A special Pudsey-shaped online bingo pattern has been created on the Costa Bingo site and the company will donate £1 to the BBC's Children in Need Appeal for every winning Pudsey card.

"Our bingo cards offer many different winning patterns but we hope our players will put superstition to one side and play Pudsey," said Costa Bingo operations director Debbie Gent.

David Ramsden, CEO of BBC Children in Need, said: "Every year we are both humbled and inspired by the extraordinary lengths our supporters go to raise money and we hope this year is no exception. This is why we are asking for your support again in 2009."

The 2009 Children in Need Appeal television show will be aired on BBC One in the UK this evening.