The Choir: Sing While You Work (2012) s01e05 Episode Script
The Semi-Final
One, two, three.
Choirmaster Gareth Malone has got four of Britain's busiest workplaces singing.
Good morning, everyone.
I'm here to start a choir.
The Royal Mail in Bristol.
Lewisham NHS trust.
Severn Trent Water.
And Manchester Airport.
It's now time for them to compete against each other.
For their next performance, they'll sing in front of a panel of judges.
They've been singing together for two months? Listen to that.
- Fabulous.
- Absolutely gorgeous.
When I was learning to sing, it was through competing with other people that I got better, and I want that for these choirs.
I want them to feel the pressure and get better.
Only the best three choirs will go on to perform at an international festival of choral music, when one will be crowned Gareth's best workplace choir.
Months and months of work and slog come down to that one moment when you're on stage.
That's why I love it.
For the semi-final, there are four new songs.
These songs are songs that require a performance, they're show songs, so they have a totally different level of complexity and energy required.
Because at the final, they'll be performing to thousands of people, I think they need to step it up a bit.
They need to learn the lessons of being on that stage in front of those judges and performing under that kind of scrutiny and pressure.
Cos it will feel like that in the final.
I think it's gonna be a big challenge for them.
I think they were just feeling like they knew how to do it, and this is going to unseat them all.
In four weeks'time, all four choirs will perform in front of the judges.
Over the next week, Gareth will travel the country to reveal their new songs.
- Hello! - Hello! How are you? First stop, Bristol and the Royal Mail.
We are now in the contest.
Ooh! So you're going to sing a new song for the semi-final, and that song that the judges want you to sing is very energetic, very exciting, full of life.
- It's called The Rhythm Of Life.
- Oh.
So Shh-shh-shh.
That's The Rhythm Of Life.
It is going to be challenging.
The next few weeks are going to be really hard work for everyone.
So I suggest we just look at the words.
The worst bit for me is "Daddy was a new sensation, got himself a congregation, built up quite an operation down below.
With a pied-eyed piper blowing while the muscatel was flowing, all the cats were go, go, going down below.
" - It's quite hard.
- Whose line is that? Everyone.
Ready, and Daddy started out in San Francisco.
I quite like it Bristolian.
Daddy started out in San Fran OK.
Sing it like an opera singer.
Ready? One, and That's the best sound you've ever made.
- Honest? - Honestly.
Yeah, because it was rich.
And if you could do that without the faces, it would It doesn't need that, but you've got to tell this song like it's the most important thing you've ever told anyone in your lives.
Where? You know, what? Who? How did it happen? These are the questions the audience want to know.
Here we go.
One and Hold your sheets up.
Tell me the story.
What happened? Good.
Right, can I Shh-shh-shh.
- Have you ever told a story to a child? - Yes.
Right, what do you do when you tell a story to a child? Right, you animate it, you put added emphasis.
Tim? Yeah, can you demonstrate how we animate rhythm in the bedroom? If you like.
- Brilliant.
- It's not like singing.
- It's more like acting.
- You're telling a story.
It's not You don't have to I can't explain it.
It's more fun.
It's like Well you just sing like you like he said, pretend to be an opera.
And it's easier.
And I've never even heard the song before.
- Haven't you? - No.
What they lack in choral finesse, this choir, I think they can make up for in terms of getting the song across.
If they're not putting the song across, they are at a serious disadvantage.
You have got to tell the story, you have got to get the meaning across, and that is something that anyone can do, no matter how much singing you've done.
That's not about beauty of tone or breath control or experience.
It's simply about saying, "These are the words.
Here they are.
" Manchester Airport.
- Hello! - Hello! It's very good to see you all.
The song that you are going to sing for the semi-final is called, appropriately, Sing, Sing, Sing by the Andrews Sisters.
Do you know it? Does anyone know Sing, Sing, Sing? No.
This is very much a performance song.
It's a chance to show your personality, it's a chance to show off.
Ready? Sell it to your audience.
Imagine they're there.
Three - La-de-da! - That's how it goes, la-de-da! That sounded great.
- La-de-da! - One, two, three.
I just think Watch that you're not going I can hear it, you can sense it, there's a kind of lack of impact and emphasis that you really need to address, so we really get that attack and the onset of the sound really strong and confident.
- Say "i".
- "i.
" That's it.
It's got to come from here.
"I.
" Breathe with me and "i.
" That's it.
I think it's all about the "i" of the "ing".
Stand up.
Sing it then.
I want them to hear the tune.
Two, three and That's great, it's really great, much better.
I still feel there could be more excitement.
You can feel everyone around you breathing.
It's something to work on.
I think that's an excellent point to end on.
Lots and lots of work ahead.
It's game on, quite frankly.
The pressure's on for the contest now, definitely, because it's not far away.
So, yeah, we've really gotta get our heads on now and really go for it.
It's confusing, because it tells you to do the opposite of what we've been practising for so long and the real choral flavour of singing.
This song seems to do completely the opposite and it's like, just loosen up and go for it.
At this stage in the contest, it's not the surprise factor, it's not, "Wow, isn't that wonderful that Manchester Airport has a choir?" We accept that, they've got a choir.
How good are they? That's what's gonna be crucial.
The demands of a song that's about performance are very different from something that's more internal and reflective.
They've gotta get out there, show their personality and they've got to apply all their skill to doing that with a piece of music that is in tune and that is rhythmically together, and there's a lot for them to do.
200 miles further south, Gareth's next stop is Lewisham NHS Trust in London.
Good morning.
Hello.
I've got some new music for you.
It's called Accentuate The Positive.
- Eliminate the negative.
- That's the one.
Good.
You should enjoy this, I think.
Accentuate The Positive.
Here it is.
Pass those round.
This is a performance song, so you're gonna have to find that within you.
Ready? From the top.
One, two, three.
OK, good.
Right there.
Immediately I actually feel like you're gonna need to just twang this up a bit.
Doesn't work.
Yes? We were having a bit of a debate about smiling and the quality of the singing if we smile.
Are we allowed to smile? Are we supposed to smile? Oh, God, please smile.
It's like watching a funeral otherwise.
- How can you say Say "Positive".
- Positive.
- Pah-sitive.
- Pah-sitive.
Yeah, you can't say, "Positive", can you? But let's see if we can get it in the faces.
Gents, stand up and just let's sing to the ladies.
Just gents.
One, two, three Aaron's just come to life.
He just I quite like this.
Yeah! It's like it's just this sort of little bubble of joy.
Everyone.
One, two, three Eddie almost broke into a smile! Yeah! The stuff about performance is very important, no question about that.
And if you're not a particularly demonstrative person, then that can be a bit challenging.
But that's the whole point of the exercise, really.
It's trying to do something that you're not normally comfortable with.
We like the new song.
We're just planning a dance.
Joe was just doing his trumpet impression.
- Do the trumpet.
- All right.
It's so good! Yeah, that's my trumpet.
Some people in the Lewisham choir are used to performing.
But there are some who really aren't being expressive enough yet.
And when they see the other choirs, they will realise how much they're giving it in terms of energy and fun.
