BOXER Anthony Joshua is expected to be such a big hit on CBeebies Bedtime Stories he’s already signed up for a rematch.
It was revealed last week the ex-world champ is to read children’s tale The Snowy Day, by Ezra Jack Keats.
A date has not been fixed for that but I can reveal he will read another story on the kids’ channel tomorrow — Ravi’s Roar, by Tom Percival.
A TV insider said: “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.”
AJ follows in the footsteps of Harry Styles, Tom Hardy and Chris Hemsworth.
Ravi’s Roar tells the story of an angry young boy who learns to express and understand his feelings. The Snowy Day is about a lad named Peter who puts on his snowsuit and steps out of his house into a wintry world.
When published in 1962, he was among the first African-American characters to feature in a major children’s book.
Kate Winslet and Richard E Grant are some of the big names to read a story on CBeebies over Christmas. But neither packs a punch as big as AJ.
DAVID KID ’COPTER CAPERS
ONLY Fools And Horses legend David Jason is lining up a cartoon return with his own series.
The voice of Eighties favourite Danger Mouse, who is also a qualified helicopter pilot, has come up with a character called Olly the Heli, which is “in development”.
David revealed in his new book, The Twelve Dels of Christmas, his creation is a young helicopter with a friendly face who “misbehaves a bit”, and “something perhaps on the Thomas the Tank Engine lines” .
David came up with the idea on a visit to an airfield last year, when he was flown in a Gazelle helicopter by astronaut Tim Peake.
He added: “‘Do you want to land it?’ Tim generously asked as we returned to the airfield. I wasn’t going to push my luck. ‘I think I’ll leave that to you, Tim,’ I said.
“So, that was how the idea of Olly the Heli got going – a little production journey still in development at the time of writing. We’ll see where it ends up.”
WONDER MOVIE IS TOP PICK
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE has been voted the greatest Christmas film of all time by Radio Times.
The 1946 festive classic starring James Stewart topped a readers’ poll.
More than one in five voters – 1,650 in total – named the movie their favourite.
Somewhat criminally, Will Ferrell‘s Elf only made No4, with The Muppet Christmas Carol and Home Alone taking the No2 and No3 spots and Love Actually making up the remainder of the top five.
The black and white movie also topped last year’s poll. But Die Hard, which was No4, slipped out of the top five in 2022 and down to No6.
Bruce Willis would pull his hair out, if he had any.
GARY: I’M ON BABY MISSION
GARY LUCY’s romance with Celebs Go Dating co-star Laura Anderson could be getting even more serious.
The pair, who met on the E4 dating show, have already discussed having children together.
And dad-of-four Gary says his virility is so strong, Laura could already be expecting.
He said: “We’re smitten. We’ve talked kids. I mean, I’m quite potent, so she might already be pregnant! I have four kids already but I want more. I’ve always wanted kids. I love kids.”
The former Hollyoaks actor says a huge incentive for having more children is being able to name one Gary – as the name is dying out.
He added: “I do want a boy, because I want to have another little Gary – carry it on, as I hear the name’s dying out and I think that’d be a real shame.”
Spare a thought for us Rodericks.
LAURA A SUCKER FOR PIGS
LAURA BINGHAM has left fans of her TV adventurer hubby Ed Stafford gobsmacked – after claiming she breastfed a pig.
The fellow explorer and mum-of-three took care of a piglet when it was rejected by its mum at their farm.
The piglet has now been welcomed into the family home. Writing on Instagram she said: “So I can now tick breast feed a piglet off my bucket list!
“Did you know that indigenous communities do it?! So it’s normal OK?! I force fed some formula down her with a syringe and then when she started waking up a bit more, she didn’t want a bottle so I thought, what the heck?!”
We’ve all been there, Laura.
