OLYMPIC silver medal-winning modern pentathlete Samantha Murray will tonight swap her epee and laser pistol for an evening dress and piano – to perform at a charity concert live on BBC Radio 3.

The 23-year-old agreed to learn to play the piano for Piano Season on the BBC, with the aim of playing in a concert supporting the charity Children in Need.

“It’s been a fantastic opportunity and I’m really looking forward to it,” said Samantha, of Clitheroe.

“As an athlete I’m expected to perform well in competitions, but it’s been nice to learn to do something new and without too much pressure. I’ve found it really refreshing and something I’ve been able to completely immerse myself in. It’s been a challenge, but it's also been very enjoyable,” she said. “The most important thing is that it’s for a fabulous cause, Children in Need.”

Samantha, who studies at the University of Bath, has only had six lessons from Beverley Flanagan, a Bath-based pianist, piano teacher and composer.

Other celebrities taking part in the challenge to learn the basics of the instrument in just six weeks and play in the Gala include BBC Radio 1 presenter Dev, weather presenter Carol Kirkwood and Tommy Sandhu from the Asian network.

The Piano Learners project is Samantha’s second Children in Need commitment.

She has also filmed a Children in Need Bargain Hunt special where she partnered gold medal winning rower Helen Glover, who learned to row in Bath. That can be seen on BBC1 on November 16.

Listen to the Gala Concert on BBC Radio 3 at 7.30pm.