0:00:03 > 0:00:04Choir master Gareth Malone
0:00:04 > 0:00:08believes singing can change the toughest of lives.
0:00:08 > 0:00:10I know that music can bring people together,
0:00:10 > 0:00:13under really extraordinary circumstances.
0:00:13 > 0:00:18In February 2011, he became choir master at a military base in Devon.
0:00:18 > 0:00:21His mission was to create a choir from the hundreds of women
0:00:21 > 0:00:22that live on the base.
0:00:22 > 0:00:25I'm here to lift your spirits, hopefully, pick you up,
0:00:25 > 0:00:28and bring your voices together.
0:00:28 > 0:00:31Gareth took his choir from obscurity...
0:00:31 > 0:00:33I want to run away, I just want to run away.
0:00:33 > 0:00:36..right to the heart of the nation's tribute to the troops.
0:00:36 > 0:00:38This is it!
0:00:38 > 0:00:41My God!
0:00:41 > 0:00:44But this proved to be just the start of things to come...
0:00:44 > 0:00:46I was convinced that that was it, that was the end,
0:00:46 > 0:00:49actually, that turned out to be the beginning.
0:00:49 > 0:00:51..as the nation took the Military Wives Choir
0:00:51 > 0:00:55- to their hearts... - Please welcome Gareth Malone...
0:00:55 > 0:00:57..and the Military Wives.
0:00:57 > 0:01:00We sit there on a Saturday night watching these programmes,
0:01:00 > 0:01:02we never ever thought in our wildest dreams we'd be on them.
0:01:02 > 0:01:05Your Christmas number one is Military Wives.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08..and took them to places they could never have imagined.
0:01:08 > 0:01:09Follow me.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12It's just like any minute now, I'm going to wake up
0:01:12 > 0:01:15and be back to normal, having my normal life again.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18In the space of 12 months, we've done things that most people
0:01:18 > 0:01:20would never do in their lifetime.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23Long may they continue to sing.
0:01:23 > 0:01:27There are now 75 military wives choirs across the country
0:01:27 > 0:01:28and even abroad.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31He gave us a voice in more ways than one.
0:01:31 > 0:01:35This was Gareth's dream and it came true,
0:01:35 > 0:01:39and not many people can say dreams have come true in their life.
0:01:45 > 0:01:49Last year, Gareth Malone started a choir for military wives
0:01:49 > 0:01:53at the Royal Marine Barracks in Chivenor, North Devon.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58Today, two of its members, Katherine and Nicky,
0:01:58 > 0:02:02are in Salisbury to support a new military wives choir.
0:02:02 > 0:02:04I'm excited.
0:02:04 > 0:02:06I am, look at the moon, the Christmas tree.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12Inspired by the experience at Chivenor,
0:02:12 > 0:02:16the Salisbury Plain choir started in January.
0:02:16 > 0:02:18They're ready to go.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21This evening, 30 of its members will be performing
0:02:21 > 0:02:24at the opening of the Christmas market.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29There are so many of you. There's loads.
0:02:31 > 0:02:37We've never actually listened to a choir sing. We've always been there.
0:02:37 > 0:02:41This is really nice. You're singing In The Bleak Midwinter?
0:02:41 > 0:02:46Oh, I've got the chills. I have seriously got the chills.
0:02:47 > 0:02:51# Our God, heaven cannot hold him
0:02:51 > 0:02:57# Nor earth sustain
0:02:57 > 0:03:03# Heaven and earth shall flee away
0:03:03 > 0:03:08# When he comes to reign
0:03:08 > 0:03:13# In the bleak midwinter
0:03:13 > 0:03:18# A stable place sufficed
0:03:18 > 0:03:24# The Lord God Almighty
0:03:24 > 0:03:31# Give my heart. #
0:03:38 > 0:03:43That was beautiful. Absolutely. Oh, God, I'm starting again.
0:03:46 > 0:03:50This is all your fault, Mr Malone.
0:03:50 > 0:03:52Started a revolution.
0:03:54 > 0:03:55The story all began
0:03:55 > 0:04:01when Gareth first went to Chivenor to set up a choir in February 2011.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03I know nothing about the military.
0:04:03 > 0:04:05I've never spent time on a military base,
0:04:05 > 0:04:08I know very little about military life.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11I don't know what to expect.
0:04:13 > 0:04:18For the following eight months, Gareth's mission was to become the base's choir master.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22- Your name is?- Gareth Malone.
0:04:23 > 0:04:27I think this is the most intimidating place I've ever been to in my life.
0:04:27 > 0:04:29- Do you get used to it?- You do, yes.
0:04:29 > 0:04:31Coming to a military base for the first time,
0:04:31 > 0:04:34I might as well have gone to the moon, it was so alien,
0:04:34 > 0:04:36it was incredibly intimidating.
0:04:36 > 0:04:40The base at Chivenor trains nearly 1,200 men from the Royal Marines,
0:04:40 > 0:04:42Army and RAF.
0:04:42 > 0:04:46In three weeks, these men were to be deployed to Afghanistan,
0:04:46 > 0:04:51leaving behind more than 120 women and their children.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54Family Day at the base is a chance for families to get
0:04:54 > 0:04:56together before deployment.
0:04:56 > 0:05:00It seemed a good place to start recruiting for Gareth's new choir.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09Good afternoon, everyone, my name is Gareth Malone.
0:05:09 > 0:05:14We met Gareth that day and we thought, who is this guy?
0:05:14 > 0:05:18I want to invite anyone to come and join a choir.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21Who is this 12-year-old that is coming to teach us to sing?
0:05:21 > 0:05:24You don't need to be a brilliant singer.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27I'm around, come and speak to me if you're at all interested,
0:05:27 > 0:05:29if you've ever, ever thought about singing.
0:05:29 > 0:05:33If you sing in the shower, it is about bringing everyone together.
0:05:36 > 0:05:38Tumbleweed!