I'm just all over the place.
So many choirs, so many notes, so many miles.
At the end of Gareth's 500-mile round trip Severn Trent Water, Coventry.
- Hello! - Hello! I've been thinking a lot about water.
Every time I flush the toilet, I think about you lot.
So that's nice.
It is time, ladies and gentleman, for you to have a new song, something for you to sharpen your skills on.
This is a different kind of song for you.
It's a little bit more razzle-dazzle, this one, which I think you'll enjoy.
It is a song called If They Could See Me Now by Connie Francis.
- Yeah! - Yeah? - Camp.
- Camp? Camp is the word.
It is high, high campery.
Gents, how are we feeling about being highly camp? - I can do camp.
- Mick can do camp.
Oh, girlfriend, I can do that.
Here you are.
Just pass them round.
There you go.
I think, first off, let's look at the first page.
Yeah, it's Come on.
So it's one, and one Well, we're getting somewhere, that's good.
So I'm gonna give you a bit of homework to do.
I think you should have some movement in this.
With movement, it has to come organically from the material.
It has to come from you, you know.
Just a little bit of movement.
Might be that.
Might just be a little toe tap.
Or it might could be a whole You know, it could be, who knows? We don't wanna try and be extravagant and not be able to pull it off.
I think there's an issue with it.
People don't feel confident enough with the music to concentrate on it.
I don't think we should be focusing on movement at all yet.
I think we need to at least like, feel comfortable with the whole thing, the whole piece, before we start thinking about movement.
I've resisted doing movement with choirs before because actually it's incredibly difficult, it's really complicated.
And when you're just trying to get the sound right and you're trying to teach a choir to sing, it can be a bit much.
But an audience is there to enjoy your performance, so you have to show them a generous spirit.
I think it's very good for them to just loosen up a bit, start to move, even though it's difficult to coordinate both quality singing and movement.
All four choirs will have to create their own distinctive routine.
They have just three weeks to prepare.
Do that with their hands.
You know you're going round.
So it is your left foot and your right hand.
At the Royal Mail, account manager Naomi Parr is trying to get the posties to give it some rhythm.
San Francisco, tooting on your trumpet, loud and mean.
Please, I promise it isn't difficult.
I promise you.
So you'll be like that.
Spread the picture on a wider screen.
- Can we just do that first bit, please? - From the beginning, then.
Ready? - OK.
- One more time.
The choreography I found really difficult.
I'm a simple man.
I can only think of one thing at a time.
It's coming together now, but we've put a lot more work in to get it as such, because trying to remember the words, trying to get things right For some reason, the ladies do it a lot better, so I don't know.
I think the men are doing pretty well on the choreography, yeah.
I'm really happy with the way we worked today.
I can't wait for the next few weeks as well.
It will look really effective.
Severn Trent Water.
Having initially resisted dance moves, they're finally on their feet.
And now skip! In the executive board room, meter reader Liam McNamara is leading the way.
Stop! Stop, stop, stop, stop.
I feel warmed up now.
I feel warmed up now.
I am.
The plan is to get the moves sorted, over and done with, out the way, and then focus on the music.
If we start at, "top-drawer, first-rate chums".
And that is very camp, but it looks good.
It's like he's in a boy-band video.
One, two, three, go.
That actually looks really good.
That looks really good.
Can we, shall we just make a decision on "stumblebums", cos we were all doing that and that at the wrong point, so That looks That does look really good.
I think the frustration last week was we were just chomping at the bit.
We'd just got our hands on the music and really wanted to learn the music.
So I think that's where we thought our focus should be.
Whereas this week we're like, "OK, we're getting there with that bit, let's" I think so.
I think it'll work.
Well done, Liam.
Not an easy task.
That was harder than I expected it to be.
At the NHS in Lewisham, Gareth's checking on progress.
The men are rehearsing on one of the wards.
They're doing their dance moves.
I'm only smiling cos I just cannot imagine these guys dancing.
I think it's gonna be quite entertaining.
That way? Sorry.
- Hello! - Hello! Great.
How's it going? Yes.
That well? Good.
I think the dancing is badly undermining the singing.
- Is it really? - Oh, yes.
Can I see it in its current state? Everyone looks really bored.
Oh, God! It was like a load of convicts.
One, two, three Yeah, it just looks like I'm thinking, one step and two step, accurate, then change, and then do this, you know.
It can't be like that.
It's gotta come out of the music.
It's all about your communication with the audience.
You've got to reach out to them.
Aaron did a cool thing just then.
Sorry, Aaron.
When we did the "no, don't mess", he kind of did a little bit of a cheeky lean and a bit of a foot thing.
It'd be nice if everybody had a thing with their next-door neighbour.
Yeah.
Just show us what you did, Aaron.
Ready, one, two, three.
Look at the hand.
Why not? Just like a little, yeah.
You can have little individual gestures like that.
I think it's really nice.
Yeah, yeah.
Why not? You can touch, you can move, you can lean on someone, or you find a little pose.
You can't separate out the emotion from music.
It's part of it.
And it just does, at the moment, look like they're doing it by numbers.
You can just see it in their eyes, and getting to that point where they can just have fun and really be out there singing to the audience is a challenge.
With less than two weeks until the choirs must perform to the judges, Gareth heads back to Manchester Airport to help put some swing in their routine.
Hey! How are you all? Are you all right? Good.
OK.
Everyone, each one of you, I wanna go I wanna see you say to the audience, "I'm right here.
" So stand like that.
Does that not come easily? It's a bit of a loosey-goosey.
Is that a technical Whoo! There's no stopping you now, is there? Let's just watch these three.
One, two, three, and You're like, "I'm here, I'm here.
" - And Daz just does that naturally.
- All the time.
All the time, exactly.
- This is the one occasion - Even in a fire.
in your life, probably, when it's actually useful and an asset.
I think other people who find it hard to smile I'm always smiling, so it's easy for me, second nature.
But other people, I've noticed There are a few, you know, probably quieter people in our choir that have just got to relax a bit.
They're naturally shy, some people.
Once you get up there and perform, that might be hard for some of them.
OK, now, everyone.
One, two, three and I'm concerned that they're just holding back a bit and that personality that is so great isn't coming through in their singing.
If there isn't a sense of grabbing the audience and grabbing each phrase by the horns, it's just not there's gonna be no impact.
There's just a week to go before the judging, and Gareth's back at Severn Trent Water for their final rehearsal.
I'd like to see what you've come up with.
I'd like to see your moves.
Are you ready to bust out a few moves for me? Yeah? Here we go, and Top! Top! I'd like to go back to "I'd like those stumblebums.
" Now put in the moves.
OK, here we go.
One, two, sing.
We've got a bit of tuning there.
So can I just do your whole line, basses.
One, two, one.
That's totally not it.
Just give me your first note.
One I think the movement has really unseated them, actually.
I think they're struggling to get the movement and the singing together and I think they've taken a step back.
And do actions.
Keep the actions in.
Here we go.
One, two, one.
There we are.
There's one.
I can't go through every single bar and make it like it was earlier.
