Bedtimes across the UK are set to get more fun as for the first time, families can take a deep dive into the CBeebies Bedtime Stories archive of hundreds of favourite episodes on BBC iPlayer.

Due to popular demand, CBeebies Bedtime Stories will vastly increase the existing catalogue on BBC iPlayer with some of the world’s biggest stars.

The news comes as BAFTA-nominated CBeebies Bedtime Stories has launched a new partnership with BookTrust to deliver unique reading corners in libraries across the UK. The partnership launches today with Strictly Come Dancing Star Carlos Gu swapping the glittering Tower Ballroom for the cosy confines of Blackpool Central Library, to perform a live reading in an event hosted by CBeebies House favourites, Ben Cajee and Dodge the Dog. Carlos will also be joined by CBeebies’ characters Bluey and Supertato, poet Mike Garry and illustrator Ruth Hearson.

The partnership with BookTrust underscores CBeebies Bedtime Stories’ mission to get the nation reading together. It is also a key part of BookTrust’s broader mission to support more experiences for families to enjoy reading, and to share the long-term impact reading can have on children’s development, wellbeing, progress at school and life chances.

Across the UK, the partnership will introduce more CBeebies Bedtime Stories legacy reading corners and BookTrust Storytime engagement at libraries in Leeds, Hartlepool, Sandwell, Leicester, Brent and Somerset. The locations were selected as part of BookTrust’s work with Arts Council England to test and develop new ways to inspire parents and children with a love of reading together and focuses on underserved areas.

Patricia Hidalgo, Director of BBC Children’s and Education, says: “CBeebies Bedtime Stories epitomises BBC Children’s & Education public service remit, to educate and entertain our youngest audiences by creating lasting memories, igniting children’s imaginations, and encouraging families reading together. The partnership with BookTrust will bring all the magic of CBeebies Bedtime Stories programme to libraries across the UK and with every episode now available on iPlayer for the first time ever everyone can find their favourite stories as well as discover brand new ones.”

Diana Gerald, CEO of BookTrust, says: “We’re thrilled to team up with CBeebies to explore new ways to engage families with the free reading support on offer at their local library. This is a key pillar of our charity’s work to help more children get the wide-ranging benefits that come from a love of reading.”

CBeebies Bedtime Stories’ has been a family favourite since the channel launched in 2002 and has aired almost every day since. 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.

Its first ever celebrity reader was Geoffrey Palmer, who read about the adventures of Beebie the Rabbit in 2002. After more than two decades CBeebies Bedtime Stories continues to settle down audiences before bedtime with the magic of shared reading, with the aim of engaging families with the long-term benefits of reading.

Harry Styles, Reese Witherspoon, Tom Hardy, Sir Elton John, Chris Hemsworth, Dolly Parton, David Schwimmer, heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, Jason Momoa, Spice girls Mel C and Geri Halliwell-Horner, Gregory Porter, ABBA legend Bjorn Ulvaeus, Ed Sheeran, Ryan Reynolds, Kate Winslet, Steve Carell, Eddie Redmayne, Chris Evans, Michael Palin, England football captains Harry Kane and Leah Williamson, Dave Grohl, Tom Hiddleston have all read stories that will now be available for audiences to relive on BBC iPlayer.

Elsewhere, CBeebies Bedtime Stories has seen many other landmark firsts. This includes Strictly Come Dancing champion Rose Ayling-Ellis reading the first ever story in British Sign Language, Rugby champion Rob Burrow reading the first story told by Eye Gaze technology, Lora Fachie with the first ever braille story, Catherine, Princess of Wales becoming the first ever royal to read a story, cricketers Katherine Sciver-Brunt and Nat Sciver-Brunt becoming the first LGBTQ+ couple to read a story and astronaut Tim Peake as the first to read from Space!

Moving the back-catalogue of CBeebies Bedtime Stories onto BBC iPlayer comes following its success with audiences. Tom Hardy’s Bedtime Stories have been requested over one million times on BBC iPlayer and Harry Styles’ story was the top rated CBeebies show on the platform – the first time any live action show has been top for kids above landmark titles Hey Duggee and Bluey.

The digital library of archived episodes will be available on BBC iPlayer from World Book Day, Thursday 7 March.