Episode 10 The Big Performance

In one week, these singers must sing live on BBC One

to an audience of 11 million on Children In Need...

This is the biggest thing I've ever done and I'm scared.

-..but the song still isn't right...

-No, stop swooping.

..their nerves aren't yet under control...

You have a few hundred people in front,

but down that camera there's millions.

..and Gareth is facing his toughest decision yet.

'This is 11 million people,'

it's got to be musically right, it's got to look confident

-and got to sound great.

-Who will be the soloist?

I want to be the Children In Need soloist, like, more than anything.

I really, really want it badly. I want it badly!

The person singing solo live on Children In Need is...

This is The Big Performance Two.

Today the Big Performance bus returns to London,

where the tour began ten weeks ago.

The final event, singing on Children In Need, is just days away.

This week is such an important week, facing up to the challenge ahead.

Choirmaster Gareth Malone has tried every trick up his sleeve

to get these shy singers to forget their bullied past.

Now each of them wants to stand out and lead the group.

They've all tried out for the solo, but now it's time to pick someone.

It's nerve-wracking. I want to be the soloist. So does everyone else.

-I've got bad butterflies in my belly.

-Really want it really bad.

Children In Need is really, really close and I'm really, really scared!

Since they began ten weeks ago,

the group has been working towards this final challenge,

singing to the nation on Children In Need.

For their final rehearsals,

Gareth has brought them to Alexandra Palace, the home of live TV.

I don't think I need to tell you

how big the Children In Need performance is.

Everyone's eyes will be on us at that moment.

It's never been more important that we sing to the best of our abilities.

In their first lesson, they were too afraid to perform.

MUMBLING: # Nothing you could say. #

Now their confidence has grown,

but they must perfect their vocal quality.

# There's nothing you could say There's nothing you could do. #

That, for me, is the right sort of volume,

especially for that beginning bit,

but what isn't there is the intensity.

Really meaning the words.

It's not just in your eyes and your face and here, it's your whole body.

You've got to feel it! # Keep holding on. #

It's not feeling like, "Yeah!" Give me that intensity.

# You're not alone

# Together we stand

# I'll be by your side You know I'll take your hand

# Keep holding on. #

I loved the intensity, that was fantastic!

Just not, # Keep hol... ra RA ra. #

I need clean notes.

With such little time to go until their national debut,

-Gareth's standards are high.

-# Keep holding on... #

No! Stop swooping.

# Holding o-o-on. # Can you hear the difference?

I'm asking a lot of them quite deliberately

cos I think the occasion demands it.

We need great singing, a fantastic soloist,

so I need someone who is solid as a rock,

who doesn't flinch in that final performance.

At the start of the Big Performance Tour,

all ten singers were petrified of leading the group.

Who feels like they could do a solo in front of the nation? No?

-I think I'd stumble when I'm singing.

-I'd just freeze.

One by one they tried out for the solo spot

and now they're all DESPERATE to be chosen.

So Gareth is giving them one more chance to re-audition

and prove how far they've come.

This is what everything has been about.

This moment where I pick the soloist is so important.

Gareth will be choosing a shortlist of just five.

# You're not alone Together we stand... #

# I'll be by your side You know I'll take your... # Ahem.

# When it gets cold And it feels like the end... #

# There's no place to go You know I won't give in... #

# Keep holding on... #

When I was put on the spot it was really, really scary.

I can normally cope with the pressure of performing

in front of the group,

but performing and knowing that you're being judged to get the solo,

that is a lot harder.

It's not down to this moment, there's more to consider,

there's how they've reacted, they've worked, how they performed.

That I'm taking into consideration.

# Keep holding on... #

# You know you're going to make it through... #

# Make it through... #

I know that was really difficult,

BUT let's remember how far we have come.

Could you have done that ten weeks ago? NO WAY!

I'm really proud of all of you. Well done.

The once timid group are unrecognisable.

All of them now want to make Gareth's final five.

