Sarah Harding’s version of Girls Aloud track I’ll Stand By You is released for BBC Children In Need three years after her death – two decades after band’s original version came out

In 2004, Girls Aloud released their emotional hit I’ll Stand By You as the official single of BBC Children In Need, reaching No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart for two weeks.

Now, twenty years later, the band is about to release a brand new version of the song, with their beloved Sarah Harding exclusively on lead vocals.

Nadine Coyle, Cheryl, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh formed the iconic girl band with Sarah until her tragic death from cancer in 2021.

Sarah’s vocals were discovered in Girls Aloud’s vault while the band were collecting archive material for their sold-out The Girls Aloud Show arena tour earlier this year.

A freshly produced studio version will now be released on November 15 as a special charity single in support of BBC Children In Need.

The freshly produced studio version will now be released on November 15 as a special charity single in support of BBC Children In Need.

I’ll Stand By You – Sarah’s Version premiered on Zoe Ball’s breakfast show on Radio 2 on Wednesday.

Zoe said: ‘The official Children in Need single for 2024 is here. Taking a look at some huge hits over the years. Hopefully this will raise a lot of money. This year we’ve waited long enough, so now to you, Nadine Coyle.’

Nadine said: ‘Good morning Zoe, we have something special to share with you this morning for the rally. This is the official single from Children In Need.

‘We made a new version of I’ll Stand By You. It is a special celebration of Sarah and engages children in need over the years.”

After the song aired, Zoe added: “We’re all teary-eyed, that was so special. I’m so glad it’s Girls Aloud.

‘You hear Sarah’s voice and think of the children who need support.’

A new edit of the original video featuring unseen archive footage will also be released during the BBC Children in Need Appeal Show on November 15.

Proceeds from the single will benefit BBC Children in Need projects that work with children in communities across the UK who face a range of challenges, including supporting children with cancer.

Nadine Coyle, Cheryl, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh formed the iconic girl band with Sarah until her tragic death from cancer in 2021

Nadine said: ‘We made a new version of I’ll Stand By You. It is a special celebration of Sarah and engages children in need over the years.”

The song was originally a single for The Pretenders, written by Chrissie Hynde, Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly.

On hearing this new version, Chrissie said: ‘How wonderful to hear I’ll Stand By You leading the way for BBC Children in Need with the beautiful vocals of Sarah Harding. Merry Christmas everyone!’

Girls Aloud reunited for their anniversary tour this year and honored Sarah at every show.

Cheryl, Nadine, Kimberley and Nicola remembered Sarah, who was diagnosed with cancer in August 2020 and died a year later, by playing footage of her singing one of their biggest hits, The Promise, alone as the girls watched.

A version of the song featuring Sarah’s voice was a highlight of the recent tour and an emotional moment for both the band and their fans.

Speaking to MailOnline, Kimberley described the tribute to Sarah as ‘enlightening’ after the group also performed with the late singer’s vocals during their song I’ll Stand By You.

Kimberley said: ‘Honoring Sarah was quite cathartic, it really was, as difficult as the first part was, the planning – the rehearsals without her were painful.

Girls Aloud reunited for their anniversary tour this year and honored Sarah at every show

“But when we saw her honored and heard her voice playing in the arena again and the outpouring of love from people, seeing how happy it made her mother and everything, it gave us a great feeling.”

Meanwhile, Cheryl revealed she misses the “electric and wild side” of her Girls Aloud bandmate Sarah following her death from breast cancer.

Speaking during a special two-hour show for Radio 2, Cheryl said: ‘There are little moments you would share with her individually on stage on tour.

“Where there is no more Sarah than there was in that moment and I can’t describe it… like no one else would know her like that except the four of us.”