Hosted by Chris Moyles, the star-studded bill includes Lily Allen, Dizzee Rascal, Dame Shirley Bassey, James Corden, Leona Lewis, Paolo Nutini, Mika, Fearne Cotton, Snow Patrol, Cheryl Cole, Sir Paul McCartney, Peter Kay, Katherine Jenkins, Muse and Take That.

The legend that is Sir Terry Wogan is on hand to help introduce the stars and remind us of the work that BBC Children in Need carries out in the UK, and there are also some very special surprises during the event.

And as the stars raise the roof at the Royal Albert Hall, viewers can help raise the cash by texting 70077 and donating five pounds; every penny given will make a real difference to young lives.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00p06bp

Quiff-tastic: Robbie Williams wears his hair Elvis Presley-style

With his hair styled into a quiff, Robbie Williams looks raring to go ahead of the Children In Need concert tonight where it is hoped he will finally join Take That on stage.

The singer, 35, chose to style his growing mop into the hairstyle made famous by Elvis Presley ahead of the gig.

He is known to be a fan of 'The King' and wrote a song, Advertising Space, about the rock n roll legend.

But he has also spoken of his fondness for X Factor twins John and Edward and was perhaps taking a style tip from the popular act.

Either way, Robbie was mobbed by fans as he nipped outside the Royal Albert Hall in London for a quick cigarette break where tonight's gig will be held.

Take That and Robbie are scheduled to perform separate sets, but the showbiz world is holding its breath they will also perform together at the end of the show.

Paul McCartney is to sing Hey Jude with the band and Robbie in an astonishing finale to the concert, which will also see the likes of Cheryl Cole, Leona Lewis, Dame Shirley Bassey and Katherine Jenkins take to the stage.

Musical legend Ms Bassey was set to perform a duet of her close Bond theme tune Diamonds Are Forever with hip-hop star Dizzee Rascal. She was also set to perform a duet with Mr Barlow.

Scrum: Robbie Williams is mobbed by fans as he nips outside of London's Royal Albert Hall to have a cigarette ahead of tonight's Children In Need concert

So excited: The singer had his hair styled into a quiff and looked relaxed as he prepares to entertain the crowds tonight and maybe perform with Take That

Yesterday Robbie and former band mate Gary Barlow showed they really are the best of friends as they posed with Fearne Cotton at Radio 1's Maida Vale studios where the acts have been rehearsing.

A source revealed: 'It's going to be a truly memorable performance. Everybody is so excited - Robbie especially. It is going to be awesome.'

Robbie and Gary showed any past tension was well behind them yesterday as they hung out at Radio 1's studios in Maida Vale.

They posed with presenter Fearne as Robbie arrived to perform on the DJ's Live Lounge show.

Veteran: Paul McCartney, pictured at Maida Vale studios last night, is set to perform with the band

The singer, whose album is expected to hit the number one spot this week, said he would love to join his former band on stage but did not confirm they would perform together.

'We've got to get the balance right of what it is and where it is and how we do it,’ he told Cotton.

'We don't know what that is yet, I loved the last [Take That] album. The tour was absolutely unbelievable.’

Gary, who recently renewed his friendship with the reformed star, stopped off the studios to catch up with Robbie.

He stayed to watch the 35-year-old perform a cover of The Killers hit Human, which he called his favourite song of the year, and his new single You Know Me.

Robbie's comeback album Reality Killed The Video Star is on course to become number one this weekend.

He left Take That in 1995 to go solo and became a huge star in his own right.

Meanwhile, the band split up after a year as a foursome and disappeared from the spotlight.

But the four reunited in 2005 and made a sensational comeback without Robbie, just as his career started to flounder.

In the Radio 1 interview, Robbie admitted he thought his time as a successful singer might have been over for good before his latest album.

The new fab four: Gary Barlow and newlywed Mark Owen seen leaving BBC Radio studios in Maida Vale yesterday after rehearsals for the Children in Need Concert

He told Fearne: 'Everything seems a bit alien. I thought it would be like riding a bike but it's like riding a very wonky bike... It's been very odd and very lovely, I thought my times had gone.'

There have been rumours that Robbie plans to permanently rejoin the band, since ending the feud with Gary in recent years and calling him 'my new best friend'.

Also adding fuel to the fire were reports that Mark Owen, 37, Gary, 38, Howard Donald, 41, and Jason Orange, 39, were spotted entering a New York recording studio at the same time as Robbie.

On healing the rift, Robbie said yesterday: 'It's a complete weight off my shoulders I didn't know it was there.

'You carry around all this resentment and bitterness for such a long time I thought it wasn't there anymore... We put everything out on the table - I thought this, they thought that, and then at the end we had a hug up and what was left was what we had at the beginning... just five guys that love each other.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowb....fniRQN4

Sir Paul McCartney, Take That, Dame Shirley Bassey and Robbie Williams are due to perform on stage later at the Children in Need charity concert.

The gig, which is taking place at the Royal Albert Hall in London, was set up by Take That singer Gary Barlow.

Other acts on the bill include Leona Lewis, Lily Allen, Mika, Muse, Dizzee Rascal and Katherine Jenkins.

Some of the artists will be singing unique "one-off" duets together, such as Cheryl Cole and Snow Patrol.

Earlier on this week, it was announced that the X Factor judge will sing Martha Wainwright's lines from the Snow Patrol song Set The Fire To The Third Bar.

'Not true'

Frontman Gary Lightbody told the Spinner Music website that some people had "raised an eyebrow" when they heard about the collaboration.

The BBC, meanwhile, has denied reports that Robbie Williams will sing with Take That.

The Sun newspaper said Williams, who left the band in 1995 to launch his solo career, would perform with Take That at the gig, which has been organised by Gary Barlow.
Cheryl Cole and Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol
Cheryl Cole will perform with Snow Patrol

But a BBC spokeswoman said that was "categorically not true".

Meanwhile, Lightbody said there were other unexpected duets planned at the charity concert.

"Everyone doing that gig has to duet with someone from the gig," he said.

"Everyone gets a partner, it was like getting a partner at school. We got the prettiest girl in the class.

"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."

In October, Barlow told Radio 1 breakfast show presenter Chris Moyles that each act would be doing two songs, but promised there would also be "three or four one-off duets that have never been seen before".
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8357612.stm