I want to be the Children In Need soloist more than anything.

It's so massive to me. I want to be the soloist so bad.

I don't think it was good enough at all, I think I really messed it up.

The first person on the shortlist is...

Molly.

James.

Tia.

Joan.

-Sasha.

-Oh, my God!

No giggling, please.

I'm going to do as well as I can because I believe in myself.

I can't believe I've got a chance of doing the solo.

I think the soloists have got a really big job on their hands

but I'll be at the back supporting them.

Just think, a million people... I can do it.

They've made it this far, but it's not over yet.

Everyone on the shortlist will have to re-audition later for the solo.

In front of...

Scouting For Girls.

Scouting For Girls have sold over 1.2 million albums

and been nominated for a Brit and Ivor Novello award.

They know what level of performance will be needed from the soloists.

# Do, do, do, do... #

When they sing on Children In Need, it'll be to 11 million viewers.

Performing on the same stage as singing superstars,

they've a lot to live up to.

Spice Girls legend Melanie C helped the group

with their live radio performance, earlier on in the tour.

Whenever you're performing, if you can identify with the words

you're singing, you're going to get the best performance.

Now she's back to inspire the group with their very own private gig.

# I've been waiting right here

# For things to get better... #

It was really cool to see Melanie C again.

It just helps everyone out.

And, boy, can she turn on a performance.

We need to do that when we get to Children In Need.

It can't be half measures, it's got to be 100%.

# Why do I feel so weak?

# So weak

# So weak

So weak #

APPLAUSE

-Did she look nervous?

-No.

-No, not at all.

You have to be like that on stage. You owe it to the audience.

When we sing, you have to really concentrate,

but you just go straight in there.

It's difficult, you do find your concentration wandering.

You may have a few hundred people in front of you,

but down that camera there'll be millions.

If you're enjoying yourself, people will enjoy watching you,

enjoying yourself. That's the most important thing to remember.

She was fixed on the song and wasn't bothered about the audience.

She was just bothered about giving a good performance.

That's what I need to do.

From the minute Melanie walks into the room, she's performing.

As soon as the song started, she was lost in the words, lost in the music.

That's what you need.

OK, we haven't been in the Spice Girls

and we haven't been around the world, but we are capable of that.

These guys need to give 100%, because anything less is not good enough.

When the group sing on live TV,

they'll be leading Gareth's nationwide choir

and they'll need to take to the stage like professionals,

which means a slick performance in every way.

When we perform at Children In Need, we need to have the full package.

It's no good just standing there and singing well,

we've got to have choreography.

When I say, "choreography" I don't just mean

busting out some of your best moves.

I mean, looking slick, have full presentation.

Briony, make us look good.

Briony's danced for countless stars on stage and on screen.

Alesha Dixon, Madonna and Robbie Williams.

Now she's worked out some choreography to make the group

look slick and synchronised.

So, first of all, we need to think about stage presence,

heads up, looking confident. The first move's this.

The second move is this.

The third move is this and the fourth move is this. Exactly!

The bigger and clearer you make it, the better.

# Keep holding on... #

Yes! It's going to look good, I can tell.

I think it's easier to sing the song with choreography

because you get more into the song and it's a lot more enjoyable.

The group are more synchronised,

but they're still not convincing Briony and Gareth.

Your voice is really beautiful.

But your face to me is saying, "I'm not enjoying myself that much."

Now, this time, just give me a little bit of a smile, everyone cos all of you weren't smiling.

I was looking at you, sorry.

It's important to smile, or you won't look like you're enjoying it.

The hardest thing is to perform and smile and remember your moves and remember your words.

Briony picked up on it immediately. They simply weren't smiling.

Now I want you guys to do it happy.

Present to me like you're enjoying yourself so much. Here we go.

# Just stay strong

# Cos you know I'm here for you I'm here for you... #

'I'll make sure I put a lot of expression'

into my singing and that.

