As a newscaster, as much as a 1980s girl band singer, it ain't what you do - it's the way that you do it. But it will take a good deal of make-up and plenty of practice if three BBC presenters are to look convincing when they dress up as Bananarama for their ritual humiliation during this year's Children in Need.Having proved her rhythmic credentials on Strictly Come Dancing, Natasha Kaplinksy has a head start on her fellow performers, Fiona Bruce and Sophie Raworth. But there is still much work to be done between now and November 19 when the trio will perform Bananarama's biggest hit, Venus, live on air during the charity telethon.

It is understood that their male colleagues in BBC News have eschewed the opportunity to replicate the original Venus video and writhe semi-naked around the singers' feet, agreeing instead to dress up as Duran Duran. Michael Buerk, Andrew Marr, Jeremy Bowen, Bill Turnbull and Rob Bonnett will perform Wild Boys.

"My first day back at work after having a baby and I look like this. I'm ruined," said Raworth as she had her photograph taken in costume for the magazine to publicise this year's event, which last year raised £15.3m.

Buerk is a Children in Need veteran, having performed in a re-creation of the Rocky Horror Picture Show's Time Warp song for the charity event in 2002. "I was doing the ten o'clock news and was due on Children in Need at 10.32pm so there was no time to change. I was reading the news with shirt, jacket and tie down to my waist, and below that were leather miniskirt, fishnet stockings and big boots."

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