Hugh Laurie's band scores download hit

A song by Hugh Laurie's band of TV celebrities has been a surprise hit as a download on iTunes.

Laurie, Desperate Housewives star James Denton and Heroes' Greg Grunberg have recorded a version of Cab Calloway's jazz classic 'Minnie The Moocher'.

The group, called Band From TV, has performed numerous gigs for charity in Hollywood, as well as a song for the soundtrack of Laurie's hit medical drama House.

The 48-year-old said: "There's about 50 versions of 'Minnie The Moocher' on iTunes and I'm afraid to say ours is the most popular... It was a real thrill... It's a funky version of it."

Laurie said he was proud of the cash the band has raised for good causes, explaining: "In about a dozen shows we have played we have raised just a gargantuan sum of money for charity. The first one we played... we went after Yes and before Fleetwood Mac... The top of the bill was Macy Gray."