Just make sure I can do the best that I can do.

'Do you know what? I don't even recognise Tia.'

She's dancing, she's moving, she's standing up taller, singing with confidence, really good to see.

# Keep holding on

# Cos you know we'll make it through Make it through... #

The audience are going to be here,

so let's make sure that we're looking at our audience.

It's really vital that they get this cos the camera could be

on any of them at any time.

Their whole family will be watching, their whole school will be watching,

the whole town will be watching, the whole country will be watching. It's got to be right.

It's an extremely daunting challenge

but the once-shy performers are feeling determined.

Now we have to pull together as a group and just practise, practise.

If you get stuck you have moves to help you with the words.

For me that was a really proud moment cos

they went from standing there looking miserable,

to looking quite professional with moves and attitude

and their faces were all smiley - I was really proud of them.

I think it could be great if they do it like that.

In a matter of minutes, five of the group will re-audition

for the solo spot in front of Gareth and Scouting For Girls.

How do the stars keep their cool before a big performance?

All the thinking about being nervous and what's coming up,

-that's when it really gets to you.

-You're going to panic.

Yeah. So don't think about it till just before you go on stage.

Physically you should warm up yourself before you perform.

If you can do ten press-ups

or sit-ups or sprint on the spot, just to get your blood pumping and get your adrenaline going.

I always warm up on my guitar, I do scales and everything.

And then I get all excited with my band, probably jump around,

have a massive smile on my face and just get psyched up for the show.

When Gareth first met the singers they were too scared

to perform in front of him, now five of them will be

singing for their chance as the Big Performance soloist.

This has got to be a tough audition cos they have such a big task ahead of them.

If they forget words and crumble and fall apart and start to cry,

that's really going to affect my faith in them

to be able to pull off that performance at the end.

Gareth will pick two to lead the group in a very special

performance later today.

I've picked the five singers that I think could do this performance

and really pull it off well.

In that five, one of them will be my soloist but I don't know who yet.

Hoping it's her,

first to face the judging panel is 12-year-old Molly from Coventry.

I feel like all excited but nervous at the same time.

I just want to have the confidence to do it and show that

I can be that person that stands up on the stage and sings by myself.

Let's get the first one in. Molly, come on in.

When Gareth first met Molly, she'd be so severely bullied she could barely look anyone in the eye.

# There is a castle on a cloud... #

Can she now show she's got what it takes for centre stage in front of millions?

# There are a hundred boys and girls

# Nobody shouts or talks too loud. #

Thank you, Molly, well done.

I think I've changed from my first audition.

I think I've got more confidence and I'm not the same person. I'm a different Molly.

I you could see nerves in her face but it was quite endearing.

-I feel something when Molly sings.

-Yeah, she channels it into a good place.

Draws you in, I think you're right.

I tried my best to impress them so hopefully it worked.

Next is Sasha.

Her extreme nerves used to see her shake uncontrollably when performing.

I'm Sasha and I'm singing Adele - Make You Feel My Love.

When Sasha last sang this song to Gareth she was

so scared she could hardly get past the first line.

# When the rain is blowing in your face... #

-WHISPERS:

-I can't do it.

Now is her last chance to show him

her confidence is as strong as her voice.

# I can hold you for a million years

# To make you feel my love

# I know you... #

Carry on.

'I was a bit shaky and I could hear it in my voice

'and if I can hear it then they can hear it.'

She did make a few mistakes.

She laughed it off and did keep going which is a great thing to do.

But I feel there's a lot of potential.

The question is will she realise it before Children In Need.

Is she going to be ready?

I did as well as I could and if that's not enough then it's not enough.

I'm just thinking what if I go wrong and make some mistakes

but I'm just going to give it my best shot and see what happens.

Joan's lack of belief in herself used to run

so deep she was petrified to sing in front of anyone.

I really want to song, and make people happy and stuff, but I don't know why I can't do it.