You've gotta use your own sense.
We're not singing the words together.
We should have come in with, "If they could" There was just nobody singing.
- The moves make it harder.
- They do.
We'll just have to sing it on the coach on the way down.
Bit of an eye opener, this rehearsal with Gareth, realising what parts we're doing wrong and which points we're getting right, but they're right, but they need to be a bit better.
I've had moments in rehearsal with this choir where I've thought, "Yes, this is great, it sounds great.
" They've got a really good male section and really good sort of strong sound at the bottom.
But I think there is a danger.
If they sing on Tuesday like they sang at the beginning of the rehearsal today, I think it would be, "Good night", frankly, cos it wasn't good enough.
Hoping to impress Gareth in their final rehearsal Hiya! the Royal Mail.
We think it's good, but we don't know whether Gareth will think it's good.
So, you know, yeah, I hope he do say, "Wow!" I'll be gutted if he thinks it's horrible, because it's a bit late to change it now.
Morning.
It's the last rehearsal.
Thank you.
- So have you got some moves for me? - Yes.
I'm looking forward to seeing this.
I hope that this is ready for the judges because we're now, what, three days away from the semi-final.
So let's see it.
Wow! Very, very good! Well done! I'm really impressed.
I have to say, you absolutely knocked my socks off with that first bit.
Well done! Well done.
I would be just really cautious about doing that out the front.
So if you just cheat it out ever so slightly on an angle.
That's a bit more jazz and this is a bit more Nazi, OK? So just be I'd hate for that to be what everyone remembered about your performance.
I'm impressed.
I think they've done very, very well in a very short space of time.
It's not perfect.
It really isn't.
But I think it's pretty good.
In the final run-up to the contest, all the choirs put in extra practice.
Of course I wanna win this, cos I want to show everybody how passionate we are and how hard we've worked to get where we are.
I think people now know we've gotta step up to the plate, really.
And we've gotta work really, really hard.
Cos none of us are talking about going home.
We don't wanna go home.
It's the day of the performance, when all four choirs must sing before the judges at Bristol's prestigious Colston Hall.
It's the first time Gareth's choirs will compete.
I'm feeling very edgy, actually.
I'm really happy about the choirs.
I think they're really good.
Each choir has its own individual personality and I'm looking forward to seeing how that comes through.
Everything else is the same, the amount of time that I've spent with them, the arrangements are very similar, and it's down to them and their individual personalities.
I can't wait to see them all lined up, all the posties in their shorts and all the nurses in their uniforms.
I think it'll be great, really lovely to see them and just to think that Britain's workforce is coming together.
It's the calm before the storm at this point.
I'm ready.
After three months of rehearsals - It's not doctors and nurses, is it? - No.
- Probably not doctors and nurses.
- That's an airport.
Look at them.
the choirs are finally coming together.
- I'm Liam.
- Jamie.
Jamie.
Have you enjoyed being in the choir? Yeah.
Really good.
The best thing to come out of it is just sort of, like, finding out about other parts of the company, people that you would never have come across in your life.
Each of the choirs will perform in front of three independent judges, chosen by Gareth for their musical expertise.
Renowned conductor Manvinder Rattan is a champion of workplace choirs.
They're gonna be quite tough for us to judge, which means that we're gonna be drilling down to very fine detail to differentiate between choirs today.
The key thing I'm looking for is technical skills.
I'm looking forward to hearing some really good, quality singing.
Ruby Turner is an internationally acclaimed soul, gospel and R&B singer.
I've sung with choirs, I've heard choirs sing, and so I kind of know what I want and what to expect.
I'll be looking for the passion in the sound.
I want to be moved by it or to be uplifted by a piece and feel connected and feel like I wanna join in.
Esteemed choir master Ralph Allwood is the former head of music at Eton College.
We're asking these guys to do an extraordinary thing.
We're asking them to get things right that people who've been singing in choirs for years and years still often don't get right, ultimately something which is technically perfect, delivered with flair.
The choirs will be judged on technical excellence and emotional impact.
One choir must leave the contest today.
Gareth will have no say in the decision.
Yeah, it's now getting difficult because one of these choirs is gonna go, and it's really painful, actually.
I look at their faces, and they're really trusting in me.
And, you know, I have to build them up, and someone's about to be knocked down.
Getting read to perform, the Royal Mail.
We've practised and practised and practised.
We've come a million miles.
And the only thing I would say is that we just need to ourselves justice.
I'm still so excited and yet so nervous at the same time.
It's strange.
Strange sensations.
And no one wants to make a mistake, do we? - No.
It's like your wedding day.
- It is like your wedding day.
- Really exciting.
- Exciting.
It's been hard work to remember when to come in with the right facial expressions and get that story right, get it all right.
I've been practising in front of my wife and son, you know, expressive, with the eyes popping out and the rest of it and the little wink on the end and things like that.
Believe me, this is not gonna phase me today.
I'm ready for this, I really am, so excited and ready.
Hi.
Hello.
Shh-shh-shh.
How are you feeling? Ready for this? - Yes.
- Good.
Just go for it.
You're supposed to be having fun.
OK, go.
Good luck.
You're gonna be great.
- Bring it on.
- Yes.
Come on, Sam, come on.
OK? Thank you.
You may leave the stage now.
- Nailed it.
Magic.
- Fantastic.
Fantastic.
- Brilliant.
Loved it.
- Fantastic.
It was great.
It was good.
I think we nailed it.
- I wanna do it again now.
- Yeah.
Did you see, when we went like that, they all started writing, the judges.
They either was writing "excellent" or "rubbish".
It brought a smile to my face, seeing the energy with which they, you know, got on that stage.
There was a real determination to entertain there, wasn't there? Well, I just found that their impact was remarkable, because they came on and sang quietly to start with and grabbed our attention, and that's quite difficult to do, and I liked it very much.
Yeah, they told a story.
What also was wonderful, you know, they were enjoying being there and I enjoyed watching them.
They were telling the story, so that was great.
However, the balance wasn't quite right between the male and the female voices.
I never thought they'd pull off a performance like that.
That just had real heart.
I was swept away by it.
I had to really think, "Must keep conducting.
" I was just listening to them thinking, "Wow, you've improved so much.
" I was really proud of them.
They definitely had moments that were not quite together, but I think they might get away with it.
Next on stage, Manchester Airport.
We need to shock the judges.
We need a bit of wow factor.
And we all need to come together as a choir.
And I think we're good.
We just need to show.
Cos we get one chance today to prove ourselves.
Hands are shaking.
I've got butterflies.
I'm going to pray now for five minutes.
Before the performance I'll pray to God.
God, help us this time.
We should not be on the negative list.
- Hello.
- Hello.
- Everyone OK? Yes? Ready for this? - Yes.
All I'd say is just sizzle out there.
Your asset for me has always been your personality.
OK, good luck.
Off you go.
You can leave the stage now.
- Well done, Daz.
- Well done.
- Oh, God.
- I feel emotional.
Very, very emotional.
It's all right.
Always come prepared.
Fire service.
I told you, man! I told you! Much more connection with their audience than ever before.
