Anna Maxwell Martin - Tortoise vs Hare: The Rematch CBeebies Bedtime Stories

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I've got my binoculars, check.

And I've got my telescope, check.

Oh! Hello.

I'm Anna.

I'm just getting my commentator's kit ready for the big race tonight.

I have my microphone, my binoculars,

and my telescope.

Just in case the athletes are too far away for me to see them.

Well, when I say athletes, I'm not sure you'd say they're both athletes.

But you should really decide for yourselves

when you hear about the most exciting race in tonight's story.

It's by Preston Rutt and Ben Redlich

and it's called Tortoise V Hare - The Rematch.

Good evening. I'm Johnny Fox. Welcome to Race Night Live.

You join me from the tree house for the most exciting race,

it's the big one, it's Tortoise V Hare, the rematch.

In red we have our challenger, land-speed record holder,

the fastest fur in the forest.

Harry the Hurricane Hare!

Age - five. Style - fast and furious. Wins - 81.

Losses - 1. Favourite food - fast food.

In blue, we have the athlete

who caused one of the biggest sporting upsets.

It's the defending champion of the wood - Steady Eddie Tortoise.

Age - 61. Style - easy does it.

Wins - 1. Losses - 0.

Favourite food - slow-roasted tomatoes.

Let's look back on an astounding week.

On Monday our runners arrived and what a scorcher!

The sun was so hot the tortoise didn't train.

Hare shadowed-boxed all day and, boy, was he strong as an ox?

On Tuesday, we woke up to a wicked wind.

It was so blustery Tortoise didn't train.

Hare chased leaves in the gale and he was as fast as a cheetah.

On Wednesday, it rained cats and dogs.

It was so dreadful Tortoise didn't train.

Hare swam widths of the wide, wild river.

Boy, was he menacing as a shark?

On Thursday, the hail hammered down.

The hailstones were so huge that Tortoise didn't train.

Hare played golf with the balls of ice.

Boy, was he powerful as a tiger?

On Friday, it blew a blizzard.

The wind was so wild, the air so cold and the snow so thick

that Tortoise didn't train...at all.

Hare trained harder than ever. He raced, chased, swam

and ran and, boy, was he fit as an Arctic fox?

Now, it's Saturday night, it's time. Time to start the stopwatches.

Time to learn who's champ and who's the chump.

Time for Tortoise V Hare, the rematch to begin.

Over to you, Cat Freeman at trackside.

Thanks, Johnny. I'm here with Hare and Tortoise.

Hare, you've been training hard. Can you win back your crown?

I'm good. Just too good for the wood.

I'll make Tortoise look like a Christmas pud.

Only one runner should rule this neighbourhood, understood?

Thank you, Hare. Tortoise, what do you say to that?

Well...

Sorry, Tortoise, I'll have to stop you there.

The race is about to start. Back to the studio.

Thanks, Cat. I'm Johnny Fox and we are ready, steady, go! They're off.

Hare's away. Tortoise is still at home.

Hare is so fast and Tortoise is so slow.

Wow! Watch Hare go!

And Tortoise is finally, um...

into his...stride.

Oops a daisy. CROWD GROANS

But wait!

I don't believe it!

Tortoise has turned this race upside down.

Here comes the finish line and it's so close.

Go! Go! Go!

Go crazy, folks.

We have a winner.

Incredible.

Tortoise has beaten Hare

by a hair!

He's still the undisputed, undefeated champion of the wood.

The crowd's gone wild.

Phew! I don't know about you, but after that excitement

I think I need to sleep.

I've been Johnny Fox, you've been an amazing audience.

Thank you and goodnight.

Um, I said goodnight.

Excitement over.

Close your eyes now, please.

Thank you.

Goodnight.

That story was called Tortoise V Hare - The Rematch.

It really is time for us to let Johnny get some sleep.

As it's also time for you to go to bed.

I'll see you soon for another story.

Night, night.

Now, I think I need to see a replay of that race.

I just can't believe that Tortoise is still the champion.

Where's the remote?