Anthony Joshua will read a 'CBeebies Bedtime Story' over the festive period.

Anthony Joshua will read a CBeebies Bedtime Story over the festive period

Anthony Joshua will read a CBeebies Bedtime Story over the festive period

The former heavyweight boxing champion is set to read ‘The Snowy Day’ - one of the first American children’s books to feature a Black main character when it was published in 1962 - by author Ezra Jack Keats.

The 33-year-old boxer will also read ‘Ravi’s Roar’ by Tom Percival on another broadcast of much-loved children’s programme.

A source told The Sun newspaper’s TV Biz column: “The reaction to AJ featuring on 'CBeebies Bedtime Stories' has been huge. There’s so much excitement.

“The BBC were desperate to book him in for another sitting, which he gladly agreed to. It’s a privilege to be asked twice and he sees it as a great honour.”

Anthony joins a list of stars such as Harry Styles, Tom Hardy and Chris Hemsworth who will take part in the show, which sees big names read the nation’s kids to sleep.

Other stars expected to read a tome over the festive period include Kate Winslet and Richard E. Grant.

To mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3, former Leeds Rhino rugby league star Rob Burrow - who lives with motor neurone disease and is father to Maya, seven, and Jackson, three, with his wife Lindsey - read another Tom Percival title, ‘Tilda Tries Again’, using his eye-controlled computer, becoming the first person to do so on the programme.

The 40-year-old star said: "Reading and literacy are so important. It doesn't matter what your disability is, reading is accessible to everyone.

"Anyone can enjoy reading and develop a love of books and bedtime stories, just like me and my family."

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