They really looked out from the beginning with the altos.
It was a real sense of them all looking out, enjoying the song.
They looked like they were having fun.
I hope they liked it.
There were many characters on that stage that really grabbed me from the outset.
But there were, to be brutally honest, some discrepancies there as well.
But very lovely harmonies were happening there, and I loved the end bit, the crescendo was great, a great ending.
Overall I thought it was pretty good.
My only little concern was just that it was a little bit hesitant occasionally, a little bit unsure.
The middle section, a little bit after the beat, just slightly behind the piano.
They needed more impact with the rhythm.
Next up, Severn Trent Water.
It's starting to feel real now, sitting here, waiting to go out and perform.
I'm not nervous, but I worry that I'm gonna walk onto that stage, see the space for the first time and just my knees are gonna buckle or something.
- Hello.
- Hello.
- Everyone OK? - Yeah.
Good.
OK, right, my only advice to you is just to have a really good time.
OK, off you go.
Thank you.
You may leave the stage now.
- We nailed it.
- That was amazing! That was wicked.
Hey, well done.
Well done.
- I got all my dance moves right.
- Well done, Liam.
- That was awesome.
- Yeah, that was good.
Considering there was only three people there, that felt like it was the performance of our life.
That was amazing.
That was definitely the best time we've ever done it.
I think it connected with the audience.
I mean, I thought pretty good.
It wasn't perfect.
It didn't quite come together in a gorgeous sort of sumptuous harmony.
There was real excitement on stage, but I don't know how that translated to the judges.
Have to see what they have to say.
They made me smile and that's great.
Their attitude was good.
- I loved the vibe of it, yeah.
- I thought they were great.
They were clearly enjoying themselves.
It's their presentation which was not a problem before but could have been improved, and they clearly have.
I think they've made progress there, but there's a little bit more to be had.
Last to take the stage, Lewisham NHS Trust.
An independent survey of everybody in this room says that we are the best.
We're just going to go out there, smile, sing and do our best.
The slightly more difficult bit for me is the facial expression and all that kind of stuff.
And then, at the same time, trying to put all the feet moves in the right place at the right time.
Actually, now we're here, I'm really nervous.
My legs, like walking down those stairs, were like shaking.
Hi, everyone.
Shh-shh-shh! Hello.
For you, what you should really focus on going out there is your expression.
Make sure you really sell it big.
OK, you're on.
Big smile.
Big smiles.
Yeah, go on.
Thank you.
You may leave the stage now.
I thought it was very technically assured.
I loved it, I have to say.
I mean, I thought it had absolutely spellbinding moments.
We really nailed it today.
We got it on point.
Yeah, it was great, and I really did enjoy it.
Quite happy to do that again.
- It sounded so good this time.
- It was good.
Pumped now.
All right, what next? Time to save the world.
I found the blend really good.
They were all singing with the same kind of light voice, with a kind of American accent, all making the same sound.
They were connected, and it's kind of interesting because they've only been singing for a very short time.
They were all together, and it was really, really quite sweet.
It was an engaging performance, it was really good, but, just remember, all of them need to smile.
I actually genuinely think it's a really tough decision that the judges have got to make, because I don't think there's much in it in terms of performance.
I can't call it.
The choirs and Gareth wait for the judges' verdict.
It's been a good day.
I'm gonna be very, very sad at the end to see somebody go.
I think it's going to come down to who made a convincing performance for the judges.
Only the judges can say that, and they were much further back than me.
I was on stage.
I was caught up with the music and conducting everyone.
They were able to sit back and listen.
And I think it will come down to who made an impact on them.
I feel I feel a bit I don't know, I've set this whole thing up, set the wheels in motion, and now it's up to the judges.
I feel a bit pointless.
This is completely out of my control now.
It was quite I agree with you, Ralph, this was really quite hard to judge, because there was some really good singing going on, technically speaking.
OK, so you're dealing with the technicalities of things.
That's what I'm gonna judge on first.
Mm.
If we left today, I know I speak for everybody in our team, we'd be absolutely devastated.
We came out of that hall on such a high.
I can't imagine having that amount of high if we were the worst.
You know what I mean? I hope we're not going home.
Did you think that? I didn't think that at all.
A few them, really, were absolutely confident and knew exactly where they were going.
The entire hospital and the entire trust know about us competing in this, so going back and facing people and saying, "Actually, we didn't get through the semi-finals", that would be a bit tough to take.
Just waiting to find out.
Don't like this bit.
This much time they are taking, it means there is definitely a tough competition between all four of us.
Extremely difficult, that bit, but a shame that they didn't absolutely nail that one.
So have we made a decision? We've come to a call that we can all be happy with.
- Yeah.
- Yes.
May I just say a very, very big thank you to all of you for an amazing evening of fabulous singing.
You worked very hard and I know it's only been three months or so that some of you have sung for the first time, but, believe me, outstanding work, absolutely outstanding work.
So we're just gonna run through each choir and what you did for us today.
Severn Trent.
Wow.
We thought that was a really spirited and engaging performance.
Well done.
Manchester Airport, particularly good ensemble singing.
The group singing, there was a wonderful sound.
Lewisham NHS Trust.
Well done.
Technically speaking, that was a really impressive performance.
Royal Mail.
Wonderful.
I particularly liked your quiet singing.
That had a real impact.
But this is where it gets very difficult.
It was a very, very hard decision, because you were all so very, very good.
We were split as judges.
Judgement was based on performance and technicality, and unfortunately tonight one choir didn't quite meet the two criterias.
Sadly, that choir is Manchester Airport.
Manchester, in terms of performance, some of the notes were less distinct than others, and you got just a little bit behind in two passages, you were behind the piano, and that took away from the impact.
Sadly, one choir had to go.
Good luck.
Keep your chins up.
Hey.
We're all winners for getting where we came, so Thank you.
Thank you.
Personally I think it's been worth every minute.
Every minute.
Manchester, what can I say? You've been absolutely brilliant.
You've just got such energy and spirit, and I think once you've wiped the tears away, I think you'll go home and think, "Actually, we did ourselves proud.
We did a great job.
" It was a cracking performance.
They were all cracking performances.
It would have been very difficult.
I would not have liked to have chosen between them.
Be proud of everything you have achieved.
Terribly sorry to see you go, really am, but thank you.
Thank you.
Yes, definitely, we lost it today, but we are not losing it forever.
We're all upset at the moment, we're all a little bit down, but we'll carry on.
I don't think we'll make Top of the Pops now.
We'll have to go back to the fire station and sing to the lads.
I really feel that Manchester can have their heads held high.
That was a great performance.
They just weren't quite good enough today.
As much as there's a downside to a contest because somebody has to leave, there's no doubt in my mind that it was the contest and it was the fear of losing, the fear of going home tonight, that made everyone work hard and made everyone sing as they did.
And I think everyone is now gonna go forward feeling that they've earned their place.
I'm looking forward to seeing what the other choirs achieve next.
It's gonna be very exciting.
They will work extremely hard for that final.
Because in the final, it's a public audience of 3,000 people, people who know about singing.
