0:00:02 > 0:00:06Lesley Garrett is one of Britain's most popular singers.
0:00:06 > 0:00:09She's sung major roles in opera, performed in musicals
0:00:09 > 0:00:11and starred in her own television series.
0:00:11 > 0:00:15Today, she tells me about her life and the importance of her faith
0:00:15 > 0:00:17and chooses her favourite Songs of Praise.
0:00:25 > 0:00:28Lesley grew up in a musical family here in Thorne, near Doncaster,
0:00:28 > 0:00:31and was drawn to the world of entertainment.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34"I just knew," she said, "that I had to sing." And she did.
0:00:34 > 0:00:37Here's a sample of her vocal talents.
0:00:37 > 0:00:45MUSIC: "O Soave Fanciulla" from La Boheme by Giacomo Puccini
0:00:45 > 0:00:53# He fills my heart with very special things
0:00:53 > 0:00:56# With angels' songs
0:00:56 > 0:01:00# With wild imaginings... #
0:01:00 > 0:01:04# Oh, how my heart will dance
0:01:04 > 0:01:08# When you caress me. #
0:01:13 > 0:01:16Welcome to St Edmund's Church in Leeds, where we have our
0:01:16 > 0:01:21musicians and congregation, and most important of all, our special guest.
0:01:21 > 0:01:23Ladies and gentlemen, Lesley Garrett.
0:01:33 > 0:01:35Lesley...
0:01:35 > 0:01:39- Lesley, I've got to say, you look absolutely stunning.- Aw, thank you.
0:01:39 > 0:01:43- Well, not so bad yourself.- Thank you very much! Especially on home turf?
0:01:43 > 0:01:47- Yes, it's lovely to be back in Yorkshire.- Well, listen, we can't wait to hear that voice.
0:01:47 > 0:01:49You're going to lead us in our first hymn. What is it?
0:01:49 > 0:01:53Well, it's a hymn that's about praising the Lord
0:01:53 > 0:01:57and experiencing the love of Christ through the medium of song,
0:01:57 > 0:01:59which is what we're all here to do.
0:01:59 > 0:02:02- So it's My Song Is Love Unknown. - Fantastic.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23Well, I tell you what, it's been a few years since we sang together.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26A couple? I think it was a chapel in Cardiff, was it?
0:04:26 > 0:04:30- It's always chapels or churches. - That's all right by me.
0:04:30 > 0:04:33When little Lesley was growing up, was there a lot of music in the family?
0:04:33 > 0:04:37Oh, are you kidding? We were the von Trapps of South Yorkshire!
0:04:37 > 0:04:40There was always music. It's all we had, really.
0:04:40 > 0:04:44We weren't a well-off family, it wasn't a well-off area. South Yorkshire. Coal industry.
0:04:44 > 0:04:48Most of my family were miners or welders or...
0:04:48 > 0:04:52My parents actually both worked for the railways.
0:04:52 > 0:04:56My dad was a signalman, my mum worked in the ticket office.
0:04:56 > 0:05:00But what we all had that bound us together and still does was music.
0:05:00 > 0:05:03Because when we didn't have a telly or a record player, we always had a piano.
0:05:03 > 0:05:08It was a fabulous childhood, actually. Full of music.
0:05:08 > 0:05:10- And both grandfathers were involved in music, weren't they?- Yes.
0:05:10 > 0:05:14When I say it was a fabulous childhood, we didn't have a lot.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17We didn't have a flush toilet, for instance.
0:05:17 > 0:05:22We had ash middens in the back garden. Yeah, it was that impoverished.
0:05:22 > 0:05:26But we just didn't know we were that impoverished.
0:05:26 > 0:05:28But my grandfathers were a huge influence.
0:05:28 > 0:05:33My Grandad Garrett, my dad's dad, had a dance band
0:05:33 > 0:05:39- called Arthur Garrett and the Blackout Boys.- Sounds great! - It was. He formed it in the war.
0:05:39 > 0:05:43It went on forever. But I think my mum's father, my Grandad Wall,
0:05:43 > 0:05:44was my bigger influence.
0:05:44 > 0:05:49He was too weak to go down the pits with his brothers,
0:05:49 > 0:05:52so he was "put to the piano", as we say in Yorkshire.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55And in the early part of the 20th century it was the second
0:05:55 > 0:05:59- most reliable form of earning a living after mining.- Right.
0:05:59 > 0:06:04- Can you imagine a world where music is that popular?- Amazing.
0:06:04 > 0:06:08And he learned to play the piano and played for silent movies
0:06:08 > 0:06:10and he was a terrific influence.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13Well, we're going to hear you sing again now, I'm delighted to say.
0:06:13 > 0:06:18And another hymn. Lesley's chosen that lovely Irish tune, Slane.
0:06:18 > 0:06:20It's Lord Of All Hopefulness.
0:08:46 > 0:08:50# It's not far... #
0:08:50 > 0:08:53Lesley's stayed close to her Yorkshire roots.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56And recently she joined with a brass band
0:08:56 > 0:09:00and two South Yorkshire choirs for a concert at Sheffield City Hall.
0:09:02 > 0:09:07It's an enormous responsibility, singing to a big audience, as I think we're going to have tonight.
0:09:07 > 0:09:11I think there's getting on for 2,000 people coming to the City Hall.
0:09:11 > 0:09:13And, when people come to a concert,
0:09:13 > 0:09:19they expect to be changed by what they hear.
0:09:19 > 0:09:20I think that's my job -
0:09:20 > 0:09:25to make people cry if they need to cry or laugh if they need to laugh.
0:09:25 > 0:09:27# Who can explain it?
0:09:27 > 0:09:31# Who can tell you why? Fools... #
0:09:31 > 0:09:34'For me, this kind of music making within the community is
0:09:34 > 0:09:38'the foundation stone of all the great musical traditions of this country.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41'This is where it starts, this is where I began.'
0:09:41 > 0:09:44# Some enchanted evening... #
0:09:44 > 0:09:46I've got a very special lady here tonight,
0:09:46 > 0:09:49Vivien Pike, who was my very first singing teacher
0:09:49 > 0:09:53when I was at school, 16, 17 and 18, and it was through her fantastic
0:09:53 > 0:09:57teaching that I got into the Royal Academy Of Music when I was 18.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02Of course, I'm incredibly nervous about her being here
0:10:02 > 0:10:06because it is probably 30 years since she taught me!
0:10:06 > 0:10:09And I don't want her to think I've deteriorated.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14I'm very excited about singing Climb Ev'ry Mountain,
0:10:14 > 0:10:17though it's a huge song. People misjudge it at their peril.
0:10:17 > 0:10:21It's a really difficult song to sing because it literally climbs a mountain.
0:10:21 > 0:10:23And you've got to save and save and save,
0:10:23 > 0:10:28so you've got plenty for the end when you're on the top of that pinnacle.
0:10:28 > 0:10:35# ..dream. #
0:13:19 > 0:13:22Let's take you back to the Royal Academy Of Music in London.
0:13:22 > 0:13:28- You're only 18. Were you out of your depth?- Oh, totally. Totally.
0:13:28 > 0:13:31Music and singing for me had always been a joyous hobby.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34And when I got to the Royal Academy, I found people who had been
0:13:34 > 0:13:38through choir school and had fantastic musical educations.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40But also, you know, coming from Yorkshire to London,
0:13:40 > 0:13:43- that must have been quite scary as well?- Oh, it was terrifying.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46I really didn't do very well to start with and my dear mum
0:13:46 > 0:13:48sent this letter, and I opened the letter,
0:13:48 > 0:13:51and a load of stones fell out on my feet.
0:13:51 > 0:13:54I though, "What's she doing, sending me rubble?"
0:13:54 > 0:13:56And I read the letter and it said...
0:13:56 > 0:14:01"I thought you might need some Yorkshire grit, so I've sent you some."
0:14:01 > 0:14:05And how did the rest of your family take to you wanting to go to London and be a professional singer?
0:14:05 > 0:14:09Oh, well, my grandad had quite an interesting take on it -
0:14:09 > 0:14:13Grandad Wall, who taught me to play the piano, who knew quite a lot of opera.
0:14:13 > 0:14:16When I told him I was going to the Royal Academy Of Music
0:14:16 > 0:14:19and I was going to become an opera singer, all being well,
0:14:19 > 0:14:24he said, "Eh, lass, that's grand. I'm that proud of you."
0:14:24 > 0:14:27He said, "I love opera.
0:14:27 > 0:14:28"Except for t'singing."
0:14:31 > 0:14:35So I had a bit of an uphill battle there, but I think I won!
0:14:35 > 0:14:39Tell me why you love Bless This House.
0:14:39 > 0:14:42Will, Bless This House is a song I've known since I was a child.
0:14:42 > 0:14:48And I used to think it was a lovely song about God blessing our house.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51And it meant such a lot to me for that reason.
0:14:51 > 0:14:53I felt just very safe in that knowledge.
0:14:53 > 0:14:55But since I've become older,
0:14:55 > 0:15:00I've realised that in actual fact we're talking about God's house.
0:15:00 > 0:15:02And that made it even more special.
0:15:02 > 0:15:05Well, I can't wait to hear it. Go and get yourself ready.
0:15:05 > 0:15:07Ladies and gentlemen, it's Lesley Garrett.
0:15:15 > 0:15:21# Bless this house, oh, Lord we pray
0:15:21 > 0:15:28# Make it safe by night and day
0:15:28 > 0:15:34# Bless these walls so firm and stout
0:15:34 > 0:15:41# Keeping want and trouble out
0:15:41 > 0:15:48# Bless the roof and chimneys tall
0:15:48 > 0:15:55# Let thy peace lie over all
0:15:57 > 0:16:03# Bless this door that it may prove
0:16:03 > 0:16:13# Ever open to joy and love
0:16:24 > 0:16:30# Bless these windows shining bright
0:16:30 > 0:16:38# Letting in God's heavenly light
0:16:38 > 0:16:45# Bless the hearth, a-blazing there
0:16:45 > 0:16:53# With smoke ascending like a prayer
0:16:54 > 0:17:01# Bless the people here within
0:17:01 > 0:17:10# Keep them safe and free from sin
0:17:11 > 0:17:18# Bless us all that we may be
0:17:18 > 0:17:26# Fit, oh Lord, to dwell with thee
0:17:26 > 0:17:35# Bless us all that we, one day
0:17:35 > 0:17:40# May dwell
0:17:40 > 0:17:46# Oh, Lord
0:17:46 > 0:17:59# With thee. #
0:18:06 > 0:18:08- OK, next, next. Hello.- Hello.
0:18:08 > 0:18:11Lesley made her television debut
0:18:11 > 0:18:14in the Bruce Forsyth Christmas Special back in 1989.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17And the following year sang at the Last Night Of The Proms.
0:18:20 > 0:18:22Since then, she's starred in her own series,
0:18:22 > 0:18:25Lesley Garrett Tonight and The Lesley Garrett Show.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28She's performed leading roles in numerous operas,
0:18:28 > 0:18:32sung duets with some of the biggest names in entertainment,
0:18:32 > 0:18:36starred in The Sound Of Music at the London Palladium
0:18:36 > 0:18:41and appeared in the first series of Strictly Come Dancing.
0:18:41 > 0:18:42She did a little better than me.
0:18:42 > 0:18:44She came third with her partner Anton du Beke.
0:18:47 > 0:18:51So, you made that move from opera to musical theatre as well.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54Some purists say, you know, true opera singers shouldn't that.
0:18:54 > 0:18:58I know, I got into bother for that with the purists, but, for me,
0:18:58 > 0:19:00good music is just good music,
0:19:00 > 0:19:04whether it's a hymn or an aria or a wonderful show tune
0:19:04 > 0:19:05or a piece of folk music.
0:19:05 > 0:19:08If it touches me, if it moves me...
0:19:08 > 0:19:12And how could The Sound Of Music not move all of us?
0:19:12 > 0:19:15And I had the wonderful honour of playing the Mother Abbess,
0:19:15 > 0:19:19and it was a fantastic spiritual experience
0:19:19 > 0:19:21every night, when I put the habit on.
0:19:21 > 0:19:27And people laughed about the idea of Lesley being a nun. It was fabulous.
0:19:27 > 0:19:29I just loved the simplicity of it,
0:19:29 > 0:19:32the peace that I felt when I put this habit on.
0:19:32 > 0:19:35It's a very special and very spiritual role.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41I think it's time for another hymn. Now, this is a great hymn.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44I think this hymn is really about
0:19:44 > 0:19:48anyone who gives service to the community,
0:19:48 > 0:19:52who loves their nation, loves this great country of ours.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55- It's I Vow To Thee, My Country. - And you're going to lead for us.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58If you want to make your way to the microphone. Let's all stand,
0:19:58 > 0:20:01ladies and gentlemen, and sing this inspirational hymn.
0:22:30 > 0:22:34This is a beautiful, peaceful spot. Is this where you feel at home?
0:22:34 > 0:22:37Oh, yes. This is very, very special to me.
0:22:37 > 0:22:40There's a tranquillity, a spirituality here
0:22:40 > 0:22:42that I don't find anywhere else.
0:22:42 > 0:22:47I think it's probably very special because of its history.
0:22:47 > 0:22:49St Andrew's, our church here in Epworth...
0:22:49 > 0:22:53because it's been at the heart of the community here for 800 years.
0:22:53 > 0:22:59It's where Samuel Wesley was the rector and his sons then, John and Charles, developed Methodism.
0:22:59 > 0:23:03And you know when you're there on a Sunday morning, do you find that
0:23:03 > 0:23:05everyone's listening out for Lesley Garrett's voice?
0:23:05 > 0:23:09Yeah, they do turn round a bit. "The noisy one's in!
0:23:09 > 0:23:13- "We might get a descant!"- They don't know how lucky they are!- Exactly!
0:23:13 > 0:23:17No, what I love about coming here is that I'm just an ordinary
0:23:17 > 0:23:19member of the community. And that's, of course, what I am.
0:23:19 > 0:23:21And nobody treats me as anything special.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24They're all ever so friendly and want to know what I'm up to,
0:23:24 > 0:23:26but I just can be myself.
0:23:26 > 0:23:30You know, I can pop to the shop with my curlers in and it doesn't matter.
0:23:30 > 0:23:32Surely not!
0:23:33 > 0:23:35Most of Lesley's family
0:23:35 > 0:23:38have continued to live in the area where she grew up.
0:23:38 > 0:23:41And she's a patron of a South Yorkshire-based charity
0:23:41 > 0:23:43that's very close to her heart.
0:23:43 > 0:23:45It's a very special charity.
0:23:45 > 0:23:50I got involved with them when my Auntie Joan developed dementia.
0:23:50 > 0:23:55And the purpose of Lost Chord is twofold.
0:23:55 > 0:23:57We employ young singers and musicians
0:23:57 > 0:24:00to come in to Alzheimer and dementia care homes
0:24:00 > 0:24:02such as the one we're in today...
0:24:02 > 0:24:04MUSIC: "In the Mood" by Glenn Miller
0:24:04 > 0:24:07..and perform for the residents.
0:24:10 > 0:24:13And then the second part is obviously what those patients
0:24:13 > 0:24:17derive from the music. And it is extraordinary
0:24:17 > 0:24:22when a person can't remember their own child's name,
0:24:22 > 0:24:27that you'll sing a song from their childhood or from years ago
0:24:27 > 0:24:31and they will immediately be transported back to that time
0:24:31 > 0:24:33and they will know every single word of that song.
0:24:33 > 0:24:36And they'll sing along with you and their faces will smile
0:24:36 > 0:24:39and be full of energy in a way that they normally never are.
0:24:39 > 0:24:45Music has this unbelievable effect on Alzheimer and dementia patients.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48And, of course, the musicians who are performing for them
0:24:48 > 0:24:53derive an enormous benefit from holding the attention of such an audience
0:24:53 > 0:24:58because you can be confident after you've done a gig like that that you can hold an audience anywhere.
0:24:58 > 0:25:02And also they derive enormous satisfaction from seeing the pleasure they give.
0:25:02 > 0:25:06So it's a fantastic charity and I'm very proud to be its patron.
0:25:06 > 0:25:10# But you'll look sweet upon the seat
0:25:10 > 0:25:14# Of a bicycle made for two. #
0:25:22 > 0:25:32# Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace
0:25:43 > 0:25:54# According to thy word
0:25:59 > 0:26:13# For mine eyes have seen thy salvation
0:26:18 > 0:26:31# Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people
0:26:34 > 0:26:46# To be a light to lighten the Gentiles
0:26:46 > 0:27:02# And to be the glory of thy people Israel
0:27:10 > 0:27:24# Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost
0:27:25 > 0:27:37# As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be
0:27:39 > 0:27:45# World without end
0:27:47 > 0:27:54# Amen. #
0:28:07 > 0:28:10- That piece means a lot to you, doesn't it?- Yes. Yes.
0:28:10 > 0:28:15It's a very special prayer. It means a great deal.
0:28:15 > 0:28:19- Last year, it's fair to say you had a very tough year personally.- Yes.
0:28:19 > 0:28:232013 was the hardest year of my life.
0:28:23 > 0:28:25I...
0:28:25 > 0:28:32lost both my parents and my oldest friend in a nine-month period.
0:28:32 > 0:28:34And...
0:28:34 > 0:28:39nothing like that's ever happened to me before. It was...
0:28:39 > 0:28:42It was really hard. Really hard.
0:28:42 > 0:28:46- Was your faith tested at all?- No.
0:28:46 > 0:28:49It was reinforced, I think.
0:28:49 > 0:28:52I don't know, I just sort of thought what my mum would say.
0:28:52 > 0:28:58She used to say to me, "When I go, it's because I've had my turn."
0:28:58 > 0:29:03And that was what it was, I suppose. They just had both had their turn.
0:29:03 > 0:29:05Where do you think they are?
0:29:08 > 0:29:11They're here. They're in my heart.
0:29:11 > 0:29:14They're with me every day.
0:29:14 > 0:29:16And they're with my children.
0:29:16 > 0:29:18When I look at them, when I look at my kids,
0:29:18 > 0:29:22I remember again what my mum used to say when I had my babies.
0:29:24 > 0:29:26She said...
0:29:26 > 0:29:30"Now I know I'm immortal.
0:29:30 > 0:29:34"Because they're going to go on and have children of their own.
0:29:34 > 0:29:37"And those children that you will see
0:29:37 > 0:29:41"will have a little piece of me inside them."
0:29:41 > 0:29:47And they'll have music inside them because she inspires me,
0:29:47 > 0:29:50and my father, because they both had wonderful voices
0:29:50 > 0:29:56and were completely committed to singing in the community.
0:29:56 > 0:30:01And...they're in every song I sing.
0:30:01 > 0:30:03And they always will be.
0:30:03 > 0:30:06They had music inside them.
0:30:06 > 0:30:09And thanks to you we've had wonderful music inside us as well.
0:30:09 > 0:30:13Thank you so much for just being you.
0:30:13 > 0:30:15Ladies and gentlemen, Lesley Garrett.
0:30:22 > 0:30:25Well, unfortunately, we've come to our final hymn.
0:30:25 > 0:30:29Don't worry, it's still your choice. What would you like to lead us in?
0:30:29 > 0:30:34Well, I wanted us to finish today with a hymn that I've known all my life
0:30:34 > 0:30:37that my mum cherished, and we had it at her funeral.
0:30:37 > 0:30:40Even though it's a hymn about the end of life,
0:30:40 > 0:30:45for me it's a hymn that's full of great joy and great love and great optimism.
0:30:45 > 0:30:48- It's The Day Though Gavest Lord Is Ended.- Oh, lovely.
0:30:48 > 0:30:51My huge thanks to Lesley for her company.
0:30:51 > 0:30:54Let's all stand, shall we, and sing our final wonderful hymn.
0:30:54 > 0:30:56From all of us here in Leeds, goodbye.
0:33:30 > 0:33:33Do join me next week as I look forward to the Football World Cup.
0:33:33 > 0:33:37Meet the footballer whose career-threatening injury
0:33:37 > 0:33:38was miraculously healed.
0:33:38 > 0:33:41Plus a Catholic Mass with a Brazilian flavour
0:33:41 > 0:33:44and favourite hymns from around the country.