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David Tennant to read CBeebies bedtime story ahead of Doctor Who specials

Other famous faces to have read bedtime stories include Tom Hardy, Harry Styles and the Princess of Wales.

Hannah Roberts
Thursday 23 November 2023 13:13 GMT
David Tennant will be reading The Way Back Home by Oliver Jeffers (Alistair Heap/BBC)
David Tennant will be reading The Way Back Home by Oliver Jeffers (Alistair Heap/BBC)

David Tennant will appear on CBeebies Bedtime Stories ahead of the 60th anniversary episodes of Doctor Who.

The actor, 52, known for his roles in Broadchurch and Good Omens, played the 10th Time Lord in the long-running BBC series and has made a comeback to play the 14th Doctor in three special episodes.

Before the first special airs, Tennant will read bedtime story, The Way Back Home, by Oliver Jeffers, on the CBeebies show where celebrity guests read tales from books for children.

Appearing as the Doctor, Tennant will arrive via his time-travelling Tardis to read the story of a boy who discovers an aeroplane in his closet, which he then flies into space.

Other famous faces to have read bedtime stories on the show include 13th Doctor Jodie Whittaker, actor Tom Hardy, singer Harry Styles, comedian Guz Khan and the Princess of Wales.

In the Doctor Who specials, Tennant will appear alongside comedian Catherine Tate, who will make her return as the Doctor’s former companion, Donna Noble.

The first anniversary episode, The Star Beast, will air on November 25 and will be followed by Wild Blue Yonder, airing on December 2 and The Giggle, which will air on December 9.

Cast members include: Heartstopper’s Yasmin Finney as Rose Noble; Miriam Margolyes as the voice of the Meep; Jacqueline King as Sylvia Noble; Karl Collins as Shaun Temple; and American actor Neil Patrick Harris as the Toymaker.

Sex Education and Barbie star, Ncuti Gatwa, will take over in the role of the Doctor over the festive period alongside his new companion, Ruby Sunday, played by former Coronation Street star Millie Gibson.

The latest revamp of the series has seen It’s A Sin writer Russell T Davies – the man behind the 2005 revival of the long-running BBC show – return as showrunner, succeeding Chris Chibnall who introduced Whittaker as the 13th Doctor.

Doctor Who first appeared on BBC television on November 23 in 1963, with William Hartnell as the first Doctor.

It originally ran for 26 years before it ended in 1989 and it was later relaunched in 2005 with Christopher Eccleston starring as the ninth Doctor.

CBeebies Bedtime Stories is on weekdays at 6.50pm on CBeebies and BBC iPlayer and Tennant’s story will air on Friday November 24.

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