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There's a Christmas treat in store for CBeebies' young story-lovers and their mums when Gary Barlow sits in the Bedtime Story chair and breathes life into the enchanting tale of Elmer And Papa Red on Christmas Eve.

Written by David McKee, this festive edition of the Elmer series sees the colourful patchwork elephant prepare for a visit from Papa Red and plan a magical Christmas treat for his excited young elephant friends.

Also providing the seasonal stories this year is distinguished actor Sir Patrick Stewart who puts his distinctive tones to great use to read Paul Bright and Jane Chapman's Grumpy Badger's Christmas on Christmas Day and Smudger The Dog Saves Christmas (Lisa Evans and Holly Surplice) on Boxing Day.

Sir Patrick has also recorded three stories for the New Year – Wishmoley And The Little Piece Of Sky by Julia Hubery and Mary McQuillan, Stephen Mackey's Miki And The Moon Blossom and One Snowy Night (Christina M Butler and Tina MacNaughton).

"I am delighted that we have two such wonderful readers for our special Christmas stories on CBeebies," says the channel's controller Kay Benbow. "Both Gary and Sir Patrick took time out of their busy schedules and we are grateful to them for giving our viewers such lovely festive treats."

Notes to Editors

Full list of the seasonal Bedtime Stories:

18 December: Derek Jacobi reads Small Knight George And The Royal Chocolate Cake (Ronda Armitage and Arthur Robins, Orchard Books).

19 December: Romola Garai reads Goodnight Magic Moon (Janet Bingham and Rosalind Beardshaw, Scholastic).

20 December: David Tennant reads Emily Brown And The Emergency Elephant (Cressida Cowell and Neal Layton, Orchard Books).

21 December: Derek Jacobi reads Stick Man (Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, Alison Green Books).

22 December: Emilia Fox reads Little Robin Red Vest (Jan Fearnley, Mammoth).

23 December: David Tennant reads The Christmas Bear (Henrietta Stickland and Paul Stickland, Ragged Bears).

24 December: Gary Barlow reads Elmer And Papa Red (David McKee, Andersen Press).

25 December: Patrick Stewart reads Grumpy Badger's Christmas (Paul Bright and Jane Chapman, Little Tiger Press).

26 December: Patrick Stewart reads Smudger The Dog Saves Christmas (Lisa Evans and Holly Surplice, Red Fox).

27 December: Gary Barlow reads Elmer And Papa Red (as above).

28 December: David Tennant reads How High Is The Sky? (Anna Milbourne and Serena Riglietti, Usborne).

29 December: David Tennant reads Miki (Stephen Mackey, Hodder Children's Books).

30 December: David Tennant reads Small Mouse Big City (Simon Prescott, Little Tiger Books).

31 December: Kenneth Branagh reads Jingle Bells (Nick Butterworth, Harper Collins).

01 January: Patrick Stewart reads Smudger The Dog Saves Christmas (Lisa Evans and Holly Surplice, Red Fox).

02 January: Patrick Stewart reads Grumpy Badger's Christmas (Paul Bright and Jane Chapman, Little Tiger Press).

03 January: Patrick Stewart reads Wishmoley And The Little Piece Of Sky (Julia Hubery and Mary McQuillan, Scholastic).

04 January: Patrick Stewart reads Miki And The Moon Blossom (Stephen Mackey, Hodder Children's Books).

05 January: Patrick Stewart reads One Snowy Night (Christina M Butler, Tina MacNaughton, Harper Collins).

BW2