Channing Tatum never met Beyonce before on air lip sync battle

Beyonce walked out on stage to join Channing Tatum on the Lip Sync Battle stage but the pair had not met prior.

Channing Tatum had never met Beyonce until she joined him on stage on Lip Sync Battle.

The Magic Mike XXL actor's routine to Run the World (Girls) saw him dance alongside the singer and despite the impressive choreography, they never had chance to rehearse because producers kept them apart backstage so Channing's wife Jenna Dewan-Tatum - who he was competing against - never found out.

Executive producer Casey Patterson said: "That moment on air, that's the first time they ever met.

"He's dressed as her, dancing and singing to her song. We were just hoping he would keep dancing."

While the pair hadn't met before, the 35-year-old actor had contacted Beyonce, 34, personally to ask her to take part.

Casey added to The Hollywood Reporter: "Channing, during one of his rehearsals, sent an iPhone video message to her about two days before the show.

"Only Channing and Beyonce know the back and forth, but I think that's what put it over the top."

The celebrity contestants choose their own songs for the show and Beyonce's tracks have been requested more than any other artist.

Casey said: "We don't choose the songs for the performers -- it's always their choice -- and, since day one, the most requested artist has been Beyonce.

"She's been the holy grail, and we've always been in contact with her camp. They know when we're gearing up for production."

- Bang! Showbiz