I think that's going to make them work incredibly hard and we'll get something magical on that stage.
January 2017
Choirmaster Gareth Malone has got four of Britain's busiest workplaces singing.
Good morning, everyone.
I'm here to start a choir.
The Royal Mail in Bristol.
Lewisham NHS trust.
Severn Trent Water.
And Manchester Airport.
It's now time for them to compete against each other.
For their next performance, they'll sing in front of a panel of judges.
They've been singing together for two months? Listen to that.
- Fabulous.
- Absolutely gorgeous.
When I was learning to sing, it was through competing with other people that I got better, and I want that for these choirs.
I want them to feel the pressure and get better.
Only the best three choirs will go on to perform at an international festival of choral music, when one will be crowned Gareth's best workplace choir.
Months and months of work and slog come down to that one moment when you're on stage.
That's why I love it.
For the semi-final, there are four new songs.
These songs are songs that require a performance, they're show songs, so they have a totally different level of complexity and energy required.
Because at the final, they'll be performing to thousands of people, I think they need to step it up a bit.
They need to learn the lessons of being on that stage in front of those judges and performing under that kind of scrutiny and pressure.
Cos it will feel like that in the final.
I think it's gonna be a big challenge for them.
I think they were just feeling like they knew how to do it, and this is going to unseat them all.
In four weeks'time, all four choirs will perform in front of the judges.
Over the next week, Gareth will travel the country to reveal their new songs.
- Hello! - Hello! How are you? First stop, Bristol and the Royal Mail.
We are now in the contest.
Ooh! So you're going to sing a new song for the semi-final, and that song that the judges want you to sing is very energetic, very exciting, full of life.
- It's called The Rhythm Of Life.
- Oh.
So Shh-shh-shh.
That's The Rhythm Of Life.
It is going to be challenging.
The next few weeks are going to be really hard work for everyone.
So I suggest we just look at the words.
The worst bit for me is "Daddy was a new sensation, got himself a congregation, built up quite an operation down below.
With a pied-eyed piper blowing while the muscatel was flowing, all the cats were go, go, going down below.
" - It's quite hard.
- Whose line is that? Everyone.
Ready, and Daddy started out in San Francisco.
I quite like it Bristolian.
Daddy started out in San Fran OK.
Sing it like an opera singer.
Ready? One, and That's the best sound you've ever made.
- Honest? - Honestly.
Yeah, because it was rich.
And if you could do that without the faces, it would It doesn't need that, but you've got to tell this song like it's the most important thing you've ever told anyone in your lives.
Where? You know, what? Who? How did it happen? These are the questions the audience want to know.
Here we go.
One and Hold your sheets up.
Tell me the story.
What happened? Good.
Right, can I Shh-shh-shh.
- Have you ever told a story to a child? - Yes.
Right, what do you do when you tell a story to a child? Right, you animate it, you put added emphasis.
Tim? Yeah, can you demonstrate how we animate rhythm in the bedroom? If you like.
- Brilliant.
- It's not like singing.
- It's more like acting.
- You're telling a story.
It's not You don't have to I can't explain it.
It's more fun.
It's like Well you just sing like you like he said, pretend to be an opera.
And it's easier.
And I've never even heard the song before.
- Haven't you? - No.
What they lack in choral finesse, this choir, I think they can make up for in terms of getting the song across.
If they're not putting the song across, they are at a serious disadvantage.
You have got to tell the story, you have got to get the meaning across, and that is something that anyone can do, no matter how much singing you've done.
That's not about beauty of tone or breath control or experience.
It's simply about saying, "These are the words.
Here they are.
" Manchester Airport.
- Hello! - Hello! It's very good to see you all.
The song that you are going to sing for the semi-final is called, appropriately, Sing, Sing, Sing by the Andrews Sisters.
Do you know it? Does anyone know Sing, Sing, Sing? No.
This is very much a performance song.
It's a chance to show your personality, it's a chance to show off.
Ready? Sell it to your audience.
Imagine they're there.
Three - La-de-da! - That's how it goes, la-de-da! That sounded great.
- La-de-da! - One, two, three.
I just think Watch that you're not going I can hear it, you can sense it, there's a kind of lack of impact and emphasis that you really need to address, so we really get that attack and the onset of the sound really strong and confident.
- Say "i".
- "i.
" That's it.
It's got to come from here.
"I.
" Breathe with me and "i.
" That's it.
I think it's all about the "i" of the "ing".
Stand up.
Sing it then.
I want them to hear the tune.
Two, three and That's great, it's really great, much better.
I still feel there could be more excitement.
You can feel everyone around you breathing.
It's something to work on.
I think that's an excellent point to end on.
Lots and lots of work ahead.
It's game on, quite frankly.
The pressure's on for the contest now, definitely, because it's not far away.
So, yeah, we've really gotta get our heads on now and really go for it.
It's confusing, because it tells you to do the opposite of what we've been practising for so long and the real choral flavour of singing.
This song seems to do completely the opposite and it's like, just loosen up and go for it.
At this stage in the contest, it's not the surprise factor, it's not, "Wow, isn't that wonderful that Manchester Airport has a choir?" We accept that, they've got a choir.
How good are they? That's what's gonna be crucial.
The demands of a song that's about performance are very different from something that's more internal and reflective.
They've gotta get out there, show their personality and they've got to apply all their skill to doing that with a piece of music that is in tune and that is rhythmically together, and there's a lot for them to do.
200 miles further south, Gareth's next stop is Lewisham NHS Trust in London.
Good morning.
Hello.
I've got some new music for you.
It's called Accentuate The Positive.
- Eliminate the negative.
- That's the one.
Good.
You should enjoy this, I think.
Accentuate The Positive.
Here it is.
Pass those round.
This is a performance song, so you're gonna have to find that within you.
Ready? From the top.
One, two, three.
OK, good.
Right there.
Immediately I actually feel like you're gonna need to just twang this up a bit.
Doesn't work.
Yes? We were having a bit of a debate about smiling and the quality of the singing if we smile.
Are we allowed to smile? Are we supposed to smile? Oh, God, please smile.
It's like watching a funeral otherwise.
- How can you say Say "Positive".
- Positive.
- Pah-sitive.
- Pah-sitive.
Yeah, you can't say, "Positive", can you? But let's see if we can get it in the faces.
Gents, stand up and just let's sing to the ladies.
Just gents.
One, two, three Aaron's just come to life.
He just I quite like this.
Yeah! It's like it's just this sort of little bubble of joy.
Everyone.
One, two, three Eddie almost broke into a smile! Yeah! The stuff about performance is very important, no question about that.
And if you're not a particularly demonstrative person, then that can be a bit challenging.
But that's the whole point of the exercise, really.
It's trying to do something that you're not normally comfortable with.
We like the new song.
We're just planning a dance.
Joe was just doing his trumpet impression.
- Do the trumpet.
- All right.
It's so good! Yeah, that's my trumpet.
Some people in the Lewisham choir are used to performing.
But there are some who really aren't being expressive enough yet.
And when they see the other choirs, they will realise how much they're giving it in terms of energy and fun.
I'm just all over the place.
