That Snow Patrol are taking part in the BBC's Children in Need -- the UK's biggest charity event -- is no secret. Who they are performing a duet with on Thursday night's concert, however, has been. Until now.

The band's frontman Gary Lightbody (pictured) tells Spinner that apart from playing 'Chasing Cars', backed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the band will be performing 'Set the Fire to the Third Bar,' a 2006 track originally recorded with Martha Wainwright.

No Ms Wainwright on show at London's Royal Albert Hall, however. This time, they will be joined by Girls Aloud and solo star Cheryl Cole.

Speaking to spinner at a south London rehearsal studio where the band are practising for a forthcoming tour, he says: "Wednesday we have to stop to rehearse with the lovely Cheryl Cole for the Children in Need gig the night after. Because everyone doing that gig has to duet with someone from the gig. Everyone gets a partner, it was like getting a partner at school. We got the prettiest girl in the class."

Lightbody says, "They've very kindly given us two songs, not everyone's been given two songs. We get to do 'Chasing Cars' with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. And they're also let us play 'Set the Fire to the Third Bar' with Cheryl, which will be an interesting one because it was written for Martha Wainwright a very different and darker and unusual singer."

Cole, who topped the UK charts last week with her first solo album, is an unusual choice, Lightbody admits. "People have raised an eyebrow now and again when we've mentioned we're doing it with Cheryl Cole but I think it's going to be a really interesting experience.

"She said 'What song do you want to do?' and we said that ['Set the Fire to the Third Bar'}, and she went away and listened to it. I think she'd only heard a couple of our singles. She got back straight away and said, 'Yeah, I'm up for it.' Hats off to her. "

Other acts taking part in the charity gig include Muse, Take That, Sir Paul McCartney, Dame Shirley Bassey and Dizzee Rascal.