0:05:38 > 0:05:42Obviously, we're used to military men that are quite strong
0:05:42 > 0:05:47and powerful, and big and assertive and Gareth wasn't any of those.
0:05:47 > 0:05:51- I'm starting a choir. - Good luck with that one.- Thanks.
0:05:52 > 0:05:56- Have you heard that I'm here to start a choir?- Yes.- Word travels fast.
0:05:56 > 0:06:02- Are you interested?- Yes.- Good. Hello.- George. Nicola.- Hello, Nicola.
0:06:02 > 0:06:08- Do you sing?- Do I sing?- What does she sing?- Everything.- Everything?
0:06:08 > 0:06:11I personally thought, yeah, he will have his work cut out,
0:06:11 > 0:06:16these are women that haven't got time to do this,
0:06:16 > 0:06:18we've just been told, "get on with it."
0:06:22 > 0:06:26Keen to spread the word about the choir's first rehearsal,
0:06:26 > 0:06:32Gareth hit the patch, the married quarters made up of 280 houses.
0:06:32 > 0:06:35The geography of the place, it's so insular, it made me realise
0:06:35 > 0:06:37how much these women are on top of each other
0:06:37 > 0:06:39and cut off from the rest of society.
0:06:39 > 0:06:41Hello.
0:06:42 > 0:06:47- Stacey.- Hi, Stacey. Hello. - I'm Samantha.- I'm Gareth.
0:06:47 > 0:06:48Local choir master. Hello.
0:06:48 > 0:06:53So, what is there to do for you while your husbands are away?
0:06:53 > 0:06:55Nothing whatsoever.
0:06:55 > 0:07:00Just counting the long days? I'm starting a choir.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03- My dream is to be able to sing. - Your dream?
0:07:03 > 0:07:07- I'm going to make that dream come true.- Thank you.- I hope. He said.
0:07:07 > 0:07:13- I used to be in a choir.- Oh, great. When?- When I was 12 to 17.
0:07:13 > 0:07:18- Nice to meet you. Can I hear your voice?- No.- That's mean, isn't it?
0:07:21 > 0:07:24After months of training and preparation,
0:07:24 > 0:07:28around 600 men said goodbye to their families,
0:07:28 > 0:07:31to begin their six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan.
0:07:40 > 0:07:44It was the fifth time Nicky Scott's husband George had been deployed.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49We've done it before but it's always different.
0:07:49 > 0:07:54All the feelings, because the children are older
0:07:54 > 0:07:58and they know what's going on. You have to get on with it.
0:07:58 > 0:08:04We've chosen this lifestyle and that is how it is.
0:08:08 > 0:08:14- My stomach is churning. How many hours have I got?- Three.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17- Three hours to go. - Three hours to go.
0:08:19 > 0:08:23Major Williams.
0:08:23 > 0:08:25Corporal Thompson.
0:08:27 > 0:08:34The build up to going is just horrendous, to be honest with you.
0:08:34 > 0:08:37When the men first deployed, it was such a strange atmosphere,
0:08:37 > 0:08:41it was bleak, yet at the same time, they were ready to go.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43There was a sense of relief.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46You can tell families were absolutely being torn apart by this,
0:08:46 > 0:08:51it was an atmosphere like I've never felt anywhere else.
0:08:51 > 0:08:54When he says goodbye to me, is that going to be his last goodbye?
0:08:54 > 0:08:56Oh, sorry.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09Having spent time drumming up interest, the day arrived
0:09:09 > 0:09:13for the first rehearsal of Gareth's military wives choir.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18Their base was the chapel on the edge of the barracks.
0:09:21 > 0:09:23It was so sensitive, their husbands had just gone.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26I wondered if it was going to be the right time to start a choir.
0:09:26 > 0:09:30I thought it could help, but I didn't know yet whether people
0:09:30 > 0:09:32would be prepared to start getting up and singing.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35Somehow it didn't seem right.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38I'm just going to guess you're here for the choir
0:09:38 > 0:09:42and not going to the military base. You are here for the choir?
0:09:42 > 0:09:44Brilliant.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47- Thanks for coming. Who is this? - This is Jack.- Hi, Jack.
0:09:47 > 0:09:50- Hello.- Hi. - I take it you are here for the choir?
0:09:50 > 0:09:52Go on in.
0:09:52 > 0:09:54Hello.
0:09:54 > 0:09:56Hello.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59Really good to see so many of you here.
0:09:59 > 0:10:01I'm just going to do a headcount.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04Gareth's first rehearsal attracted wives from across the ranks,
0:10:04 > 0:10:08from Private soldiers, right up to the Commanding Officer's wife.
0:10:08 > 0:10:1340! That feels really good, 41!
0:10:13 > 0:10:15Hello, brilliant.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18I am here to lift your spirits hopefully, pick you up
0:10:18 > 0:10:25and most important thing, to bring your voices together to be heard.
0:10:25 > 0:10:26The first song we're going to sing,
0:10:26 > 0:10:32is Guns N' Roses, well known classic, Sweet Child O' Mine.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35I was very keen not to come in with some dreadful tear jerker,
0:10:35 > 0:10:38or a big piece of choral music.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41I wanted to do something that was fun, upbeat and that they would know.
0:10:41 > 0:10:45He won people over that day with that song. He really did.
0:10:45 > 0:10:48Singing that came at the right time,
0:10:48 > 0:10:50cos everyone was very low.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53I'm assuming you just know it, so give it a go.
0:10:53 > 0:10:59# She's got a smile that seems to me remind me of childhood memories
0:10:59 > 0:11:05# When everything was as fresh as the bright blue sky... #
0:11:05 > 0:11:09Stop. If we can do that together, then we will have a choir.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12When I came here, I thought I was going to meet tough birds
0:11:12 > 0:11:14who were going to show me what's what, and actually,
0:11:14 > 0:11:17I found just a group of really timid women whose husbands
0:11:17 > 0:11:21had just gone away and who were really emotionally vulnerable.
0:11:21 > 0:11:26That really took me by surprise, and you could hear it in their singing, it was so tentative.