So many choirs, so many notes, so many miles.
At the end of Gareth's 500-mile round trip Severn Trent Water, Coventry.
- Hello! - Hello! I've been thinking a lot about water.
Every time I flush the toilet, I think about you lot.
So that's nice.
It is time, ladies and gentleman, for you to have a new song, something for you to sharpen your skills on.
This is a different kind of song for you.
It's a little bit more razzle-dazzle, this one, which I think you'll enjoy.
It is a song called If They Could See Me Now by Connie Francis.
- Yeah! - Yeah? - Camp.
- Camp? Camp is the word.
It is high, high campery.
Gents, how are we feeling about being highly camp? - I can do camp.
- Mick can do camp.
Oh, girlfriend, I can do that.
Here you are.
Just pass them round.
There you go.
I think, first off, let's look at the first page.
Yeah, it's Come on.
So it's one, and one Well, we're getting somewhere, that's good.
So I'm gonna give you a bit of homework to do.
I think you should have some movement in this.
With movement, it has to come organically from the material.
It has to come from you, you know.
Just a little bit of movement.
Might be that.
Might just be a little toe tap.
Or it might could be a whole You know, it could be, who knows? We don't wanna try and be extravagant and not be able to pull it off.
I think there's an issue with it.
People don't feel confident enough with the music to concentrate on it.
I don't think we should be focusing on movement at all yet.
I think we need to at least like, feel comfortable with the whole thing, the whole piece, before we start thinking about movement.
I've resisted doing movement with choirs before because actually it's incredibly difficult, it's really complicated.
And when you're just trying to get the sound right and you're trying to teach a choir to sing, it can be a bit much.
But an audience is there to enjoy your performance, so you have to show them a generous spirit.
I think it's very good for them to just loosen up a bit, start to move, even though it's difficult to coordinate both quality singing and movement.
All four choirs will have to create their own distinctive routine.
They have just three weeks to prepare.
Do that with their hands.
You know you're going round.
So it is your left foot and your right hand.
At the Royal Mail, account manager Naomi Parr is trying to get the posties to give it some rhythm.
San Francisco, tooting on your trumpet, loud and mean.
Please, I promise it isn't difficult.
I promise you.
So you'll be like that.
Spread the picture on a wider screen.
- Can we just do that first bit, please? - From the beginning, then.
Ready? - OK.
- One more time.
The choreography I found really difficult.
I'm a simple man.
I can only think of one thing at a time.
It's coming together now, but we've put a lot more work in to get it as such, because trying to remember the words, trying to get things right For some reason, the ladies do it a lot better, so I don't know.
I think the men are doing pretty well on the choreography, yeah.
I'm really happy with the way we worked today.
I can't wait for the next few weeks as well.
It will look really effective.
Severn Trent Water.
Having initially resisted dance moves, they're finally on their feet.
And now skip! In the executive board room, meter reader Liam McNamara is leading the way.
Stop! Stop, stop, stop, stop.
I feel warmed up now.
I feel warmed up now.
I am.
The plan is to get the moves sorted, over and done with, out the way, and then focus on the music.
If we start at, "top-drawer, first-rate chums".
And that is very camp, but it looks good.
It's like he's in a boy-band video.
One, two, three, go.
That actually looks really good.
That looks really good.
Can we, shall we just make a decision on "stumblebums", cos we were all doing that and that at the wrong point, so That looks That does look really good.
I think the frustration last week was we were just chomping at the bit.
We'd just got our hands on the music and really wanted to learn the music.
So I think that's where we thought our focus should be.
Whereas this week we're like, "OK, we're getting there with that bit, let's" I think so.
I think it'll work.
Well done, Liam.
Not an easy task.
That was harder than I expected it to be.
At the NHS in Lewisham, Gareth's checking on progress.
The men are rehearsing on one of the wards.
They're doing their dance moves.
I'm only smiling cos I just cannot imagine these guys dancing.
I think it's gonna be quite entertaining.
That way? Sorry.
- Hello! - Hello! Great.
How's it going? Yes.
That well? Good.
I think the dancing is badly undermining the singing.
- Is it really? - Oh, yes.
Can I see it in its current state? Everyone looks really bored.
Oh, God! It was like a load of convicts.
One, two, three Yeah, it just looks like I'm thinking, one step and two step, accurate, then change, and then do this, you know.
It can't be like that.
It's gotta come out of the music.
It's all about your communication with the audience.
You've got to reach out to them.
Aaron did a cool thing just then.
Sorry, Aaron.
When we did the "no, don't mess", he kind of did a little bit of a cheeky lean and a bit of a foot thing.
It'd be nice if everybody had a thing with their next-door neighbour.
Yeah.
Just show us what you did, Aaron.
Ready, one, two, three.
Look at the hand.
Why not? Just like a little, yeah.
You can have little individual gestures like that.
I think it's really nice.
Yeah, yeah.
Why not? You can touch, you can move, you can lean on someone, or you find a little pose.
You can't separate out the emotion from music.
It's part of it.
And it just does, at the moment, look like they're doing it by numbers.
You can just see it in their eyes, and getting to that point where they can just have fun and really be out there singing to the audience is a challenge.
With less than two weeks until the choirs must perform to the judges, Gareth heads back to Manchester Airport to help put some swing in their routine.
Hey! How are you all? Are you all right? Good.
OK.
Everyone, each one of you, I wanna go I wanna see you say to the audience, "I'm right here.
" So stand like that.
Does that not come easily? It's a bit of a loosey-goosey.
Is that a technical Whoo! There's no stopping you now, is there? Let's just watch these three.
One, two, three, and You're like, "I'm here, I'm here.
" - And Daz just does that naturally.
- All the time.
All the time, exactly.
- This is the one occasion - Even in a fire.
in your life, probably, when it's actually useful and an asset.
I think other people who find it hard to smile I'm always smiling, so it's easy for me, second nature.
But other people, I've noticed There are a few, you know, probably quieter people in our choir that have just got to relax a bit.
They're naturally shy, some people.
Once you get up there and perform, that might be hard for some of them.
OK, now, everyone.
One, two, three and I'm concerned that they're just holding back a bit and that personality that is so great isn't coming through in their singing.
If there isn't a sense of grabbing the audience and grabbing each phrase by the horns, it's just not there's gonna be no impact.
There's just a week to go before the judging, and Gareth's back at Severn Trent Water for their final rehearsal.
I'd like to see what you've come up with.
I'd like to see your moves.
Are you ready to bust out a few moves for me? Yeah? Here we go, and Top! Top! I'd like to go back to "I'd like those stumblebums.
" Now put in the moves.
OK, here we go.
One, two, sing.
We've got a bit of tuning there.
So can I just do your whole line, basses.
One, two, one.
That's totally not it.
Just give me your first note.
One I think the movement has really unseated them, actually.
I think they're struggling to get the movement and the singing together and I think they've taken a step back.
And do actions.
Keep the actions in.
Here we go.
One, two, one.
There we are.
There's one.
I can't go through every single bar and make it like it was earlier.
You've gotta use your own sense.
We're not singing the words together.
