Bedtime story is flourishing: Number of parents who read to their children five nights a week doubles in a generation 33 per cent more parents read to children compared to a generation ago Stories last less than 7 minutes for a third of children Parents are starting to add pop stars or celebrities into popular stories By Andrew Levy Education Reporter ONCE upon a time, children were treated to the full version of bedtime stories. But today's parents are so busy that many admit cutting them short to save time. One in nine give shortened versions of classic tales, while one in eight inject a dose of reality by adding elements from their own lives. Many parents are finding they have had to cut stories short as they do not have the time, but many more are reading stories to their children five times a week The 21st century makeover doesn't end there - a small proportion revealed they add a little celebrity sparkle in the belief it will make the story more exciting. Pop stars are the most common additions, followed by members of the Royal family and actors. There is a happy ending, however, as the number of parents who regularly set aside time for the ritual has doubled since their own childhood. Parents have recently taken to adding celebrities and pop stars to stories to make them more interesting Some 70 per cent of parents observe it at least five times a week, compared to 37 per cent a generation ago. The survey of more than 1,100 members of website Netmums by the makers of Aquafresh Kids found stories last less than seven minutes for a third of youngsters. One in ten parents said they wished they could spare more time. Mums were the main storyteller but dads took on the role 26 per cent of the time, followed by grandparents on five per cent. Parents also had to be inventive to find the time to read to their kids. One in 12 took advantage of bath time, while others did it while brushing their child's hair or cleaning their teeth. Netmums founder Siobhan Freegard said: 'Like it or not we live in a celebrity culture, so weaving in famous people keeps bedtime tales up to date. 'The fairytale Royal romance has been increasing numbers of parents add William and Kate to their bedtime tales, while others prefer to add in their child's favourite celebrity. Parents seem to be busier than ever before but still want to have this special time with their little ones before they drift off.