0:11:26 > 0:11:28That was quite stressful, didn't enjoy that.
0:11:28 > 0:11:30I'm all flustered and I need a drink.
0:11:34 > 0:11:36With the women lacking confidence,
0:11:36 > 0:11:40Gareth wanted to speak to some of them individually.
0:11:40 > 0:11:42Hello, Sam. How are you?
0:11:42 > 0:11:46One of them was Sam Stevenson, who had sung in choirs before.
0:11:46 > 0:11:51I thought it would be nice to have a little listen to you singing.
0:11:51 > 0:11:55- How does that sound? Like fun? - No. Come on. Let's give it a go.
0:11:56 > 0:12:01# The moment I wake up before I put on...#
0:12:01 > 0:12:03Sorry.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06That first session with Sam in her house was painful.
0:12:06 > 0:12:09She must have said sorry about 150 times
0:12:09 > 0:12:11and it went on and on and on.
0:12:11 > 0:12:13Oh, I'm sorry.
0:12:13 > 0:12:17I've never seen anyone be so timid about singing,
0:12:17 > 0:12:19who has that much talent.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22Sorry, sorry, sorry for saying sorry!
0:12:22 > 0:12:28Obviously, back then, my confidence was zilch, there was nothing there.
0:12:28 > 0:12:31We're going to the park.
0:12:31 > 0:12:34Sam's husband, John, is in the Royal Engineers,
0:12:34 > 0:12:38and at 27, he'd just started his first tour of duty to Afghanistan.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40It's a mixture of emotions.
0:12:40 > 0:12:44You feel guilt, cos you think I've forced you into the army
0:12:44 > 0:12:48to give us a better life, then you're angry that they're going.
0:12:48 > 0:12:50Everything feels so tense.
0:12:50 > 0:12:52With her husband deployed,
0:12:52 > 0:12:56Sam was left in charge of looking after their two young children.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59Brody has Autistic Spectrum Disorder.
0:12:59 > 0:13:01He's not developed at his age,
0:13:01 > 0:13:06he's seven but more at a four-year-old level.
0:13:06 > 0:13:09Life can be difficult because Brody's behaviour can be really
0:13:09 > 0:13:15challenging at times, but we wouldn't change it, though.
0:13:15 > 0:13:17I'm really up for the choir,
0:13:17 > 0:13:21I love singing and I think my husband will have a bit more
0:13:21 > 0:13:24peace of mind that I'm going to be occupied and kept busy.
0:13:24 > 0:13:26I think if you're kept busy,
0:13:26 > 0:13:29hopefully the time will go quicker, as well.
0:13:29 > 0:13:30Yeah, I'm really looking forward to it.
0:13:39 > 0:13:43Over the next month, the choir met for rehearsals
0:13:43 > 0:13:45three times a week.
0:13:45 > 0:13:48That's not really selling it to me.
0:13:48 > 0:13:52I want the eyes up. I always say to people, "Sing before you're singing."
0:13:53 > 0:13:57She's got a smile. Let's have the introduction.
0:13:57 > 0:14:01You've got to look alive and if you're not singing at the beginning,
0:14:01 > 0:14:03you've got to look like you might.
0:14:03 > 0:14:07You're like this. What's going to happen? Who's going to sing?
0:14:07 > 0:14:08You are.
0:14:08 > 0:14:12# She's got a smile and it seems to me reminds me of childhood...#
0:14:12 > 0:14:15Once they started to come on, they started to stand up and rely on each other.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18They were getting to know each other and that was wonderful.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21It made me think, they need to do a performance,
0:14:21 > 0:14:24they need to get out there because that is how you learn.
0:14:24 > 0:14:29As the choir progressed, Gareth began to think of an audience to perform to.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32Five minutes away is the busy market town of Barnstaple.
0:14:32 > 0:14:34Excuse me, could I ask you a quick question?
0:14:34 > 0:14:38Do you know anything about RMB Chivenor?
0:14:38 > 0:14:43- It's down there.- Perfect.- Do you know anything else?- No.- No, nothing?
0:14:43 > 0:14:46It was just astonishing nobody knew anything about them,
0:14:46 > 0:14:48and nobody knew anything about them nationally.
0:14:48 > 0:14:50We just didn't talk about them.
0:14:50 > 0:14:54It really felt correct to take them out of the patch where they live,
0:14:54 > 0:14:57take them to the local town and show them off.
0:14:57 > 0:15:02You are going to perform at the Pannier market.
0:15:04 > 0:15:06Yes!
0:15:06 > 0:15:08It will be absolutely awesome, won't it?
0:15:08 > 0:15:10ALL: Yes.
0:15:10 > 0:15:12Now here's the rub.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15It's in two weeks.
0:15:15 > 0:15:16Who'd like to have a go at the solo?
0:15:18 > 0:15:19No?
0:15:19 > 0:15:23Sam? No?
0:15:23 > 0:15:25- Definitely not?- Nope.
0:15:25 > 0:15:30I was just so scared of criticism, rejection and
0:15:30 > 0:15:35I just wouldn't have been able to do it at all.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38# When the rain is blowing in your face
0:15:40 > 0:15:46# And the whole world is on your case. #
0:15:46 > 0:15:47Emma!
0:15:47 > 0:15:51- # I could offer you a warm embrace.- #
0:15:53 > 0:15:55Nicky!
0:15:55 > 0:16:01# And the whole world is on your case
0:16:01 > 0:16:03# I could offer you... #
0:16:03 > 0:16:06'What I love about Nicky is there's real strength there,
0:16:06 > 0:16:08'she's been in the military, she's fierce,
0:16:08 > 0:16:11'yet there's an incredible softness and tenderness when she sings'
0:16:11 > 0:16:15that is so beguiling - beautiful singer.
0:16:15 > 0:16:17I'd like you to do the solo.
0:16:17 > 0:16:19Oh, my goodness.
0:16:19 > 0:16:21When I knew I was going to do it,
0:16:21 > 0:16:27it rekindled a confidence in me that I didn't think I still had.
