CBeebies Bedtime Stories to air first signed episode and there's a heartbreaking reason behind it
So sad
The CBeebies Bedtime Stories aren't just great for children - they're also oddly comforting for adults, too. Especially when it features the likes of Orlando Bloom and Tom Hardy on our screens, whose stories went down rather well among children and parents alike (no surprises there).
But the BBC have just announced their newest reader, Catastrophe star Rob Delaney, will take on the show's first ever signed reading - and there's an utterly heartbreaking reason behind it.
The American actor, who also briefly starred in Deadpool 2, tragically lost his two-year-old son Henry in February this year after he was diagnosed with a brain tumour shortly after his first birthday.
As part of his treatment, he had a tracheotomy which meant that he couldn't speak - so Rob and his family learned Makaton, a form of sign language which uses signs and symbols which is frequently used on the CBeebies channel.
Rob will be reading and signing Ten In The Bed by Penny Dale, and the episode will poignantly air on Children in Need day - Friday 16th November.
He explained, "My family loves to read together so naturally we're fans of CBeebies Bedtime Stories. I am beyond honoured to be the first person to read and sign a book using the Makaton language.
"Our family learned Makaton to be able to communicate with our son Henry, who couldn't speak due to a tracheotomy. We're sad Henry isn't here to see it but we're happy other families will get to enjoy a story told in Makaton."
Rob revealed that Henry had passed away in January this year via a statement on his Facebook page on 9th February, writing that his family was holding him together.
He wrote, 'I am astonished by the love-in-action displayed by Henry's mom and his brothers. They are why I will endeavor to not go mad with grief. I don't want to miss out on their beautiful lives. I'm greedy for more experiences with them.
'The NHS nurses and doctors and the home carers and charity workers who helped our family survive Henry's illness will be my heroes until the day I die. I am desperately sad right now, but I can say with authority that there is good in this world.'
Rob's Bedtime Story will air at 6.50pm on Friday 16th November.