We should have come in with, "If they could" There was just nobody singing.
- The moves make it harder.
- They do.
We'll just have to sing it on the coach on the way down.
Bit of an eye opener, this rehearsal with Gareth, realising what parts we're doing wrong and which points we're getting right, but they're right, but they need to be a bit better.
I've had moments in rehearsal with this choir where I've thought, "Yes, this is great, it sounds great.
" They've got a really good male section and really good sort of strong sound at the bottom.
But I think there is a danger.
If they sing on Tuesday like they sang at the beginning of the rehearsal today, I think it would be, "Good night", frankly, cos it wasn't good enough.
Hoping to impress Gareth in their final rehearsal Hiya! the Royal Mail.
We think it's good, but we don't know whether Gareth will think it's good.
So, you know, yeah, I hope he do say, "Wow!" I'll be gutted if he thinks it's horrible, because it's a bit late to change it now.
Morning.
It's the last rehearsal.
Thank you.
- So have you got some moves for me? - Yes.
I'm looking forward to seeing this.
I hope that this is ready for the judges because we're now, what, three days away from the semi-final.
So let's see it.
Wow! Very, very good! Well done! I'm really impressed.
I have to say, you absolutely knocked my socks off with that first bit.
Well done! Well done.
I would be just really cautious about doing that out the front.
So if you just cheat it out ever so slightly on an angle.
That's a bit more jazz and this is a bit more Nazi, OK? So just be I'd hate for that to be what everyone remembered about your performance.
I'm impressed.
I think they've done very, very well in a very short space of time.
It's not perfect.
It really isn't.
But I think it's pretty good.
In the final run-up to the contest, all the choirs put in extra practice.
Of course I wanna win this, cos I want to show everybody how passionate we are and how hard we've worked to get where we are.
I think people now know we've gotta step up to the plate, really.
And we've gotta work really, really hard.
Cos none of us are talking about going home.
We don't wanna go home.
It's the day of the performance, when all four choirs must sing before the judges at Bristol's prestigious Colston Hall.
It's the first time Gareth's choirs will compete.
I'm feeling very edgy, actually.
I'm really happy about the choirs.
I think they're really good.
Each choir has its own individual personality and I'm looking forward to seeing how that comes through.
Everything else is the same, the amount of time that I've spent with them, the arrangements are very similar, and it's down to them and their individual personalities.
I can't wait to see them all lined up, all the posties in their shorts and all the nurses in their uniforms.
I think it'll be great, really lovely to see them and just to think that Britain's workforce is coming together.
It's the calm before the storm at this point.
I'm ready.
After three months of rehearsals - It's not doctors and nurses, is it? - No.
- Probably not doctors and nurses.
- That's an airport.
Look at them.
the choirs are finally coming together.
- I'm Liam.
- Jamie.
Jamie.
Have you enjoyed being in the choir? Yeah.
Really good.
The best thing to come out of it is just sort of, like, finding out about other parts of the company, people that you would never have come across in your life.
Each of the choirs will perform in front of three independent judges, chosen by Gareth for their musical expertise.
Renowned conductor Manvinder Rattan is a champion of workplace choirs.
They're gonna be quite tough for us to judge, which means that we're gonna be drilling down to very fine detail to differentiate between choirs today.
The key thing I'm looking for is technical skills.
I'm looking forward to hearing some really good, quality singing.
Ruby Turner is an internationally acclaimed soul, gospel and R&B singer.
I've sung with choirs, I've heard choirs sing, and so I kind of know what I want and what to expect.
I'll be looking for the passion in the sound.
I want to be moved by it or to be uplifted by a piece and feel connected and feel like I wanna join in.
Esteemed choir master Ralph Allwood is the former head of music at Eton College.
We're asking these guys to do an extraordinary thing.
We're asking them to get things right that people who've been singing in choirs for years and years still often don't get right, ultimately something which is technically perfect, delivered with flair.
The choirs will be judged on technical excellence and emotional impact.
One choir must leave the contest today.
Gareth will have no say in the decision.
Yeah, it's now getting difficult because one of these choirs is gonna go, and it's really painful, actually.
I look at their faces, and they're really trusting in me.
And, you know, I have to build them up, and someone's about to be knocked down.
Getting read to perform, the Royal Mail.
We've practised and practised and practised.
We've come a million miles.
And the only thing I would say is that we just need to ourselves justice.
I'm still so excited and yet so nervous at the same time.
It's strange.
Strange sensations.
And no one wants to make a mistake, do we? - No.
It's like your wedding day.
- It is like your wedding day.
- Really exciting.
- Exciting.
It's been hard work to remember when to come in with the right facial expressions and get that story right, get it all right.
I've been practising in front of my wife and son, you know, expressive, with the eyes popping out and the rest of it and the little wink on the end and things like that.
Believe me, this is not gonna phase me today.
I'm ready for this, I really am, so excited and ready.
Hi.
Hello.
Shh-shh-shh.
How are you feeling? Ready for this? - Yes.
- Good.
Just go for it.
You're supposed to be having fun.
OK, go.
Good luck.
You're gonna be great.
- Bring it on.
- Yes.
Come on, Sam, come on.
OK? Thank you.
You may leave the stage now.
- Nailed it.
Magic.
- Fantastic.
Fantastic.
- Brilliant.
Loved it.
- Fantastic.
It was great.
It was good.
I think we nailed it.
- I wanna do it again now.
- Yeah.
Did you see, when we went like that, they all started writing, the judges.
They either was writing "excellent" or "rubbish".
It brought a smile to my face, seeing the energy with which they, you know, got on that stage.
There was a real determination to entertain there, wasn't there? Well, I just found that their impact was remarkable, because they came on and sang quietly to start with and grabbed our attention, and that's quite difficult to do, and I liked it very much.
Yeah, they told a story.
What also was wonderful, you know, they were enjoying being there and I enjoyed watching them.
They were telling the story, so that was great.
However, the balance wasn't quite right between the male and the female voices.
I never thought they'd pull off a performance like that.
That just had real heart.
I was swept away by it.
I had to really think, "Must keep conducting.
" I was just listening to them thinking, "Wow, you've improved so much.
" I was really proud of them.
They definitely had moments that were not quite together, but I think they might get away with it.
Next on stage, Manchester Airport.
We need to shock the judges.
We need a bit of wow factor.
And we all need to come together as a choir.
And I think we're good.
We just need to show.
Cos we get one chance today to prove ourselves.
Hands are shaking.
I've got butterflies.
I'm going to pray now for five minutes.
Before the performance I'll pray to God.
God, help us this time.
We should not be on the negative list.
- Hello.
- Hello.
- Everyone OK? Yes? Ready for this? - Yes.
All I'd say is just sizzle out there.
Your asset for me has always been your personality.
OK, good luck.
Off you go.
You can leave the stage now.
- Well done, Daz.
- Well done.
- Oh, God.
- I feel emotional.
Very, very emotional.
It's all right.
Always come prepared.
Fire service.
I told you, man! I told you! Much more connection with their audience than ever before.
They really looked out from the beginning with the altos.
It was a real sense of them all looking out, enjoying the song.