0:16:29 > 0:16:31With days to go until the Barnstaple performance,
0:16:31 > 0:16:34the women took every opportunity to rehearse.
0:16:34 > 0:16:38The thing I like most is the camaraderie between all the women.
0:16:38 > 0:16:42We feel like sisters, now, just helping each other out.
0:16:42 > 0:16:47We're so keen to do it that we will really try our best.
0:16:47 > 0:16:51We are standing together as a group of girls going, "I'll be there for
0:16:51 > 0:16:55"you and you'll be there for me and we'll all get through this together."
0:16:57 > 0:17:01Nobody had any idea that there would be something like 600
0:17:01 > 0:17:04people in the Pannier Market and when I arrived that morning,
0:17:04 > 0:17:08I was absolutely horrified by the scale of it, I just imagined
0:17:08 > 0:17:1350 people and we were swamped, there were so many people there.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16# Ooooooh #
0:17:16 > 0:17:18# Ooooooh #
0:17:26 > 0:17:32# When the rain is falling in your face
0:17:32 > 0:17:40# And the whole world is on your case
0:17:40 > 0:17:44# I would offer you a warm embrace
0:17:46 > 0:17:51# To make you feel my love
0:17:53 > 0:17:58# When the evening shadows and the stars appear
0:17:59 > 0:18:05# And there's no-one there to dry your tears
0:18:05 > 0:18:10# I could hold you for a million years
0:18:12 > 0:18:15# To make you feel my love... #
0:18:17 > 0:18:21It takes such guts to show your emotion in public
0:18:21 > 0:18:22and that's what Nicky did,
0:18:22 > 0:18:26that's what Nicky did in front of those people in Barnstaple.
0:18:26 > 0:18:29She made you feel what it was to be a military wife,
0:18:29 > 0:18:31and that's a difficult thing to do.
0:18:31 > 0:18:37# The winds of change are blowing wild and free
0:18:37 > 0:18:41# You ain't seen nothing like me yet
0:18:41 > 0:18:44# You ain't seen nothing like me yet. #
0:18:44 > 0:18:50That day was like, "Look at us, we're a team!" And it stuck,
0:18:50 > 0:18:52you know, it really did stick.
0:18:58 > 0:19:03I was stunned that the local people wanted to come out and see the Military Wives from Chivenor.
0:19:03 > 0:19:09- # To make you feel my love.- #
0:19:12 > 0:19:15It wasn't just that people said, "Well done, you sang well,"
0:19:15 > 0:19:18it was that people connected with who these women were and that they
0:19:18 > 0:19:21applauded their efforts and that they were supporting them.
0:19:21 > 0:19:25That was the first hint that we had that people would really love this.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31With the first performance of the Chivenor Choir such a success,
0:19:31 > 0:19:33Gareth began to think bigger.
0:19:34 > 0:19:37This is something that could easily spread to other bases,
0:19:37 > 0:19:40it's gone so well here, and in a really short space of time
0:19:40 > 0:19:43the women are singing well and getting so much out of it.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46I'd like this to go further, I want to go to other bases.
0:19:47 > 0:19:51Gareth decided to take the choir to Britain's largest naval base,
0:19:51 > 0:19:52in Plymouth.
0:19:54 > 0:19:56But as the day approached,
0:19:56 > 0:20:00terrible news came through that a Royal Marine from 42 Commando,
0:20:00 > 0:20:04based at Plymouth, had been killed by a bomb in southern Afghanistan.
0:20:10 > 0:20:14Uncertain if it was the right time to visit Plymouth, Gareth called a meeting.
0:20:16 > 0:20:19This is not a position I've ever been in before,
0:20:19 > 0:20:22so this is very new territory for me and I would love to go to Plymouth,
0:20:22 > 0:20:27it's an accident of timing that everything happened this weekend.
0:20:27 > 0:20:33Music can't solve the problem, but I kind of have a hunch that it might be something really beneficial.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36I'd like to know what you think about it, really. Suzy?
0:20:36 > 0:20:38At the moment they need all the support they can get.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41They need something to focus on - I'd be lost without it,
0:20:41 > 0:20:44this is my distraction, it keeps me going in a way.
0:20:44 > 0:20:46They're having a pretty rough time,
0:20:46 > 0:20:50and I can't describe to you how hard it is...
0:20:50 > 0:20:53It's heart-breaking.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56We went down to Plymouth at a time that was very difficult, and
0:20:56 > 0:20:59there had been fatalities and we were very sensitive about it, but
0:20:59 > 0:21:04somehow having these military wives saying, "We understand
0:21:04 > 0:21:07"the situation, but we still think that singing can be important
0:21:07 > 0:21:10"for you," made it OK.
0:21:10 > 0:21:12It's really, really good to see so many of you here tonight.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15We're all very aware that we've come at a sensitive time,
0:21:15 > 0:21:18so we just wanted to acknowledge that, we're really aware of that,
0:21:18 > 0:21:22and we've come with some fun and just to share our voices,
0:21:22 > 0:21:24share our singing with you, and hopefully inspire you
0:21:24 > 0:21:28and give you something to focus on during a very, very difficult time.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31# I don't know what it is that makes me love you so. #
0:21:31 > 0:21:35When Gareth came down to us, it was a really difficult time
0:21:35 > 0:21:38then, and we just basically felt lost, we didn't know what to do,
0:21:38 > 0:21:41we didn't know where to go, but we needed somebody to keep us
0:21:41 > 0:21:43together basically, and he did that job.
0:21:45 > 0:21:47# ..I only wanna be with you. #
0:21:47 > 0:21:50Over the weeks, Gareth and his two new choirs
0:21:50 > 0:21:55rehearsed in preparation for their first performance together -
0:21:55 > 0:21:57singing at Plymouth's annual Armed Forces Day.
0:22:04 > 0:22:08The first time we sang at Armed Forces Day on Plymouth Hoe,
0:22:08 > 0:22:11the majority of us were holding hands, there was three
0:22:11 > 0:22:17in a row, all of us shaking like leaves, thinking, "Oh my god, what are we doing?"
0:22:21 > 0:22:26# You and I must make a pact
0:22:26 > 0:22:30# We must bring salvation back
0:22:30 > 0:22:34# Where there is love
0:22:34 > 0:22:36# I'll be there. #
0:22:36 > 0:22:38People did come up to us in the end and said,
0:22:38 > 0:22:43"You were fantastic," and to hear recognition, and all our hard work
0:22:43 > 0:22:46had come about, was lovely, it's such a feeling, even the children
0:22:46 > 0:22:49were saying, "You were fantastic, brilliant!"
0:22:50 > 0:22:56# Because you're amazing, just the way you are. #
0:23:03 > 0:23:06It's a phenomenal feeling, I can't explain it,
0:23:06 > 0:23:10it's so nice, all of us came together,
0:23:10 > 0:23:12it was awesome.
0:23:12 > 0:23:15It's combined all of us and we're one big team now.
0:23:15 > 0:23:19It's just a really good feeling, so bring on the next one.
0:23:20 > 0:23:24You've got all these women able to sing well, it's so potent,
0:23:24 > 0:23:28it makes me think bigger, do more, more of this, it's really,
0:23:28 > 0:23:30really strong.
0:23:37 > 0:23:42For the Chivenor wives, there were two more months before their husbands returned home.
0:23:42 > 0:23:44Good, well done.
0:23:45 > 0:23:47Simple.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52'It's really moving to hear how far they've come for me,
0:23:52 > 0:23:55'because they're investing so much energy in this,
0:23:55 > 0:23:57'and there's emotion in their singing now.'
0:24:04 > 0:24:07Well done, absolutely astonishing.
0:24:07 > 0:24:13It's a very emotional time for them because we can see the end, but there's still a long way to go.
0:24:13 > 0:24:16# The night is behind us
0:24:16 > 0:24:20# And black are the waters. #
0:24:20 > 0:24:22You're frustrated because you want them to be home,
0:24:22 > 0:24:25and it's like that last bit of your pregnancy where you're just
0:24:25 > 0:24:29miserable, you want the baby to come, that's what it's like.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32I don't even know what I'm going to say to him,
0:24:32 > 0:24:35probably just how much I love him.
0:24:37 > 0:24:41Tired now, bored, we need Daddy now.
0:24:41 > 0:24:45The girls have done really well, they have.
0:24:45 > 0:24:47We've had our moments,
0:24:47 > 0:24:51you know, like every family going through this.
0:24:54 > 0:24:59It's the uncertainty. It's so hard to go through this kind of thing
0:24:59 > 0:25:01when you have no control over a situation.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04You can't relax until they're on that plane,
0:25:04 > 0:25:06until you know they've left that country.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12To help the women get through this time, Gareth wanted them
0:25:12 > 0:25:15to have something special to look forward to.
0:25:18 > 0:25:24You need to keep Saturday 12th November free because you are going,
0:25:24 > 0:25:27and it gives me huge excitement to tell you,
0:25:27 > 0:25:31we're going to perform at the Festival of Remembrance, which is...
0:25:31 > 0:25:33at the Royal Albert Hall.
0:25:33 > 0:25:35GASPS
0:25:35 > 0:25:38More than that, it's live on BBC One.
0:25:38 > 0:25:39MORE GASPS
0:25:39 > 0:25:40And more than that...
0:25:40 > 0:25:42Take That are coming!
0:25:44 > 0:25:48It's not Take That, no, no. It's in front of the Royal Family.
0:25:48 > 0:25:51GASPS OF DISBELIEF
0:25:51 > 0:25:54We whooped, then broke down in tears, as it's something so personal.
0:25:54 > 0:25:58We couldn't believe a building so iconic and so fabulous
0:25:58 > 0:26:02and they were going to let us go and sing in there.
0:26:02 > 0:26:04This is as big as it gets...
0:26:04 > 0:26:07I want this to be the best thing you've ever done,
0:26:07 > 0:26:08I want it to be a very proud moment.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11I've said, "This is the biggest thing I've ever done," so many times,
0:26:11 > 0:26:14but this is the biggest thing I've ever done in my life.
0:26:14 > 0:26:19This is absolutely huge, because it's of national importance
0:26:19 > 0:26:20and national significance.
0:26:20 > 0:26:23Nothing else I've done has felt like that.
0:26:23 > 0:26:29In terms of getting their message across, and getting them understood, I can't think of anything better.
0:26:30 > 0:26:33For the performance at the Royal Albert Hall, Gareth wanted to
0:26:33 > 0:26:35have something specially composed.
0:26:35 > 0:26:37- Hello, Paul.- Hi.
0:26:37 > 0:26:38He visited Paul Mealor,
0:26:38 > 0:26:41who'd written the main piece for the Royal Wedding.
0:26:41 > 0:26:45The reason I contacted you was that I could not find the right piece,
0:26:45 > 0:26:48so it's trying to find a line between something that is moving
0:26:48 > 0:26:51and does speak and is about remembrance, but also about celebration.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54I knew Paul could write music for them,
0:26:54 > 0:26:58but I wanted something about it to be from them,
0:26:58 > 0:27:02from their hearts, so going to their letters seemed the obvious choice.
0:27:02 > 0:27:03For the lyrics,
0:27:03 > 0:27:07Gareth had asked the women to provide lines from personal letters.
0:27:07 > 0:27:11It might be old fashioned now, but I put perfume on all my letters
0:27:11 > 0:27:16and parcels and will always put lipstick on and kiss the back.
0:27:16 > 0:27:18"Miss you, today, tomorrow and always.
0:27:18 > 0:27:20"I miss you with each passing second,
0:27:20 > 0:27:23"And I count every single one, knowing that as each one passes me
0:27:23 > 0:27:26"it brings me another second closer to you.
0:27:27 > 0:27:29"I love you more."
0:27:29 > 0:27:32- Any others? - I don't want to read mine out.
0:27:32 > 0:27:33You can't read it out?
0:27:33 > 0:27:37"Keep my heart safe, my love, for I send it away with you.
0:27:37 > 0:27:39"Hold it close, and now I'm with yours."
0:27:39 > 0:27:42Thank you very much.
0:27:42 > 0:27:43"There are no goodbyes to us,
0:27:43 > 0:27:45"wherever you are, you are always in my heart."
0:27:45 > 0:27:49- It's on my bracelet my husband got me for my birthday. - That's lovely, great.
0:27:49 > 0:27:52These letters, it could be the last letter you
0:27:52 > 0:27:54read from your husband...
0:27:54 > 0:27:57and to put this into a song is...
0:27:59 > 0:28:00Oh, God.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05With the men's return date getting ever closer,
0:28:05 > 0:28:09the wives' thoughts turned to their husbands.
0:28:09 > 0:28:12He's been gone 28 weeks tomorrow, so, yeah,
0:28:12 > 0:28:16that's our little chart there of how long he's been gone.
0:28:18 > 0:28:21- Try again, shall we?- Yeah.
0:28:21 > 0:28:24I can't wait to have him back, I can't wait to start life again.
0:28:24 > 0:28:31It's not until they're on their way home that you realise you've been on pause for the last six months.
0:28:31 > 0:28:33I thought it would be easier,
0:28:33 > 0:28:35cos it's not the first time he's been away,
0:28:35 > 0:28:42but, I don't know, maybe the feelings get stronger. I've just missed him immensely.
0:28:42 > 0:28:46The blue is the weeks he's been away. Today, Thursday,
0:28:46 > 0:28:49when he comes back, home will be written right there.
0:28:56 > 0:29:00In September, following a six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan,
0:29:00 > 0:29:07250 Chivenor men and women came home, where they were reunited with their loved ones.
0:29:07 > 0:29:10Families, friends and children and post and teas and coffees
0:29:10 > 0:29:14are through there, thank you very much, welcome back, you're now released.
0:29:27 > 0:29:29Daddy!
0:29:30 > 0:29:31Daddy!
0:29:33 > 0:29:35Daddy!
0:29:43 > 0:29:46It's always good to be home,
0:29:46 > 0:29:48especially after a tour that's been this long.
0:29:48 > 0:29:53It's probably been the longest, hardest tour I've done, so it's always good to get home.
0:29:57 > 0:29:58Let's take Daddy home.
0:30:00 > 0:30:03Being able to take your child to say, "Look, Daddy's home, he's here,
0:30:03 > 0:30:07"it's for you," you know your family is going to be complete again,
0:30:07 > 0:30:10and it's just a lovely feeling to think we're all back together,
0:30:10 > 0:30:14we're all safe and we can just have fun together now.
0:30:14 > 0:30:20In Plymouth, many of the choir's husbands were still away fighting.
0:30:22 > 0:30:24To help take the wives' minds off things,
0:30:24 > 0:30:29Gareth decided that they would be the first to hear the new song.
0:30:29 > 0:30:34I've got here a document that I sent to Paul Mealor,
0:30:34 > 0:30:40and it's all your letters typed up, and he then created a poem out of them, out of the sentiments,
0:30:40 > 0:30:42and out of lots of the words.
0:30:42 > 0:30:46In particular, the title of it comes from a bracelet that
0:30:46 > 0:30:48one of the women at Chivenor has around her wrist
0:30:48 > 0:30:50that was given to her by her husband.
0:30:50 > 0:30:54It says, "Wherever you are, you are always in my heart."
0:30:54 > 0:30:56The title of the piece is...
0:30:56 > 0:30:58Wherever You Are.
0:30:58 > 0:31:01As soon as I got the song from Paul Mealor, I was so excited,
0:31:01 > 0:31:04it was so evidently their song, it was all their words,
0:31:04 > 0:31:09and it was imbued with their spirit and I couldn't wait to share it with them.
0:31:09 > 0:31:14# Wherever you are
0:31:14 > 0:31:17# My love will keep you safe... #
0:31:17 > 0:31:21I don't know whether there has ever been a song quite so personal.
0:31:23 > 0:31:25That song was...our song.
0:31:25 > 0:31:28GARETH: I'm going to let you take over in a minute!
0:31:28 > 0:31:30We've got one in tears already.
0:31:31 > 0:31:33Two in tears. I'm so sorry.
0:31:33 > 0:31:36The rehearsal where I sang Wherever You Are to Plymouth
0:31:36 > 0:31:39for the first time was one of the most emotional
0:31:39 > 0:31:42rehearsals of all, cos they'd had a very difficult day, there'd been
0:31:42 > 0:31:45funerals of soldiers who'd been sent back from Afghanistan.
0:31:45 > 0:31:49It sounds like it's from everyone's hearts,
0:31:49 > 0:31:52and it just brings everything into perspective,
0:31:52 > 0:31:54it doesn't matter what you're doing during the day,
0:31:54 > 0:31:59someone's loved one is out working in this war...
0:31:59 > 0:32:03when they should be at home with their families, and they're not.
0:32:03 > 0:32:06# Light up the fire. #
0:32:06 > 0:32:09GARETH: I mean immediately, the second they heard it, they loved it,
0:32:09 > 0:32:13they started to sing it, there was a real enthusiasm, they also knew
0:32:13 > 0:32:17that it was going to be a challenge to sing that song in that context.
0:32:19 > 0:32:22With the Royal Albert Hall concert just three weeks away,
0:32:22 > 0:32:25Gareth now had the most challenging task of all -
0:32:25 > 0:32:28to find someone brilliant enough to perform the solo.
0:32:30 > 0:32:33The women are coming to audition for the solo for the Royal Albert Hall.
0:32:33 > 0:32:36This is the Officers' Mess, because I wanted to come somewhere
0:32:36 > 0:32:40unfamiliar to them, because that's what they'll have to do at the Royal Albert Hall.
