Strictly Come Dancing winner Rose Ayling-Ellis will be the first celebrity to sign a CBeebies Bedtime Story in British Sign Language. The 27-year-old is making her debut in the story corner as part of Deaf Awareness Week.
She signs ‘Can Bears Ski?’ written by Raymond Antrobus and illustrated by Polly Dunbar, a story which draws on the author’s own experience to show how isolating it can be for a deaf child in a hearing world. The story she'll be reading tells the tale of a young bear and his dad.
In the story, viewers will follow the bear and his dad on their journey into the discovery and management of deafness. Speaking about her appearance on the show, Rose said she was 'super excited' and hope it inspires children who can hear to learn BSL.
Read more: Queen's secret Jubilee project involves Andrew Lloyd Webber and Lin-Manuel Miranda
Rose said: "I am super excited to read my first CBeebies Bedtime Story in British Sign Language and it’s even more wonderful to share a story written by a deaf writer. I hope deaf children enjoy the story and it inspires hearing children to want to learn BSL more!”
The story will be the first-ever BSL signed story on the show which will also be subtitled. Rose will only speak to introduce the story and afterwards to say goodnight to the young audience.
Rose Ayling-Ellis’ CBeebies Bedtime Story will air on Sunday 8th May to mark the end of Deaf Awareness Week. This is the first of two stories she has recorded for CBeebies. CBeebies Bedtime Story is on daily at 6.50pm and on BBC iPlayer, with episodes signed by a BSL interpreter airing every Saturday and Sunday.
