Ed Sheeran has swapped his guitar for books to become the latest celebrity to read aloud to the nation on CBeebies Bedtime Stories.
In first look footage from the Shape Of You hitmaker’s upcoming episode, Ed, 30, reflects on suffering with a speech impediment as a child and admits he thought it would ‘never’ stop.
‘I couldn’t get the words out and I used to worry that I’d never be able to speak without stuttering… He says it made him feel different.

Brave: Ed Sheeran joins CBeebies Bedtime stories as the latest celebrity. He reflects on his childhood speech disorder and how it influenced his first look footage.
Ed, whose CBeebies Bedtime Stories episode will air on November 5, reads from I Talk Like a River by Jordan Scott and Sydney Smith.
The book tells the story of a boy with a speech disorder who is helped by his father, who explains that his words flow like water.
As he speaks directly to children at home, Ed looks earnestly down camera. He says that Ed had a stutter when he was younger which meant that his speech sometimes got stuck as he spoke.
‘It made me feel different because, you know, I’d be in school and the teacher would ask a question that I would know the answer to and I’d put my hand in the air and then when it came to my turn to answer I couldn’t get the words out.

Journey: The pop star hopes to inspire children at home who stutter as he tells them of how he overcame his speech impediment to perform to massive audiences
He continues: ‘I used to worry that I’d never be able to speak without stuttering. But now I sing and I talk with people all the time. Sometimes, to many people.
Ed follows in many of the footsteps of other notable musicians who have appeared CBeebies’ Bedtime Stories, including Dolly Parton (Dolly Parton), Bjorn Ulavaeus, Rag’n’Bone Man, Rag’n’Bone Man, Sir Elton John and Alesha Dixon, Mark Ronson, Will Young, and George Ezra.
The singer said of his involvement in the programme: ‘Growing up, I had a stutter like the boy in I Talk Like a River,
‘I’m delighted to be reading this story for CBeebies Bedtime Stories, especially as I’m a new dad myself. I hope that the story will inspire and support other children with stuttering disorders.

The singer said of his involvement in the programme: ‘I’m delighted to be reading this story for CBeebies Bedtime Stories, especially as I’m a new dad myself
In September last year, Ed welcomed his first child, Lyra, who is now 14 months old, and Cherry Seaborn (29), his wife.
Recently, the singer revealed that Lyra was conceived to the music of James Blunt’s Back To Bedlam album.
After knowing Sofia Wellesley for many years, the father-of-1 confirmed that he and Sofia have a special relationship.

“I hope the story inspires and supports other children who stutter”: The singer shares his personal story to offer comfort to children across the UK
Ed shared with his other half the touching story of how James’ 2004 album was played during delivery as they waited for their first child to arrive in September.
Ed and Jo Whiley co-hosted BBC Radio 2 in June. Ed shared, “I actually asked Cherry whether it was OK to discuss it because it is such a personal moment. You shared what was on the playlist for Lyra’s birth.
“We were both huge James fans growing up. I’ve been friends and family with him for a few year. Cherry and he went on tour with us, and Cherry became very close to his wife. We are now good family friends.
“And it’s quite strange because we love his music so very much. We played Back to Bedlam as Lyra was being delivered.
James’ 2019 ballad The Greatest, dedicated to his two sons, is another song that is close to Grammy-winner.
CBeebies Bedtime Stories are available every weekday at 6:50pm on the CBeebies channel. It is also available on BBC iPlayer. Ed Sheeran’s CBeebies Bedtime Story will air on Friday 5th November

New dad: Ed welcomed his first baby, Lyra, at 14 months. He and Cherry Seaborn, 29 welcomed her in September last year.