0:32:40 > 0:32:43This is like the pinnacle of nervousness at the moment.
0:32:43 > 0:32:46I can't put my hands over because they're shaking.
0:32:46 > 0:32:48Every time they're near me, I'm like, "Oh, God..."
0:32:48 > 0:32:51It's a massive gig, MASSIVE..
0:32:51 > 0:32:53I would struggle to stand up
0:32:53 > 0:32:55and sing to that many people, I really would.
0:32:57 > 0:33:00Bring in the troops!
0:33:00 > 0:33:01Go on, Donna!
0:33:06 > 0:33:081-2-3.
0:33:08 > 0:33:12# Wherever you are... #.
0:33:12 > 0:33:15# My love will keep you safe... #
0:33:15 > 0:33:19# My heart will build a bridge of light... #
0:33:19 > 0:33:23# Across both time and space. #
0:33:23 > 0:33:25Good.
0:33:25 > 0:33:29# Wherever I am... #
0:33:29 > 0:33:31I've forgotten the bloody words!
0:33:31 > 0:33:34Seven, eight, nine. I've now heard nine,
0:33:34 > 0:33:39and no-one is ready for the Queen.
0:33:39 > 0:33:40Next!
0:33:40 > 0:33:43# Wherever you are, my heart... #
0:33:43 > 0:33:46Oh, I don't even know the words, sorry!
0:33:46 > 0:33:51That day of the audition was horrendous.
0:33:51 > 0:33:54I just totally messed it up.
0:33:55 > 0:33:59For Sam, it wasn't just her nerves that made the audition difficult.
0:34:00 > 0:34:06My mum was recently involved in an accident with a car
0:34:06 > 0:34:09and is now in a high dependency unit.
0:34:09 > 0:34:12It was very emotional for me, I had these happy thoughts
0:34:12 > 0:34:15that my husband's came home to me and the children, safe and sound,
0:34:15 > 0:34:21and then my mum is in intensive care, I just couldn't get my head
0:34:21 > 0:34:27around it and then I'm auditioning for the biggest solo of my life,
0:34:27 > 0:34:32and I think, because of the emotion, I could really put it into the song
0:34:32 > 0:34:34and really put it into the solo.
0:34:34 > 0:34:36- Sam!- Yes?
0:34:36 > 0:34:38- Take two!- Yes, take two.
0:34:38 > 0:34:41All is forgiven. It's all fine.
0:34:43 > 0:34:47# Wherever you are
0:34:47 > 0:34:50# My love will keep you safe
0:34:50 > 0:34:52# My heart will build a bridge
0:34:52 > 0:34:57- # Of light across both time and space.- #
0:34:57 > 0:35:02Good, Sam, look, my only worry is, just, could you handle the pressure?
0:35:02 > 0:35:04- I have my reasons for wanting it, sorry.- It's all right.
0:35:04 > 0:35:09I want to do it for my mum, because I know she'd be so proud of me...
0:35:11 > 0:35:13- Sorry.- That's all right, come on.
0:35:16 > 0:35:19We have a very important announcement today
0:35:19 > 0:35:23and I know you're all expecting it, this is the announcement of the solo.
0:35:23 > 0:35:27I'm not going to beat around the bush too much, I'm going to get
0:35:27 > 0:35:28straight to it.
0:35:28 > 0:35:33I honestly, hand on heart, didn't think I was going to get it...ever, in a million years.
0:35:33 > 0:35:36I would like the soloist to be Sam.
0:35:42 > 0:35:44Very well done to Sam.
0:35:44 > 0:35:47I believe you go through things to make you who you are
0:35:47 > 0:35:51and that is definitely one of those situations that not only
0:35:51 > 0:35:53changes you, but makes you as a person.
0:36:00 > 0:36:03They're here, they're here, this is it.
0:36:03 > 0:36:04- Hi!- Hello!
0:36:04 > 0:36:06Are we excited?
0:36:06 > 0:36:07Yes!
0:36:07 > 0:36:10Come on, let's go. This is it!
0:36:10 > 0:36:14- This is the Albert Hall. It's quite big, isn't it?- Massive!
0:36:22 > 0:36:24Ladies!
0:36:24 > 0:36:27What can I say? We are one choir tonight,
0:36:27 > 0:36:31and it's one choir that speaks to all the military wives in the country.
0:36:31 > 0:36:33This is it, enjoy, it's going to be great, yes?
0:36:33 > 0:36:35- Yes!- Fantastic.
0:36:46 > 0:36:48The Queen's in, the Royal Family are in
0:36:48 > 0:36:53and as soon as this finishes, it's just me and the ladies.
0:36:53 > 0:36:59The nerves have started and the butterflies are going now.
0:36:59 > 0:37:01This is like Christmas morning!
0:37:01 > 0:37:03It's better than Christmas, Nicky!
0:37:05 > 0:37:08There's only 5,000 people in there!
0:37:09 > 0:37:11And six million on television!
0:37:16 > 0:37:19Petrified! Absolutely petrified! I think
0:37:19 > 0:37:21I'm going to fall over or something.
0:37:21 > 0:37:23And I keep forgetting the words!
0:37:23 > 0:37:26We're ready. Ladies! Stand by.
0:37:28 > 0:37:31It all comes down to this.
0:37:31 > 0:37:33'It was extremely frightening,'
0:37:33 > 0:37:38the sort of fear that gets to your toes and works its way upwards.
0:37:40 > 0:37:46I could barely stand still, every part of my body was quivering.
0:37:46 > 0:37:48I was quaking.
0:37:57 > 0:38:02# Ooooooh! #
0:38:02 > 0:38:06The adrenalin just hit, and it was euphoria just doing it.
0:38:06 > 0:38:11I really put my heart into that, for all sorts of reasons.
0:38:11 > 0:38:13# Wherever you are
0:38:13 > 0:38:16# My love will keep you safe
0:38:16 > 0:38:18# My heart will build a bridge. #
0:38:18 > 0:38:22I think that was the pinnacle of me finding my confidence.
