Radio 1’s Calum Leslie Lands CBeebies Bedtime Story After Royal Help

Radio 1 newsreader Calum Leslie is celebrating a dream come true after a viral social media campaign — boosted by the Prince and Princess of Wales — secured him a spot on CBeebies Bedtime Story. The beloved BBC segment, known for featuring high-profile celebrities reading bedtime stories to young children, will officially welcome Calum to its star-studded lineup in 2026.

The journey began when Calum was challenged by CBeebies to record an audition clip that would earn him a place on the show if his video reached one million views by 08:30 BST on Thursday. With the deadline approaching and views still short, Radio 1 Breakfast host Greg James rallied listeners for help — and one fan suggested a bold strategy: ask the royals.

A Royal Intervention

Greg James sent a voice message direct to the official Instagram account of Prince William and Princess Catherine, explaining the urgent campaign goal. To Calum’s disbelief, the royal couple responded swiftly by sharing the post on their Instagram Stories — cheekily captioned “nice PJs, Calum.”

The result was immediate. The video surpassed one million views within 10 minutes, sealing Calum’s invitation to appear on a full broadcast of the programme.

Dream Opportunity Confirmed

Shortly after the milestone was reached, CBeebies confirmed his place, responding publicly with the message:
“See you in 2026.”

Calum’s audition video — filmed in his pyjamas — featured him reading a children’s story about a giraffe born without markings who learns to embrace their differences. The heart-warming clip resonated strongly across social media.

Radio 1 colleagues applauded the achievement live on air, while Greg James thanked the Prince and Princess of Wales for providing “the final push.”

Star-Powered Bedtime Tradition

CBeebies Bedtime Story airs nightly at 19:00 BST and has featured major global stars including:

• Tom Hardy

• Harry Styles

• Billie Eilish

• Lewis Hamilton

• Harry Kane

Princess Catherine herself made history in 2022 as the first royal guest reader, marking Children’s Mental Health Week by reading The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark. She later co-presented a Newsbeat mental-health discussion with Prince William the same year.

A Feel-Good Win for Fans and Listeners

What started as a light-hearted challenge has quickly become one of the most delightful viral successes of the year — demonstrating the power of community support, clever teamwork, and a well-timed royal boost.