BBC Morning Live presenters form band to play on Children in Need

A band made up of BBC Morning Live presenters and contributors is due to play live on tonight’s Children in Need show, following weeks of rehearsals and, for some members, lessons.

The amateur line-up, with a few ringers, features Michelle Ackerley on bass, Gethin Jones playing electric guitar and Hear’say’s Kym Marsh as lead singer.

Also in the band are Mike Sweeney from BBC Radio Manchester on guitar, Iona Bain, the programme’s finance expert, on keyboards and Nick Stapleton of Scam Interceptors on drums.

Dr Ranj, the programme’s resident health expert, and DIY expert Wayne Perrey will provide backing vocals, which deaf cook Yvonne Cobb, another Morning Live regular, will sign.

The group had originally planned only to perform Tom Grennan’s Little Bit of Love on this morning’s programme, broadcast from the Radio 1 Live Lounge.

Grennan then surprised them by revealing they had also been booked for tonight’s show.

BBC Children in Need will be broadcast live from MediaCity Studios tonight. The show will also include Owain Wyn Evans’ cycle through all 4 nations, which has raised more than £3.3m for the charity.

Presenters are Alex Jones, Mel Giedroyc, Rylan, Sara Cox and Tyler West. Other well-known faces taking part include Jordan Banjo, Emma Bunton, JB Gill, Tasha Ghouri, Angela Scanlon, Gladiators Apollo and Dynamite, Joe Wicks and social media stars Ash Holme, Charley Marlowe and Jack Remmington.

“Every child deserves someone by their side. Someone who listens. Someone who supports. Someone who believes in them,” said Claire Hoyle, CEO of BBC Children in Need.

“Across the UK, children and young people are facing growing challenges, but thanks to the generosity of the public, BBC Children in Need funds the trusted adults, youth workers and support services who are there when they need them most. Right now, we can only fund one in six organisations that ask for our help, which is why this year’s Appeal is so important.”

She added: “It’s a moment when we can come together as a nation and show children and young people that we’re there for them. Every challenge taken on, every donation and every fundraising effort will help ensure more children have the support, confidence and hope they need to thrive.”

BBC Studios Entertainment Productions makes the show. Adam Wydrzynski and Andrew Cartmell are executive producers, Dawn Payne is series producer, Mel Balac is creative director and Ruby Kuraishe commissioned it for the BBC.