Singing her first audition song, Amazing Grace,

can she prove her new-found strength is here to stay?

# That saved a wretch like me... #

Scary!

There's the nervous Joan and then there's the strong confident Joan.

What I saw there was the strong confident Joan. I'm really happy about that.

I don't know, I feel like I've done a bad job.

Next is one of the most nervous of the group.

Until last week, Tia had found singing so petrifying,

just the thought of it made her cry.

I am feeling the pressure so much.

Tia has only just found her voice...

can she continues to impress?

# And you can tell everybody

# That this is your song

# It may be quite simple

# But now that it's done... #

Really well done, off you go.

WHISPERS: I'm so proud of her. That's a amazing.

That was so scary.

When I first met her, she was in floods of tears. She cried her way through the whole thing.

It's like a different girl, I'm really, really proud of her.

He managed to hold his own in front of 3,000 strangers at a folk festival,

but delivering in front of a panel of professionals is an entirely different challenge.

Especially for perfectionist James.

Getting this audition right means everything to me.

It may be one verse at Children In Need

but that one verse is like the world, I really want to get it.

He's feeling the pressure. Can he keep his cool?

# And she don't want to go outside

# It's too cold outside

# For angels to fly

# For angels to fly. #

I tried my best to hit the high notes and I think I hit them OK.

He probably had the hardest song. Lots of places to go wrong and I thought he did it with style.

Now Gareth needs to take the list of five names down to just two.

She's got the right voice.

I feel really sick inside and butterflies and really scared.

I think they were the most confident and maybe did slightly stronger vocals...

I could feel better. I think everyone could feel better at the moment.

I want the solo more than anything right now.

I really, really want it badly. I want it badly!

Ultimately this has to be about quality, this one.

-And for me that means it's those two.

-I'd agree, yeah.

Thank you so much, that's really made it a lot easier.

-Pleasure.

-It's a tough decision. Very difficult. Thank you, guys.

I'm going to tell them now.

Good luck, we're off.

Thank you very much.

Job done. Now comes the hard part.

Breaking the news to the group.

Right, I've made my decision. I've whittled it down to two finalists.

The first finalist is...

James.

WHOOPING

I am so happy. The feeling is out of this world, you cannot describe it.

The second and final finalist is...

..Joan.

Shaking like a leaf. Happy?

Yes? Really well done.

I really want this position to be the soloist. I'm just going to really prove myself.

I feel disappointed that I didn't get it but I'm so excited

cos James and Joan got it and I think they're going to rock the stage.

I was really disappointed but I have to support James

and Joan cos it is a solo.

Later on you are going to be leading the group in a performance

for a very special audience.

At the end of that I will decide which one of you is going to be The Big Performance soloist.

I was literally shaking, I'm still shaking right now - look at it.

I've just got to focus on he audience and think,

"They're the ones I've got to impress."

I've got to put on a show.

What they don't know yet is that the audience will be

a packed West End theatre full of their closest friends and family.

From ten hopeful soloists it's now down to two.

And at the next stop, James and Joan will be singing for the solo spot.

It's a big responsibility for me, it's a big responsibility for them.

For that soloist...

they're carrying the weight of all our hopes.

This isn't about being nice to someone and giving them a chance.

This is about choosing the right person for a very professional performance.

Joan and James are taking centre stage but the whole group must

pull off their most difficult performance yet.

Time for one last rehearsal.

Last time when they sang live on local news,

nerves affected them physically.

-Fidget, fidget, fidget the whole time. Are you listening?

-Yeah.

-Can you look at me?

What I'm seeing is that you're looking at all this stuff. None of this stuff matters.

OK. I'm recording.

To ensure this doesn't happen again. Gareth wants to show them their performance

through the audience's eyes.

OK, everyone come and sit down and let's just watch it back.

So just watch and see if you're IN the performance the whole time.

I can't watch.

# Keep holding on

# Cos you know we'll make it through We'll make it through

-# You're far away I wish you were here... #

-Oh, nice pick.

