a torrent of swooning messages, most of which thanked the broadcaster for ‘putting the grown-ups first’.

Having only appeared in Peaky Blinders and The Revenant in 2016, Hardy had a relatively quiet year. However, already in 2017, the actor has appeared in Taboo - which he co-created with his father and Steven Knight - and will star in Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk.