Episode 1 Pitch Battle

30 of the country's best vocal harmony groups

are preparing for battle.

Different-sized groups with different musical styles,

but united in their love of singing together.

The feeling that you get when you're singing with the group

is absolutely amazing.

So much joy, so much passion.

# Oh-uh-oh, uh-oh, oh-oh... #

Tonight, six groups will compete in a series of

sing-or-be-sung-off vocal challenges

and leading them into battle is Deke Sharon,

the musical genius behind the Pitch Perfect movies.

# Sing it with me

# Sing it for the years

# Sing for the... #

Now, that's what we call a riff off!

# Yeah! #

But who will be music to the ears of our judges?

R&B legend Kelis...

You were so solid. You've nailed it.

..and the nation's favourite choirmaster, Gareth Malone.

It's not until you sit in this chair that you realise how hard it is.

Joining them are our superstar guest judges.

You guys are so warm and so beautiful.

And that's what singing in a choir should be.

This is absolute vocal joy.

SINGING CLIMACTIC NOTE

Prepare for high emotion...

If you see someone giving more, you've got to give them more.

..euphoria...

Yes, yes!

We just love, like, singing together

and these are some of my best friends in the world.

..and perfect harmonies.

This is about ordinary people getting up and singing.

Get off my desk!

HITS VERY HIGH NOTE

Oh, my God!

Ladies and gentlemen, prepare for an outbreak of vocal warfare.

CHEERING

Mic drop.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

# Sing it loud

# Boy, you've got to see what tomorrow brings... #

# Shout, shout

# Let it all out

# These are the things I can do without

# So, come on... #

# Sing it for the boys

# Sing it for the girls

# Every time that you lose it, sing it for the world

# These are the things I can do without

# So come on, come o-on! (I'm talking to you. Come on!)

# Sing it for me, sing it for the years

# Sing it for the laughs, and sing it for the tears... #

# We're gonna scream and shout and let it all out

# Scream and shout and let it out... #

# Sing it with me, sing it... #

# Ooh-ee-oh-ee-oh-ee-oh... #

# Ooh-ee-oh... #

# Oh-uh-oh, uh-oh, uh-oh

# Sing! Oh-uh-oh, uh-oh, uh-oh...

# Come on, baby, now

# Come on, baby

# Twist and shout

# Twist and shout, oh!

# Sing! Oh-uh-oh, uh-oh, uh-oh

# Sing! Oh-uh-oh, uh-oh, uh-oh

# Ah, ah, ah, ah...

# Sing it with me, sing for the years

# Sing it for the laughs, and sing it for the tears

# Sing it with me, sing for the years

# Sing it for the laughs, and sing it for the tears

# Sing it with me, sing for the years

# Sing it for the laughs, and sing it for the tears

# Sing it with me, sing for the years

# Sing it for the laughs, and sing it for the tears

# Sing it with me...

# Uh-oh, oh, oh-oh!

# These are the things I could do without

# Uh-ooh, ooh

# Oh-oh!

# I'm talking to you

# Come on! #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

CHEERING

Thank you so much to all of tonight's six amazing vocal groups!

CHEERING

And to the pitch-perfect Deke Sharon,

our series musical director, for that brilliant opening.

-Very sharp.

-Thank you, Mel. Thank you so much!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

You've been working closely with all of our groups.

What delights have they got in store for us this evening?

We've got from barbershop to gospel.

From university a cappella to a group of friends

who travel over 1,000 miles just to get together and rehearse.

From a show choir to a group of gorgeous voices gathered around a piano.

I guarantee tonight you and everyone IN here is going

to fall in love.

ALL: Oh!

WHISTLING

Tonight, six of Britain's best vocal groups and choirs will engage

in some choral combat and battle it out over a series

of sing-or-be-sung-off vocal challenges.

Only one group will make it through to the live final where they'll

be in with a chance of taking home the amazing £50,000 cash prize...

-AUDIENCE:

-Ooh!

..and being one step closer to being crowned champions

of Pitch Battle 2017!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Deciding their fate are our musical trio of judges.

She's a Grammy-nominated former choirgirl.

You might be able to trick her once, but certainly never twice.

It's the amazing Kelis.

I am from Harlem, New York,

and I grew up singing in a Pentecostal church choir.

Later on, I started in the Girls Choir Of Harlem and it was

a lot more technical.

-# I hate you so much right now...

-#

I've always been the kind of artist that never wanted to be boxed in,

and I never wanted anyone to tell me what it was I had to do.

I want to see these groups step out a little bit

so you can take something that's been done before and make it

into something brand-new.

There's really nothing else like it.

# My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard... #

Please welcome the extraordinary, the fantastic, Kelis!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Wherever there is discord, he brings harmony

Wherever there is silence, he brings song. It can only be Gareth Malone.

# And we danced all night to the best song ever... #

'It's been my mission for the last ten years

'to get more people into choirs.

'To get to the point where this number of vocal groups

'are singing on prime-time BBC television,'

it's really an amazing moment for me.

'This is about finding vocal groups'

that can fill your living room with joy.

'I feel like I'm going to have to be on my mettle with Kelis around.

'She's quite feisty. I hope she doesn't throw things at me.'

Like a milkshake!

# Milkshake brings all the boys... #

Yeah!

Gareth Malone!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Hallelujah!

Each week they'll be joined by a different superstar guest judge.

Tonight, he's got two Brit Awards, four UK number one singles,

four number one albums and has sold eight million records.

He's not leaving right now because he's here. It's Will Young!

# I'm gonna take this moment... #

I was a head chorister at school

and I've sung in a barbershop quartet.

I did learn a lot of my craft by being in a choir.

To be able to harmonise with other people,

you have to be able to be in tune.

To be able to listen to such a variety of singers

in a group that are wonderful and passionate and joyful,

I'm really excited about whether they rise to the challenge

of live performance or whether they don't.

# I think I'd better leave right now... #

I think I'm going to be a kind judge.

Help them rather than just cut them down.

#... Better leave right now. #

It's this week's superstar guest judge, Will Young.

# Ooh, ha-aa! #

The band! A great band.

Ladies and gentlemen, our judges! Our judges.

CHEERING

-Will, I've got to say, I'm obsessed with your outfit tonight.

-Thank you.

-On top, we've got sort of geisha.

-Yes.

-And on the bottom, Quaker!

-Yes, Quaker, culottes, sort of...

-How geisha?

-A golfer.

I was wrapped up in this shirt. It took about ten minutes.

I can't breathe, but I think it looks good.

You look fantastic. It's so nice to have you here on Pitch Battle.

Now, Gareth, what do our groups tonight need to do to impress you?

It's got to be entertaining, but it also has to be accurate, exciting.

We want everything. We're greedy.

Oh, greedy! Are you feeling greedy tonight, Kelis?

I AM feeling greedy tonight.

I'm excited because we have so many different groups here.

We've got, like, gospel and pop and barbershop.

Yes!

CHEERING

-That must be them.

-Hi, ladies.

OK, let this clash of choirs commence.

Our first two groups are about to go head-to-head.

First, they'll perform their showstopper,

the song that they feel really showcases what they're all about

before going into battle in a no holds barred riff-off.

-AUDIENCE:

-Whoo!

Our judges will then decide which group packed

the biggest vocal punches and go through to tonight's solo battles.

So, without further ado, let's meet tonight's first two groups.

From Liverpool, it's the LMA Choir.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

And from Birmingham, The Uptone Girls.

We are the LMA Choir,

a group of 23 all-singing, all- dancing, Scousers from Liverpool!

CHEERING

Everyone absolutely loves being in the choir.

We have our musical theatre teacher, Stephanie,

and two very special people to thank for bringing us together.

My friend, Carl, asked me to do something for his wife

on their tenth wedding anniversary.

I gathered as many LMA students as I could to put together

a surprise flash mob.

# When I see your face... #

The video went viral overnight.

It was retweeted by Lil Wayne, Ashton Kutcher.

We had over 2 million views.

For at least a week, maybe, we all felt like little celebrities.

LAUGHTER

Our flash mob was meant to be a one-off but because it was

so much of the success, we decided to carry on.

The LMA choir.

Ricky Tomlinson is one of our biggest supporters

and he's actually our patron.

Their showstopper is going to be unbelievable, unmatched!

We've decided to have Stephanie up on the balcony.

We want to sing it to her.

It's emotional because they'll be graduating soon

and everything they've achieved, really, is just...amazing.

I feel like this is the last opportunity we're going to get

to show her how much she means to us.

We are The Uptone Girls.

We're a group of eight friends and

we all met at university in Birmingham.

Traditional a cappella tends to be quite dominated by males

but we're all female, here to shake it up.

We're pushing the boundaries of what it is to be a girl group.

I think I'm going to go like shiny neon. Glitter, sequins.

More is more!

Being in an all-female a cappella group is hard because you don't

usually get the big bass-y sounds.

Luckily, we have a good base, here.

This is the first time we've had proper choreography.

Being an a cappella group, it's hard enough

to stand there and sing, but if we don't push ourselves,

then we can't get on that stage and say we've done everything we can.

We're going to bring some girl power.

First, and hoping to impress our judges with their moving

tribute to their teacher, Steph, singing Just The Way You Are,

it's the LMA Choir.

# Her eyes, her eyes make the stars look like they're not shining

# Her hair, her hair falls perfectly without her trying

# She's so beautiful

-# And I tell her every day

-Heh-heh-heh

# When I see your face

# There's not a thing that I would change

# Cos you're amazing

# Just the way you are

# And when you smile

# The whole world stops and stares for a while

# Cos girl you're amazing

# Just the way you are

# The way you are

# The way you are

# Cos girl you're amazing

# Just the way you are

-# And when you smile

-When you smile

# The whole world stops and stares for a while

# Cos girl you're amazing

# Just the way you are. #

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

What a cracking opener.

But before we hear from our judges, here is their competition.

Singing their showstopper, a dance track medley,

it's our university a cappella group, The Uptone Girls.

# Hell down, heaven down Livin' in the same town

# Tryin' a find something new

# This ain't real this ain't cool

# This ain't what I signed up to

# This ain't right it's no good

# No good

# Everything is changing

# And I've been here for too long

# Got to move on

# Say I, I can't do this any more

# If everything is changing

# And I know, yeah

-# I gotta let go

-Ooh oh oh

# Ooh oh oh Ready for the

# Ooh oh oh oh

# Even though the dancing's done

# Don't worry cos the night is young

# Who cares where we go

# We're ready for the afterglow

# Someone hold the sunlight back

# Smoke and lasers love and ravers

# Afterglow, we're ready for the afterglow

# I've been waiting all night for you to tell me what you want

# Tell me, tell me that you need me

# I've been waiting all night for you to

# Tell me that you need me

# Tell me what you want me

# Tell me that you need me

# Tell me what you want me

# Ready for the. #

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

Now, Steph, that was a heck of a great performance.

It was an amazing performance.

It's emotional because I'm so proud of them. They are amazing.

I think there might be somebody in the audience, here,

who's a keen supporter of LMA.

Is that Ricky Tomlinson, there?

Hello, Ricky. Oh, Ricky.

What did you think of LMA, Ricky?

I love them. They're wonderful.

They are wonderful. They're amazing.

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

Now, this is an incredible array of sequin-age, of bling.

Are you basically going to give The Saturdays, Girls Aloud,

-Spice Girls, a little bit of a run for their money?

-Definitely.

We've never, ever danced before this and we love it and we want to

wear sequins all the time now!

They did very good on the old dancing, didn't they? Amazing!

Gareth, two extremely strong groups to kick us off, there.

Yeah, well done.

If I start with LMA, I thought your sense of tone was really good.

You had a good sense of style, used your vibrato well.

What I'd really like to see when you go into the riff-off is

a greater commitment to the text.

I felt like just towards the end, I wasn't seeing 100% commitment

and we've got to have that in the riff-off.

Now, The Uptone Girls, Gareth.

You tried to pull off something very difficult.

Three songs for the price of one.

It worked very well because often the criticism of female-only

-a cappella is that you don't have the low basses.

-Erm, Catherine did.

I'm so sorry to step in here but what you heard is

a technique that a cappella groups are now using.

It involves a lip buzz. So their base is buzzing her lip.

Oh, was that a lip drill? Oh, in that case, well done.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Altogether, everybody.

THEY LIP BUZZ

That feels good!

Kelis, we've got quite a big group, here, compared to

a relatively smaller group. Is that going to give issues?

I think sometimes it makes an issue.

There's a lot of energy, obviously, when there's more people.

My notes really would be, going into the riff-off, I would say

just breathe and kind of like take your time, lay back a little bit.

And The Uptone Girls?

For The Uptones, there's moments when I wanted you guys to pull back

so we could really hear whoever was singing the solo,

and it's kind of all one level, but all in all,

I think you guys did something really interesting

and I'm excited to see what you've got for the riff-off.

APPLAUSE

Will, my love.

Have you got any advice or thoughts for both groups before they

-go into this riff-off?

-LMA, I would just remember you're a group.

Really enjoy each other because I think that's what's

the essence of you guys, and I want to just feel that even more.

And Uptone Girls, Kelis, I completely agree with you.

I think, just, think about dynamics.

If you had gone down in that middle section,

then the solo would've popped out more

and breathing will really help you, from your diaphragm,

but my gosh, you really did a wonderful performance

and I really applaud both of you

and I'm very excited to hear you sing again.

APPLAUSE

Only one of these groups will go through to the solo battles later tonight.

The other is about to be knocked out.

Deciding their fate is the themed riff-off.

-AUDIENCE:

-Oooh!

It is time to reveal the theme.

MUSIC PLAYS

Nice, very nice.

Say HALO to a truly heavenly theme.

Give me the high-five, otherwise I'm going to be hanging.

There we go, Lucy. There's a couple of songs... Good girl.

Very late, but it doesn't matter.

Remember, only one group will go through to the solo battles.

Good luck to every single person on this stage. Good luck.

Singing songs on the theme of angels,

it's the LMA Choir versus The Uptone Girls.

# Heaven must be missing an angel

# Missing one angel child is what he will be right now

# Oh

# Love is heavenly

# Heavenly to me

# Baby

# Oh, heaven, heaven

# Must be missing an angel. #

# I walked into an empty room

# Suddenly my heart goes boom boom boom boom boom

# There's an orchestra of angels

# Playing with your heart, yeah

# Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da

# Must be talking to an angel Must be talking to an angel

-# Must be talking to an angel

-Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da

# Must be talking to an angel Must be talking to an angel. #

# In the arms of the angels

# Fly away from here

# You're in the arms of the angels

# May you find some comfort here

# Everywhere looking out

# I'm surrounded by your embrace

# Baby I can see your halo

# You know you're my saving grace

# See your halo

# Halo I can see your halo

# Halo

# Halo, halo

# Halo, halo, ooh. #

APPLAUSE

# Pretty little, pretty little, pretty little angel

# Ooh

# Pretty little, little, little angel eyes

# Angel eyes you know I love you so

# Angel eyes I'll never let you go

-# Because I love you

-Because I love you

# My darling angel eyes

# Oh angel eyes

# Pretty little angel, pretty little angel, pretty little angel eyes

# Hey. #

# When I'm lying in my bed

# Thoughts running through my head

# And I feel that love is dead

# I'm loving angels instead

# And through it all she offers me protection

# A lot of love and affection

# When I come to call

# She won't forsake me

# No, no, no, no

# I'm loving angels instead. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

I love that.

Reminded me so much of the original riff-off in the movie,

Pitch Perfect, where we had a female a cappella group on one side

and a bunch of other university students back and forth. Fantastic.

We had disco angels, we had doo-wop angels,

we had Beyonce angels, Robbie Williams angels.

I just don't know, Mel, which group has the guardian angel

looking over them right now.

Thanks very much, Deke. Now, Steph, how was that?

I felt like we put our heart and souls into that performance

and we really listened to our critique

and I feel like we nailed it. We nailed it.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Well, girls, some big talk from over there.

They think they nailed it.

Uptone Girls, anything to respond to that?

We're a smaller group and maybe not as tight on the choreography,

but I think with the support of the band, we nailed it too.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

I'm liking this, I'm liking this.

Kelis, that was quite a riff-off, I think you'll agree.

-Who impressed you?

-Connor, in the back, you started off.

What a voice. Amazing. I loved watching you guys come together.

I think the riff-off was really strong.

For The Uptone Girls, Emma, your tone is gorgeous.

It's like an angel, it was literally rolling out of you. I love that.

I think individually you guys are really strong.

I think maybe as a group you need to congeal a little bit more.

Congeal to me sounds a little unpleasant.

LAUGHTER

-I don't know why.

-In this situation, it would be ideal.

Now, Gareth, who smashed it out the park for you?

I thought both groups had really great moments.

Particularly enjoyed the Showaddywaddy.

I felt like you came into your own there and that really came alive.

Everything from the low basses to the backing bits and then this

huge energy out front with your solo, Joe,

I thought that was really, really exciting.

Very well done on that. But...

APPLAUSE

..I actually did think that Uptone Girls congealed pretty well.

I thought it was nicely, nicely congealed.

Slotted in well with the band, you had some really good moments.

And I thought Emma's solo at the end, you just had a nice,

quiet confidence during the end

so I thought, some good ensemble moments there from you. Well done.

Thank you very much indeed.

-Will, was it congealed enough for you?

-Yes.

I love both of you.

I thought you were so great and, actually,

it was interesting to hear you do different things.

LMA, what I loved about what you guys did, not just the arranging

and the harmonies, which were really clever, and the dynamics,

was your acting and you didn't go into musical theatre because

you're not doing musical theatre,

you're here as a choir and I thought that balance was perfectly struck.

APPLAUSE

Uptone Girls, I have to say you remind me of En Vogue, actually.

Nice!

I'm really excited by you guys because I think you've got something.

Will thinks you've got something, girls.

Now, only one group can go through to tonight's solo battles.

Will, which group would you like to go through to these

solo battles tonight?

Well, the great thing is that I've enjoyed some wonderful

performances, so I thank you both for that.

The choir I'd like to go through is...

..LMA.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Gareth.

Well, taking nothing away from either group,

both very strong in parts,

and I'm a little bit frightened about saying this

because there's a lot of LMA supporters down here

but I'm going with Uptone Girls.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

OK, Kelis, the decision lies with you.

Which group, Kelis, would you like to see

go through to the solo battles?

Kind of reiterating what Gareth said before.

I do think there were moments on both where I wanted to see other

things and I agree with Will, I really think there's

something really special about you girls.

But, for me, I just think that LMA was...

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

It means it is goodbye to the Uptone Girls.

They've been amazing, haven't they?

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

LMA Choir, we're going to see you later on in the solo battles

but the big question is, who is going to be joining you there?

So, let's meet our next two choral contenders

ready to go head-to-head on Pitch Battle.

It's the Leeds Contemporary Singers...

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

And it's Vocally Bespoke.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

We're the Leeds Contemporary Singers.

We're nine musicians based in Yorkshire.

Everyone in this group is insanely talented.

-I play acoustic guitar.

-I've been playing the saxophone for about

-seven-odd years.

-Emilia plays the bloomin' harp, so that's cool!

What's great is we take all of these musical tastes and things together

to create an eclectic mix that you won't get anywhere else.

I'd say our sound is very edgy, really cool, unusually amazing.

THEY LAUGH

This is definitely the biggest thing we've ever done.

We're ready for battle. Pitch Battle.

# Sing! #

-We are...

-All: Vocally Bespoke!

We come from as far north as Derby

and as far south as Southampton.

We have to meet in this sort of halfway point.

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone.

Because of our love of singing,

we cover more miles than anyone else in the competition.

We car-share to make it more fun.

Morning!

Have you gone the wrong way?

It often turns into a bit of a car-share karaoke.

# Turn it up, it's your favourite song

# Dance, dance, dance to the distortion

# Turn it up, keep it on repeat... #

We have to meet to rehearse at a barn in Bedfordshire.

I think that the car shares have become really close.

It's a good chance to practise on the road, obviously,

but also people have formed stronger bonds.

I have to say, coming to the rehearsals with these guys,

I've definitely got very good friends looking out for me.

Here's to our journey on Pitch Battle. Cheers, everyone!

CHEERING

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Up first with their showstopper,

it's our vocal group, the Leeds Contemporary Singers.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

# These four lonely walls have changed the way I feel

# The way I feel

# I'm standing still

# If I lose myself, I lose it all

# I've outrun the fears that chased

# They're standing still

# I've outrun the fears, they're standing still

# Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

# Every voice that cries inside my head, forever drives

# Forever drives

# I've killed the lights, oh

# If I lose myself, I lose it all

# Please don't bury us, I got you

# I got you

# I've got, I've got you

# Runnin', runnin', runnin', runnin'

# Runnin', runnin', runnin'

# Ain't runnin' from myself no more

# I'm ready to face it all

# If I lose myself, I lose it all

# If I, if I

# If I lose myself, I lose it all. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Oof! That's how they did it in Leeds.

V-dot-strong work there from the West Yorkshire Massive.

Now time to hear from the competition.

Performing their showstopper Hold Back The River,

it's Vocally Bespoke!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

# Tried to keep you close to me

# But life got in between

# Tried to square not being there

# But think that I should've been

# Should have been

# Hold back the river, let me look in your eyes

# Hold back the river so I

# Can stop for a minute and see where you hide

# Hold back the river, hold back

# Oh-oh-oh

-# Lonely water

-Lonely water

# Lonely water

# Won't you let us wander

# Let us wander

# Let us hold each other

# Hold back the river, let me look in your eyes

# Hold back

-# Hold back the river so I

-# Hold back

# Can stop for a minute and see where you hide

# Where you hide

# Hold back the river, hold back

# Tried to square not being there

# But think that I should have been. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Oh! Guys!

Now, Nathan, I want to talk to you about singing, pitch, music,

everything, your experience - but I'm just going to talk about

your beard. Let's just discuss the beard.

Can I just say, does the... Ooh! That's lovely!

Is it like Sampson, does it give you the sort of vocal strength?

-If I were to shave it off would your strength go?

-It's everything and the

reason why it's there is cos beards are awesome.

Your beard certainly is.

Very, very good work, though. Did you feel that went well?

I think it really did.

We've put a lot of time and effort into getting that sound coming

together but it's really, really crazy difficult up against that mob.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Craig, you're going beardless but I'm loving your Gareth Malone look!

LAUGHTER

-Very, very cool.

-Thank you very much, Mel.

Kelis, two unforgettable performances. What do you reckon?

I'm going to start with Leeds.

Technically, I think it's gorgeous.

It is so warm and really intricate.

I think my one note for you would be - energy.

You've got all the technique, I just... Like, pull me in.

I want you to grab us.

So for the Riff-Off I think that would be my focus.

And then Vocally Bespoke, focus on your blend.

Just listen to each other, hear each other. Your energy, for me,

was what got me. I think you guys

feel so good and the fact you're travelling for miles upon miles

to see each other, I love that.

APPLAUSE

Now, Will, they held back the river but please don't hold back

your river of thoughts.

-Did you like that, Will?

-I love you.

Leeds, I think you look like the Fleetwood Mac of vocal

-harmony groups.

-Nice!

-I have to say, I really loved your performance.

I believe you guys. You are what I love about a vocal harmony group.

When Kelis was talking about energy, energy for me doesn't have to be

loud, it can be an internal thing, you know?

You guys, you travel all this way to meet. That's what music is about.

It brings people together, it crosses borders, it crosses

everywhere and I can feel that in your performance,

you're friends and there's something really special about you guys.

-Now, Gareth.

-Yes. If I start with Leeds -

that's a great sound and it was quite thrilling at the beginning.

It took immense bravery to come out here when all of the other groups

are doing their big showstopper!

And you did something quiet and simple. That's really hard.

So I commend you for that.

But it's not all about bells and whistles but you're on

a big stage here, I need you to up the energy in the Riff-Off.

So if I can talk about Vocally Bespoke.

It felt like you'd taken me to a festival. It was really good.

Well done.

But I need to some fine work in the harmonies,

that's what I'm looking for in the Riff-Off, please - finesse.

One group is about to be knocked out of the competition.

The other will face the choir in tonight's Solo Battles.

Deciding their fate is the oh, so dramatic...Riff-Off.

APPLAUSE

Theme machine, theme machine on the wall,

who is the fairest...

Sorry, wrong rhyme. I mean, just reveal the theme. Reveal the theme.

-AUDIENCE:

-Oooh...!

APPLAUSE

Wow. Wow.

Now, yeah, apologies, Sorry. I'm so sorry.

Sorry, that's the actual theme, the theme is Sorry. Listen, good luck.

I'm so sorry. Sorry.

APPLAUSE

In tonight's second Riff-Off it's Vocally Bespoke versus the

Leeds Contemporary Singers!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

# Oooh, ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh

# Oooh, ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh

# Do-do-doot-doot-do-doot-doot

# Is it too late now to say sorry?

# Cos I'm missing more than just your body

# Whoa-oh-oh-oh

# Is it too late now to say sorry?

# Yeah, I know that I let you down

# Is it too late to say I'm sorry now? #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

# It's too late to apologise

# I'm sorry

# It's too late

# Got me ten feet off the ground

-# It's too late to apologise

-I'm sorry

# It's too late

# But I just can't make a sound

# It's too late to apologise

# Yeah

# I said it's too late to apologise

# Yeah

# Yeah-yeah. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

# Hold me now

# It's hard for me to say I'm sorry

# After all that we've been through

# I will make it up to you

# I promise to

# And after all that's been said and done

# You're just a part of me

# I can't let go. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

# So sad

# So sad

# It's a sad, sad situation

# It's getting more and more absurd

# Ooh-ooh-ooh

-# So sad

-Sad

# So sad

# Why can't we talk it over?

# Why can't we talk it over?

# It seems to me

# Sorry seems to be the hardest word

# Sorry. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

# And I shoulda known better

# To lie to one as beautiful as you

# But I thought you'd understand

-# Can you forgive me?

-I'm sorry

# I-I-I-I-I

# Shoulda known better

# I-I-I-I-I

# Shoulda known better. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

# Hello from the other side

# The other side

# I must have called a thousand times

# Called a thousand times

# To tell you

# I'm sorry

# For breaking your heart

# But it don't matter

# I'm sorry

# Does it tear you apart?

# Does it tear you apart?

# I'm sorry

# Sorry. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

That RiffOff was deep. Both groups are incredibly musical.

They set aside their instruments and then they wove together rich

tapestries of harmony, two- and three-voice groupings,

moving lines. That was an expert-level Riff-Off that happened.

All I know is both groups have nothing to be sorry about.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Yes, we salute you at all times.

There was some real ruddy attitude in that Riff-Off.

It was great, I felt the crackle, the buzz between the two groups.

Ian, how was it in the land of Riff-Offery for you?

Ooh, it was a lot more fun than it's ever been.

-These guys really brought it.

-They did, didn't they?

You were giving it some of this, there was a bit of shoulder,

that dandruff manoeuvre that people do these days.

We tried to give it energy, we tried to give it drive and we tried

to give it the attitude that I think the judges were looking for

-and I hope we achieved that.

-Very good.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Do either of the groups have anything to apologise for?

Nothing to be sorry about. If I start with you, Vocally Bespoke.

I loved the little do-do-doot-doot-do-doot-doot

in the Bieber, that was great. Very nice.

But without question, my favourite moment, Chris, your Chicago solo.

I liked that very much, it's very good.

And turning to Leeds Contemporary Singers, I asked for more

energy and you really gave it to me.

Just one or two moments, watch the bass, little bit wayward at times,

but it just felt musical to me. I thought it was very musical.

-I think so.

-And that's the highest compliment!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE Thank you, Gareth.

-Will, it wasn't a sorry state of affairs, was it?

-No, it wasn't.

Vocally Bespoke, I feel like you're the choir that's on the streets.

Do you know what I mean?

It's not fully polished - and I actually mean that as a compliment.

I think that is what is really special about you guys.

CHEERING

Leeds, when you first sang, literally, my hairs stood on end.

Your harmonies are just killing me. They're just so beautiful.

You guys are all amazing. Wow.

-Well done.

-Now, Kelis, were they evenly matched?

They were. It was literally like, song for song, I was just like,

"Ugh, I don't know!" Yeah, it was really, really, really strong.

Only one of these groups will go through to tonight's Solo Battles.

Gareth, can you tell us which group

you'd like to send through to the Solo Battles and why?

Because of what I thought was an absolutely fantastic tone and

a great arrange of vocal colours, I'm going to go with...

Leeds Contemporary Singers.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Kelis, please tell us who you think deserves to go through to the

Solo Battles.

It was really hard but for me, definitely technique-wise,

you guys are stellar and I want to see more, so...Leeds.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Will, who would you have chosen?

-I would have chosen Leeds as well.

-OK.

Bespokes, there's a lot of love in this room for all of you.

Keep doing what you're doing.

Guys, there is only one place left in the Solo Battles.

Let's meet our final two groups ready for combat.

From Surrey, it's Vocal Dimension Chorus.

CHEERING

And from London, it's A Flame.

CHEERING

-We are...

-ALL: Vocal Dimension!

# Here come the girls... #

We're an a cappella barbershop chorus.

People think that barbershop is just men in strawboaters and waistcoats

but actually women sing barbershop

as well and we're going to take Pitch Battle by storm.

People might think, bunch of ladies in Surrey, that all we do is go

out and have lunch or do the garden but this is quite a different group.

-I'm a female handyman.

-I have a black belt in karate.

Last year we competed in Las Vegas at the

International Women's Barbershop Competition

and we came second in the world.

ALL: # Viva Las Vegas! #

Our showstopper is about strong women

so we're ready to go to battle.

ALL: Yes!

ALL: We're A Flame.

We are a gospel group from a church in East London.

Bishop Wayne Malcolm approached me and said,

"Why don't you put a group together?" And here we are.

I feel like everyone has a personal reason for being in the group.

For me, it is the feeling of family and togetherness.

I really love performing with these guys.

We've got to know each other really closely.

We're like brothers and sisters now.

# 24-carat

# 24-carat magic... #

THEY LAUGH

This is going to be our biggest performance ever.

This is real, it's a competition,

but we're not afraid of any of the other groups.

We're going to bring our A game.

Or even our A Flame!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Up first with their showstopper Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This,

doing it for the girls, it's Vocal Dimension Chorus.

# Boom-boom-boom-boom-boom-boom bara, bara

# Boom-boom-boom-boom-boom-boom, bara, bara

# Sweet dreams are made of this

# Who am I to disagree?

# I travel the world and the seven seas

# Everybody's looking for something

# Some of them want to use you

# Some of them want to get used by you

# Some of them want to abuse you

# Some of them want to be abused

# Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh

# Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh

# Sweet dreams are made of this

# Who am I to disagree?

# I travel the world and the seven seas

# Everybody's looking for something

-# Hold your head up

-Movin' on

-# Keep your head up

-Movin' on

-# Hold your head up

-Movin' on

-# Keep your head up

-Movin' on

-# Hold your head up

-Movin' on

-# Keep your head up

-Movin' on

-# Hold your head up

-Movin' on

# Keep your head up

# Oh, sweet dreams are made of this

# Who am I to disagree?

# I travel the world and the seven seas

# Everybody's looking for something. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Yeah, that was nice.

Well done, ladies. But your competition are raring to go, too.

Performing their showstopper Unconditionally,

it's our contemporary gospel group, A Flame!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

# Oh, no, did I get too close, oh?

# Did I almost see

# What's really on the inside?

# All your insecurities

# All the dirty laundry

# Never made me blink one time

# Unconditional

# Unconditionally

# I will love you

# Unconditionally

# Open up your heart and just let it begin

# Open up your heart and just let it begin

# Open up your heart and just let it begin

# Open up your heart

# Unconditional

# Unconditionally

# I will love you

# Unconditionally

# There is no fear now

# Let go and just be free

# I will love you

# Unconditionally. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Wowsers.

Now, we saw from the little film earlier that if the going gets

a little bit tough, all they need to do is unleash you because

you've got a black belt in karate!

Is that really true?

Yes, it is true, yes.

Are you sort of in charge?

I am in charge.

LAUGHTER

CHEERING

Cover me. I'm actually slightly scared now.

Now, you're used to performing in church

so how was Saturday night telly for you?

It's been absolutely...amazing!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

No, seriously, all we have done is sung in church,

so to be on the big stage in front of

so many people is an absolute fantastic opportunity for us.

Gareth, as we head off into Riff-Off Land,

who are you going to be keeping a close eye on?

I know Valerie's going to be keeping a close eye on you.

I don't think she can leap from there even with a black belt.

I'm safe behind the desk!

I just want to celebrate all of that.

I thought it was really terrific.

I loved when you came out, I know that you're taking a

well-established style and bringing it into a slightly more poppy arena.

Working with the band is not usual for barbershop groups and I

thought you did that well. Just go for it a bit more.

Let's have a little bit more fun from you, please.

And I thought A Flame...

If I'm honest, I just smelt a tiny bit of fear from some of you

and I don't think you need to be afraid at all.

You really deserve to be on that stage cos it's a great sound.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Now, Kelis, two very, very different groups.

I mean, ladies, Vocal Dimension, you guys are fun and I feel like

with these black gowns it was ominous.

It was intense, I loved that.

So I definitely thought it was really fun to watch.

I do want to see you kind of let your hair down

a bit and sort of get into it on the Riff-Off.

A Flame, I think you guys... I agree with Gareth,

there's no reason to be timid or trepidatious at all, just go for it.

You definitely have fantastic harmonies,

you have a beautiful blend. What a great tone, it's gorgeous,

I think you are fantastic...

APPLAUSE

This is going to be a cracker of a Riff-Off.

I'm sensing it in my very bones.

One group is about to be knocked out of tonight's contest.

The other will join the choir and Leeds Contemporary Singers in

the Solo Battles.

The only thing standing in their way is the Riff-Off.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Let's reveal the theme!

-AUDIENCE:

-Oooh...!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Well, well.

Love Yourself.

Prepare those pouts, time to fall in love with yourselves in this bit.

Best of luck to everybody on stage. Go for it.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

In tonight's final Riff-Off, singing songs on the theme of Love Yourself,

it's Vocal Dimension Chorus versus A Flame!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

# I am the one and only

# Oh!

# You try to make me forget

# Who I really am

# Don't tell me I know best

# I'm not the same as all the rest

# I am the one and only

# Nobody I'd rather be

# I am the one and only

# Can't take that away from me. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

# My mama don't like you and she likes everyone

# And I never liked to admit that I was wrong

# I've been so caught up in my job

# Didn't see what's going on

# And now I know

# I'm better sleeping on my own

# Cos if you like the way you look that much

# Oh, baby, you should go and love yourself

# And if you think that I'm still holdin' on to somethin'

# You should go and love yourself. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

# There's nothing wrong with loving who you are, she said

# Cos he made you perfect, babe

# Yeah, yeah, yeah

# I'm beautiful in my way

# Cos God makes no mistakes

# I'm on the right track, baby, I was born this way

# Don't hide yourself in regret

# Just love yourself and you're set

-# I'm on the right track, baby

-Right track

# I was born this way

# I was born this wa-ay

# I was born this wa-ay

# I'm on the right track, baby, I was born this wa-ay

# I was born this wa-ay

# I was born this wa-ay

# I'm on the right track, baby, I was born this wa-ay. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

# I am beautiful

# No matter what they say

# Words can't bring me down

# Oh, no

# I am beautiful

# In every single way

# Words can't bring me down

# Oh, no

# So don't you bring me down today. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

# I'm too sexy for this love

# Too sexy for this love, love's going to leave you

# Bum-bum-bum-bum

# I'm a model, you know what I mean

# And I do a little turn on the catwalk

# Yeah, on the catwalk

# Yeah, on the catwalk, yeah

# I shake my little tush on the catwalk

# Bum-bum-bum-bum

# I'm too sexy for this song. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Oh, yes!

# Don't need anybody else

# Can't help myself,

# No, I don't need anybody else

-# Anybody

-Hey

# Can't help myself

# No, I don't need anybody else

# Anytime

# I love me

# Can't help myself

# No, I don't need anybody else

# Anybody else

# Can't help myself

# No, I don't anybody else

# Anybody Hey

# Can't help myself, no, I don't need anybody else

# Any time, day or night

# I love me. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

That was a good performance.

That was really fun, it was so cute.

All three judges are up on their feet for a good reason.

So much love, so much diva,

so much fun, so much passion,

so much energy there.

Vocal Dimension on this side,

they came in hard with Lady Gaga and then they countered with

I'm Too Sexy with the mic drop,

which was probably one of the greatest moments of my life.

And then on the other side we had A Flame tearing it up.

They came out with Christina Aguilera, Beautiful,

Justin Bieber, and then my friend Hailee Steinfeld from Pitch Perfect.

Bottom line, I'm just... I'm feeling so much love.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Did you see the mic drop?

Um...

Leslie! Was that you?

LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE

WHISPERED: They're expensive, the microphones. Yeah.

You're a bit gangster, aren't you, yeah?

Now, did Leslie's mic drop take you by surprise there, Festus?

I saw Leslie coming out, I wasn't sure quite what to expect.

But when the mic dropped I was quite relieved that

that's actually what happened, so, yeah.

Oh, that was the most enjoyable Riff Off.

Honestly, guys, thank you so much.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

-But now, Will...

-Oh, my golly.

I mean, honestly, the mic drop was just, I think, one of the best

moments I've ever seen in my life.

That's what music should be and that's what singing

in a choir should be.

You've taken on such a challenge and you really rose to it.

Valerie, is that anything moistening in your eye?

Oh!

This is what we're all about.

You know, this is about people getting up and singing.

Just ordinary people, you know, doing this.

I'm going now, Valerie!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

A Flame, I am a huge fan of your harmonies and

I'm a huge fan of what you're doing and your blend.

Two such different acts, wow.

You could only get it on this show. Well done, both of you.

Thank you, Will.

Now, Kelis, we heard Born This Way, but which group were born your way?

I mean, yeah, like Will said, they were so different, but,

ladies, honestly, you guys are so much fun.

I just feel like you're a great group of ladies I just want

to hang out with. I loved, loved, loved that. You guys were fantastic.

The energy was exactly where I wanted it.

It is really what a choir's about, for sure.

And, I mean, A Flame, it's really nice to see solo singers be able

to blend like that - no-one's fighting to get that, like, moment.

Festus, I love how you kind of like let them do what they're doing

and sort of...

Cos it's really warm and it kind of feels not just like there's

a guy in the group but... It's like, these are your ladies

and I love it, it feels fantastic.

-Gareth.

-Yes.

-I mean...

-That was great.

It just seemed quite joyous, it wasn't embarrassing.

-I thought you really...

-It was fun, it was genuine fun.

It was fun and you...

I wanted to get up there with you, it was really lovely.

A Flame, I thought you had rhythmic interest,

you had tone and you had intention.

That's what singing is for me, so I can't say much more than that.

It was great.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

There is only one spot left in the next round,

so who is going to take it?

Gareth, which group would you like to see going forward

into the Solo Battles?

I... I would like to take you both but I can't,

I have to make a decision.

This is a show about performance but it's also

a show about musical excellence for me and I thought that...

..A Flame, you had it for me.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

-Kelis?

-Oh, this is stressful.

Uh...

-We need an answer, my love.

-Um, OK, uh...

I have to go with A Flame.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

We do have a winner on our hands but, Will,

who would you have gone for?

I would have gone for A Flame, but I would like to say that

you really moved me, Vocal Dimension Chorus, and thank you so much.

I feel like I've learnt something today, thank you.

APPLAUSE

We have absolutely loved you from the bottoms of all of our hearts.

Thank you so, so much for coming and entertaining us.

Leslie with the mic drop, Valerie with the karate, all the ladies.

You did yourselves so proud.

The groups through to the solo battle are...

LMA Choir...

I loved watching you guys come together.

I think the Riff Off was really strong.

..Leeds Contemporary Singers...

My hair stood on end.

And I just turned up the notch and we went for it.

..and A Flame.

You had rhythmic interest and you had intention.

-We really brought our A game, didn't we?

-We did.

We started with six but now we're down to three

and things are about to get even tougher.

The fate of each group now lies on the shoulders of just one singer

who must take centre stage for their Solo Battle.

Once all three have performed, the judges will decide

which two groups go through to tonight's Final Battle.

Oh, I can smell his cologne.

-Deke. Hello, Deke Sharon.

-Hello, Mel.

Now, you are, of course, our series musical director

-and the genius behind the Pitch Perfect movies.

-Thank you.

Now, that was extraordinary scenes on the Pitch Battle floor tonight.

-My heart's still beating, right?

-I know!

-I know, I know!

Now, Deke, what advice, what pearls of Deke wisdom

are you going to give to these three groups now battling in the solos?

Well, I've given all of my wisdom to them already.

-I think they're ready, but I am a little concerned for our judges.

-Oh.

Fasten your seat belts, judges, because the next three songs

you're about to hear, you better have your medication ready.

You better be careful. Breathe deep, because it's coming hard and fast.

LAUGHTER

Thank you very, very much.

We've had good fun just DEKE-ing about here on the balcony.

Now, it is time for the Solo Battles.

CHEERING

Up first in the Solo Battles, it's the LMA Choir,

whose chosen soloist has a lot of support in Liverpool and,

as we already know, also has a loyal royal fan base.

Conor will be performing our solo. He's definitely our secret weapon.

THEY CHEER

Singing is everything to me.

I'm singing from the moment that I open my eyes

to the minute that I shut them.

I've actually been performing and gigging around the city

since the age of 16. I'm always gigging in the evenings.

I'm constantly trying to better myself

and work on myself as an artist.

Having the experience that I've gained gigging every weekend,

I want to take everything that I've learnt and I want to put it

-into this performance this evening.

-Young Conor is very, very talented.

I know it, LMA know it and soon the nation will know it.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

# I never meant to cause you any sorrow

# I never meant to cause you any pain

# Pain

# I only wanted one time to see you laughing

# I only wanted to see you laughing in the purple rain

# And, honey, I know times are changing

# Changing

# It's time to reach out to something new

# Something new

# And I need you too, yeah

# Ooh

# You say you want a leader

# Can't seem to make up your mind

# I think you better close it, yeah

# And let me guide you to the purple rain

# Purple rain, purple rain

# Purple rain, purple rain

# Oh, yeah

-# Purple rain, purple rain

-In the purple rain

# I only want to see you laughing in the purple rain. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

-That was amazing.

-Oh, wow.

It's George Michael, the second coming.

Whoo! Standing ovation there from the judges.

But up next it's Leeds Contemporary Singers,

so let's find out who's leading them in the Solo Battles.

For our solo battle, we're taking an absolute Whitney Houston classic,

so to cover this song we'll need a diva of our own.

It's Becky.

I started playing the keyboard around nine,

but I desperately wanted to do singing, so I started singing

to my parents and they can vouch for me that I was rubbish,

really bad. So they just were like,

"You need to get lessons if you really want to do this."

That's what I did, practised for years and years and years.

They can now say that I am sort of good.

Just in awe of her when she's actually singing.

Does catch me with a lump in the throat.

It sort of hits me right where it hurts, in a sense.

This opportunity means so much.

Things like this don't come very often.

I'm just going to grab it by the horns and take it.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

# Clock strikes upon the hour

# And the sun begins to fade

# Ooh-ah, ooh-oh

# I've done all right up till now

# It's the light of day that shows me how

# When the night falls

# My lonely heart calls

# Oh, I wanna dance with somebody

# With somebody

-# I wanna feel the heat

-With somebody

# Yeah, I wanna dance with somebody

# With somebody

# With somebody who loves me

-# Somebody

-Who

-# Somebody

-Who

# To hold me in his arms, oh

# I need a man who takes a chance

# On a love that burns hot enough to last

# When the night falls

# My loneliness calls

-# Oh, it calls

-Oh, it calls

# Don't you wanna dance?

# Say you wanna dance

-# Don't you wanna dance?

-With somebody

# With somebody who loves me. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

What about the standard?

The standard!

Our final group are A Flame, who are hoping that their soloist's

previous success in competitions will give them the edge.

The person singing our solo is...

Boma.