Sam Smith and John Legend release special duet for Comic Relief

The one-off version of 'Lay Me Down' will be the official Red Nose Day single

Sam Smith and John Legend have collaborated on the official Red Nose Day single (Comic Relief)

Sam Smith and John Legend have teamed up to record a special version of “Lay Me Down” for Comic Relief.

Taken from Smith’s bestselling album In The Lonely Hour, the song will be the official single for Red Nose Day this coming Friday 13 March, with all money raised from sales going to support the charity.

Grammy-winning Smith and Oscar-winning Legend will perform the ballad together for one night only on BBC1’s Comic Relief TV extravaganza, Face the Funny. Their one-off show will be broadcast live from the London Palladium.

“Lay Me Down holds a very special place in my heart, not only did I perform it at the Brits, I’m now going to perform it live on the Red Nose Day show with the extremely talented John Legend, which is so exciting,” said Smith.

“I recently visited a Comic Relief funded project in my home town which supports the young LGBT community in London. I’m extremely proud that my single will help raise money for projects like this and many others in the UK and across Africa.”

Openly gay singer Smith dedicated his original music video for “Lay Me Down” to “gay and transgender people everywhere” last month

Legend said that he had been “looking forward” to working with the “talented” Smith for a while, and is glad to be collaborating “on such a great song and for such a great cause”.

Sam Smith and John Legend record 'Lay Me Down' for Red Nose Day (Press handout)

The song-writing duo recorded the track in Los Angeles earlier this year. It is available from today to download on iTunes and the single is available to buy exclusively in Sainsbury’s.