They looked like they were having fun.
I hope they liked it.
There were many characters on that stage that really grabbed me from the outset.
But there were, to be brutally honest, some discrepancies there as well.
But very lovely harmonies were happening there, and I loved the end bit, the crescendo was great, a great ending.
Overall I thought it was pretty good.
My only little concern was just that it was a little bit hesitant occasionally, a little bit unsure.
The middle section, a little bit after the beat, just slightly behind the piano.
They needed more impact with the rhythm.
Next up, Severn Trent Water.
It's starting to feel real now, sitting here, waiting to go out and perform.
I'm not nervous, but I worry that I'm gonna walk onto that stage, see the space for the first time and just my knees are gonna buckle or something.
- Hello.
- Hello.
- Everyone OK? - Yeah.
Good.
OK, right, my only advice to you is just to have a really good time.
OK, off you go.
Thank you.
You may leave the stage now.
- We nailed it.
- That was amazing! That was wicked.
Hey, well done.
Well done.
- I got all my dance moves right.
- Well done, Liam.
- That was awesome.
- Yeah, that was good.
Considering there was only three people there, that felt like it was the performance of our life.
That was amazing.
That was definitely the best time we've ever done it.
I think it connected with the audience.
I mean, I thought pretty good.
It wasn't perfect.
It didn't quite come together in a gorgeous sort of sumptuous harmony.
There was real excitement on stage, but I don't know how that translated to the judges.
Have to see what they have to say.
They made me smile and that's great.
Their attitude was good.
- I loved the vibe of it, yeah.
- I thought they were great.
They were clearly enjoying themselves.
It's their presentation which was not a problem before but could have been improved, and they clearly have.
I think they've made progress there, but there's a little bit more to be had.
Last to take the stage, Lewisham NHS Trust.
An independent survey of everybody in this room says that we are the best.
We're just going to go out there, smile, sing and do our best.
The slightly more difficult bit for me is the facial expression and all that kind of stuff.
And then, at the same time, trying to put all the feet moves in the right place at the right time.
Actually, now we're here, I'm really nervous.
My legs, like walking down those stairs, were like shaking.
Hi, everyone.
Shh-shh-shh! Hello.
For you, what you should really focus on going out there is your expression.
Make sure you really sell it big.
OK, you're on.
Big smile.
Big smiles.
Yeah, go on.
Thank you.
You may leave the stage now.
I thought it was very technically assured.
I loved it, I have to say.
I mean, I thought it had absolutely spellbinding moments.
We really nailed it today.
We got it on point.
Yeah, it was great, and I really did enjoy it.
Quite happy to do that again.
- It sounded so good this time.
- It was good.
Pumped now.
All right, what next? Time to save the world.
I found the blend really good.
They were all singing with the same kind of light voice, with a kind of American accent, all making the same sound.
They were connected, and it's kind of interesting because they've only been singing for a very short time.
They were all together, and it was really, really quite sweet.
It was an engaging performance, it was really good, but, just remember, all of them need to smile.
I actually genuinely think it's a really tough decision that the judges have got to make, because I don't think there's much in it in terms of performance.
I can't call it.
The choirs and Gareth wait for the judges' verdict.
It's been a good day.
I'm gonna be very, very sad at the end to see somebody go.
I think it's going to come down to who made a convincing performance for the judges.
Only the judges can say that, and they were much further back than me.
I was on stage.
I was caught up with the music and conducting everyone.
They were able to sit back and listen.
And I think it will come down to who made an impact on them.
I feel I feel a bit I don't know, I've set this whole thing up, set the wheels in motion, and now it's up to the judges.
I feel a bit pointless.
This is completely out of my control now.
It was quite I agree with you, Ralph, this was really quite hard to judge, because there was some really good singing going on, technically speaking.
OK, so you're dealing with the technicalities of things.
That's what I'm gonna judge on first.
Mm.
If we left today, I know I speak for everybody in our team, we'd be absolutely devastated.
We came out of that hall on such a high.
I can't imagine having that amount of high if we were the worst.
You know what I mean? I hope we're not going home.
Did you think that? I didn't think that at all.
A few them, really, were absolutely confident and knew exactly where they were going.
The entire hospital and the entire trust know about us competing in this, so going back and facing people and saying, "Actually, we didn't get through the semi-finals", that would be a bit tough to take.
Just waiting to find out.
Don't like this bit.
This much time they are taking, it means there is definitely a tough competition between all four of us.
Extremely difficult, that bit, but a shame that they didn't absolutely nail that one.
So have we made a decision? We've come to a call that we can all be happy with.
- Yeah.
- Yes.
May I just say a very, very big thank you to all of you for an amazing evening of fabulous singing.
You worked very hard and I know it's only been three months or so that some of you have sung for the first time, but, believe me, outstanding work, absolutely outstanding work.
So we're just gonna run through each choir and what you did for us today.
Severn Trent.
Wow.
We thought that was a really spirited and engaging performance.
Well done.
Manchester Airport, particularly good ensemble singing.
The group singing, there was a wonderful sound.
Lewisham NHS Trust.
Well done.
Technically speaking, that was a really impressive performance.
Royal Mail.
Wonderful.
I particularly liked your quiet singing.
That had a real impact.
But this is where it gets very difficult.
It was a very, very hard decision, because you were all so very, very good.
We were split as judges.
Judgement was based on performance and technicality, and unfortunately tonight one choir didn't quite meet the two criterias.
Sadly, that choir is Manchester Airport.
Manchester, in terms of performance, some of the notes were less distinct than others, and you got just a little bit behind in two passages, you were behind the piano, and that took away from the impact.
Sadly, one choir had to go.
Good luck.
Keep your chins up.
Hey.
We're all winners for getting where we came, so Thank you.
Thank you.
Personally I think it's been worth every minute.
Every minute.
Manchester, what can I say? You've been absolutely brilliant.
You've just got such energy and spirit, and I think once you've wiped the tears away, I think you'll go home and think, "Actually, we did ourselves proud.
We did a great job.
" It was a cracking performance.
They were all cracking performances.
It would have been very difficult.
I would not have liked to have chosen between them.
Be proud of everything you have achieved.
Terribly sorry to see you go, really am, but thank you.
Thank you.
Yes, definitely, we lost it today, but we are not losing it forever.
We're all upset at the moment, we're all a little bit down, but we'll carry on.
I don't think we'll make Top of the Pops now.
We'll have to go back to the fire station and sing to the lads.
I really feel that Manchester can have their heads held high.
That was a great performance.
They just weren't quite good enough today.
As much as there's a downside to a contest because somebody has to leave, there's no doubt in my mind that it was the contest and it was the fear of losing, the fear of going home tonight, that made everyone work hard and made everyone sing as they did.
And I think everyone is now gonna go forward feeling that they've earned their place.
I'm looking forward to seeing what the other choirs achieve next.
It's gonna be very exciting.
They will work extremely hard for that final.
Because in the final, it's a public audience of 3,000 people, people who know about singing.
I think that's going to make them work incredibly hard and we'll get something magical on that stage.
January 2017