James Corden sings with Snow Patrol

Lightbody was impressed by Corden's "brilliant" singing

James Corden joined Snow Patrol on stage during a gig after frontman Gary Lightbody was impressed by the actor's "drunken singing" on a night out.

The Gavin and Stacey star sang the female vocal part on Set The Fire To The Third Bar at the Albert Hall concert on Tuesday.

Lightbody said he made the invitation after he "nearly fell off his chair" when he heard Corden singing in a bar.

Corden said he did not think Lightbody would remember the invitation.

"Gary and I were drunkenly singing together in a bar the other night and he said I should come and sing with them at the Albert Hall," Corden added.

"I was so sure he wouldn't remember I said yes, and before I knew it I was getting calls about sound checks and everything.

"It's an honour to sing with one my favourite bands and I loved every single minute of being on stage with them."

Lightbody added: "I thought he was joking, then he started singing in the bar and I nearly fell off my chair. He was brilliant.

"So we thought why the hell not - it doesn't always have to be a female guest vocalist. He was superb and knocked us out of the park."

Martha Wainwright was on the original recording of the song but, earlier this month, Cheryl Cole sang the part during the Children in Need Rocks the Royal Albert Hall concert.