Screen star Tom Hardy cuddles up to his dog for his new role – as a bedtime storyteller on CBeebies.

The 39-year-old hardman actor gets cosy under a blanket as he reads a tale to pre-schoolers on New Year’s Eve.

Tom follows in the footsteps of other big names such as David Hasselhoff, Damian Lewis, Sir Derek Jacobi and James McAvoy in signing up for the CBeebies slot.

Tom Hardy with Woodstock
Tom Hardy with Woodstock (BBC/PA)

He sits on the sofa with his rescue dog, Woodstock, and tells the story of a boy going to a party from the book You Must Bring A Hat, by Simon Philip and Kate Hindley.

Tom won warm reviews for his role as both Kray twins Ronnie and Reggie in the film Legend last year.

The British actor later played gang boss Alfie Solomons in the TV drama Peaky Blinders.

He was nominated for an Oscar for his starring role opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in The Revenant and played hardman protagonist Max Rockatansky in Mad Max: Fury Road.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy
Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy (Eric Charbonneau/Invision)

Actress Isla Fisher and comedian Maureen Lipman will also be reading CBeebies Bedtime Stories over Christmas and the New Year.

Other stars to have read stories for the channel include former Doctor Who star David Tennant, astronaut Tim Peake, Great British Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain and Life’s Too Short actor Warwick Davis.

:: CBeebies Bedtime Stories is on CBeebies every day at 6.50pm