British actor Jason Flemyng, Olympic swimmer Mark Foster, and astronomer Mark Thompson, have lent their support to Barnardo's, starring in a collection of short films and reading stories about the charity's mascot Big Todd to mark World Book Day.

The initiative aims to 'encourage children to be brave, adventurous, and supportive', and Foster, who read The Gentle Giant, said 'I hope it shows children that when they need to be, they can be brave and make a difference too'.