I was scratching it!

Eyes, eyes, eyes...dancing

THEY LAUGH

GARETH SINGS ALONG: Holding...holding

Right, there you go. What did you think?

-Rubbish and needs work.

-It's not 100%, is it? It's just all looks a bit random.

We just need to fix on one thing, don't we?

Seeing myself on tape was absolutely horrible.

Everyone else was smiling and dancing along.

I was forgetting moves and not singing properly.

It just really made me feel bad.

It looked so messy.

When Imogen was smiling you could see

-we all need to be like that cos it looks so much better already.

-I think we know what we need to do.

You know how to do it better. You did it better this morning.

I think seeing themselves on video has really helped cos they needed to know

that it just simply isn't good enough to stand there fidgeting.

I think now they know what they need to fix and they've just got to put it right.

Reality check over, will it help them impress their most familiar audience yet?

You are going to be performing for an audience of your closest friends and family.

THEY GROAN

I'm really dreading this performance cos I know the people

and I'll see them again and again.

Family is pretty daunting to me.

I feel like I'm going to fall over right now from all the pressure.

I'll start crying and stop it all. I really don't want that to happen.

Knowing that they're going to perform for a familiar audience,

I think that's making it very, very pressured and emotional.

And when you get emotional it's very hard to sing.

Their family and friends are taking their seats and are full of anticipation.

The pressure's on.

I can even see the lights and I can feel the nerves.

I'm feeling very great about Joan, to see her performing today.

This is a really, really important audience.

Don't let it intimidate you.

Turn on the performance I know you are capable of.

I want to see magic.

Outside I just don't feel like I'm showing it

but inside I feel like I'm about to blow up.

I am really nervous and I'm shaking but I'm trying to keep

the nerves in so that it turns out to be a good performance.

All the way through I've been trying to get the best performances

out of them when the audience are in, when it counts

and I really hope that's what I get from those two soloists.

It's their final performance before Children In Need.

Any mistakes at this stage could jeopardise months of hard work.

# You're not alone

# Together we stand

# I'll be by your side

# You know I'll take your hand

# When it gets cold

# And it feels like the end

# There's no place to go

# You know I won't give in

# No I won't give in

# Keep holding on

# Cos you know we'll make it through Make it through

# Just stay strong

# Cos you know I'm here for you

# I'm here for you

# There's nothing you can say

# There's nothing you can do

# There's no other way when it comes to the truth

# So keep holding on

# Keep holding on

# Keep holding on. #

BOTH: We did it. We did it!

'I'm very proud of myself right now.'

I can't believe I just did that!

I'm just really happy.

That energy, that meaning in the singing.

I know you can do it now so I'm looking for even more when we get there

but be VERY pleased with yourselves. That was a great performance.

Spirits are high but Gavin still has to decide who will sing the solo.

If Gareth read out my name and I was the soloist,

I think I'd probably cry.

'This has been one of the biggest things that's happened to me.'

If Gareth read out my name, it would mean the world to me.

I'm sure they're going to be absolutely in pieces when it comes to the night.

I need to know that it's someone who can handle that.

This is 11 million people we're talking about.

It's got to be musically right, look confident, sound great and I think I know who that is.

Who can Gareth rely on to lead the group in the final Big Performance?

Will it be James?

Or Joan?

The person singing solo live on Children In Need is...

James.

I felt happy, amazed, surprised.

'It was so close.'

I was that close so... I felt I gave it my 100%.

I just think he's going to rock the whole thing

and we are going to support him, all of us.

There is no denying it,

this is like a dream come true. It is THE Big Performance.

I think you could see in that performance today

all the bits of advice coming together.

They no longer look afraid of the stage.

They now have to consolidate all of that

and put it into the best performance of their lives.

The true enormity of what we're about to do hasn't yet hit them.

I'm worried for when it does because this is Big with capital B.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

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