Crackanory

The bedtime story series for grown-ups returns for a fourth run, with famous faces reading to camera as strange, twisted and often riotous worlds come to life via accompanying live action or animation. Kicking things off is Dara O Briain, reading the story of a Roman slave who, in trying to dodge his death, puts his life very much in danger. Continues tomorrow, Wednesday and Thursday with Sheridan Smith, Bob Mortimer and Anna Friel spinning yarns.

Obviously based on Jackanory, this is the new series of the storytelling show for adults. I never watched Jackanory as a child as I assumed anything that wasn't done as a cartoon would be for adults, and therefore boring. So I had a childhood free of Newsround and Blue Peter and I never got to use "sticky-backed plastic." But why should Jackanory have been aimed only at children when everyone loves a good story? I'll bet there were mums and grandads and stern aunties who were reading the paper or paying the bills but secretly had an ear cocked to the TV. Now they don't need to pretend as we have a grown-up version. Tonight, Dara O Briain who tells a story called A Close Slave, set in ancient Rome. Give yourself up to a good old-fashioned bit of storytelling.