Huge EastEnders star set to read CBeebies Bedtime Story from the BBC soap’s set ahead of 40th anniversary

EastEnders star Ross Kemp is set to read the CBeebies Bedtime Story from the EastEnders set.

The actor, 60, is reprising his role as Walford hard man Grant Mitchell as part of the BBC soap’s 40th anniversary celebrations this month.

And to mark the milestone, Ross will make an appearance on the beloved children’s programme, reading a story about quarrelling squirrels from the soap’s famous cafe.

The soap star will take a seat in the iconic yellow CBeebies Bedtime Story chair on Monday to read Rachel Bright and Jim Field’s story ‘The Squirrels Who Squabbled’.

The book follows Cyril and Bruce, a pair of ‘greedy’ squirrels who ‘struggle with friendship and sharing’ as they attempt to get their paws on the ‘very last nut of the season.’

The tale hopes to offer children a fun and thought-provoking lesson on understanding others and seeing the world through different eyes. 

EastEnders star Ross Kemp is set to read the CBeebies Bedtime Story from the EastEnders set

The actor, 60, is reprising his role as Walford hard man Grant Mitchell as part of the BBC soap’s 40th anniversary celebrations this month

Ross said of the story: ‘Cyril and Bruce realised it’s much easier, and much more fun, to work together than it is to fight. We all fall out with people sometimes – and even brothers can squabble’

The theme is no doubt a nod to Ross’ character Grant’s turbulent relationship with brother Phil (Steve McFadden), with the pair having explosively fallen out several times over the years – most notably due to the women in their lives.

It comes as Ross recently expressed his joy at returning to EastEnders after nine years away.

He told The Sun: ‘EastEnders’ has always meant so much to me, so to return as the show is about to celebrate a special anniversary is an absolute honour.’

While his comeback will be a brief one, Ross told how Grant’s appearance will be ‘pretty impactful’.

He continued: ‘He certainly comes back with bang – they didn’t have time to drop me in gently. There’s no soft landing if you’ve been part of that inner circle on EastEnders.’

Elsewhere, shocking EastEnders pictures have teased that the Queen Vic will be going up in flames – and potentially taking one character down with it.

Dramatic new promotional shots show the iconic pub burst into flames and one cast member lying down on the ground in the rubble. 

To mark the milestone, Ross will make an appearance on the beloved children’s programme, reading a story about quarrelling squirrels from the soap’s famous cafe [pictured]

Ross said of the story: ‘Cyril and Bruce realised it’s much easier, and much more fun, to work together than it is to fight. We all fall out with people sometimes – and even brothers can squabble’

The theme is no doubt a nod to Ross’ character Grant’s turbulent relationship with brother Phil (Steve McFadden, right), with the pair having explosively fallen out several times over the years

A show insider told The Mirror: ‘The Queen Vic explodes as part of the show’s red hot storyline in the coming days.

‘It comes after a car smashes into the pub and is sure to cause chaos and might mean the end of the road for at least one star.’

The new teaser shots showcase the huge explosion taking place, and have left fans worried about who could be on the chopping block.

The long-running soap which, since its earliest days in 1985, has seen murders, fires and more than its fair share of cliff-hangers.

But the 40th anniversary episode looks like being its most dramatic yet.

Shocking EastEnders pictures have teased that the Queen Vic will be going up in flames – and potentially taking one character down with it

Dramatic new promotional shots show the iconic pub burst into flames and one cast member lying down on the ground in the rubble

Previous pictures from the £87million set reveal Albert Square as viewers have never seen it before – with the windows of the Queen Vic blown out and the surrounding streets strewn with rubble.

The sensational storyline, designed to entice audiences back to the BBC’s flagship show after a steady decline, sees an explosion rip through the fictional pub, whose landladies have included Peggy Mitchell – played by the late Dame Barbara Windsor – and Anita Dobson’s Angie Watts.

There is even what appears to be blood on the pavement, raising fears that some of the show’s best-loved characters could be at risk.

An industry insider said producers are ‘pulling out all the stops’ for the anniversary special, which will air next week.