0:38:22 > 0:38:25It was a journey all the way through for me.
0:38:25 > 0:38:27If you can't say you're confident after that
0:38:27 > 0:38:29then there's something wrong with you.
0:38:29 > 0:38:32# Light up the darkness
0:38:32 > 0:38:35# My wondrous star. #
0:38:35 > 0:38:40Obviously, singing needs emotion and my god, did we have emotion?!
0:38:42 > 0:38:45# Light up the darkness. #
0:38:45 > 0:38:49Very, very, very proud and I think our husbands were, too,
0:38:49 > 0:38:52it's just unbelievable.
0:38:52 > 0:38:56# May your courage never cease. #
0:39:04 > 0:39:07It was only towards the end of the song that I started to look up
0:39:07 > 0:39:10and think I'm in the Royal Albert Hall, the Queen is behind me,
0:39:10 > 0:39:14the whole of the Royal Family, the entire military establishment
0:39:14 > 0:39:17is here and they are listening to the Military Wives Choir,
0:39:17 > 0:39:20these women have a voice, they are being heard right now.
0:39:29 > 0:39:32You did so well, that took real spine, and with everything that's
0:39:32 > 0:39:36- going on for you, I don't know how you did it. - I loved it, I absolutely loved it.
0:39:39 > 0:39:42I'm so proud of you all.
0:39:42 > 0:39:45It was beautiful. Very many congratulations.
0:39:45 > 0:39:48Following the Albert Hall, I waved them off in the coach
0:39:48 > 0:39:51and I was convinced that that was the end, but actually,
0:39:51 > 0:39:54that turned out to be the beginning.
0:39:54 > 0:39:57We got a phone call, not even a couple of days later,
0:39:57 > 0:40:00saying, "Right, ladies, you're coming back to London,
0:40:00 > 0:40:02you're recording Wherever You Are as a single,
0:40:02 > 0:40:04and I think our jaws literally dropped.
0:40:06 > 0:40:10The single was to be released just before Christmas to raise
0:40:10 > 0:40:14money for the Royal British Legion and SSAFA,
0:40:14 > 0:40:17the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association.
0:40:17 > 0:40:20I think for us, the only way we could do it
0:40:20 > 0:40:23is if we were raising money for military charities,
0:40:23 > 0:40:27I think it's the only way you could justify it, it's such a big deal, it's so important.
0:40:27 > 0:40:29I am so excited,
0:40:29 > 0:40:31I've been wanting to do this for so long,
0:40:31 > 0:40:34and it's finally happening, it's great.
0:40:34 > 0:40:37The mood in that studio was joyous, they thought they were a rock band,
0:40:37 > 0:40:40it was hilarious seeing them all with headphones
0:40:40 > 0:40:42and just enjoying being in the studio.
0:40:42 > 0:40:44Two-three-four...
0:40:44 > 0:40:47# Wherever you are
0:40:47 > 0:40:50# Our hearts still beat as one
0:40:50 > 0:40:54# I hold you in my dreams each night
0:40:54 > 0:40:57# Until your task is done. #
0:40:57 > 0:40:59Actually, very good.
0:40:59 > 0:41:02All day long we'd been building up this track, bit by bit,
0:41:02 > 0:41:05and then to go into that booth and stand next to the women
0:41:05 > 0:41:09and hear it so beautifully recorded was wonderful,
0:41:09 > 0:41:12because that's how I wanted it to sound, it was the sound that I'd
0:41:12 > 0:41:17been trying to draw out of them and it was just electrifying.
0:41:20 > 0:41:25Everybody was in tears as it just sounded beautiful,
0:41:25 > 0:41:28and that's the only way you can describe it, it just sounded
0:41:28 > 0:41:31so...
0:41:31 > 0:41:34hauntingly beautiful, and to think that that's our voices.
0:41:40 > 0:41:45It sounded amazing, I didn't stop shaking, I didn't stop crying.
0:41:45 > 0:41:49I truly did say, "My god, we sound like angels."
0:41:50 > 0:41:54I never thought in my wildest dreams we would ever, ever accomplish
0:41:54 > 0:41:56something like that, and I'm so proud of us.
0:42:06 > 0:42:10After the recording of the single, things started to snowball.
0:42:10 > 0:42:15It went from feeling really small, and even singing for the Queen
0:42:15 > 0:42:20at the Albert Hall, it felt small in some ways, then it exploded
0:42:20 > 0:42:25at the press launch, everyone was interested, every single newspaper,
0:42:25 > 0:42:29every single news outlet, it just suddenly seemed to be global.
0:42:29 > 0:42:30Salute the camera!
0:42:33 > 0:42:37This is big, fantastic, we never thought we'd sing on Plymouth Hoe,
0:42:37 > 0:42:41never thought we'd go to the Albert Hall, now there's a record,
0:42:41 > 0:42:45we were on This Morning, it's lovely, absolutely fantastic,
0:42:45 > 0:42:47so where will this all stop?!
0:42:47 > 0:42:50Don't get excited, but recent development -
0:42:50 > 0:42:54apparently we are now favourites ahead of X-Factor.
0:42:55 > 0:42:57It's very, very exciting news.
0:42:57 > 0:43:00Number one favourite, now, for Christmas, it's so exciting,
0:43:00 > 0:43:01I cannot believe it.
0:43:01 > 0:43:03It's just insane, it's crazy.
0:43:03 > 0:43:04OK, one, two, three...
0:43:04 > 0:43:06- ALL:- Cheese!
0:43:06 > 0:43:09It's all still really surreal, it's just like any minute now
0:43:09 > 0:43:11I'm going to wake up and be back to normal,
0:43:11 > 0:43:13having my normal life again.
0:43:13 > 0:43:14It's crazy.
0:43:14 > 0:43:17Just a few months ago they were simply wives and mothers,
0:43:17 > 0:43:21living on a military base while their husbands were away fighting.
0:43:21 > 0:43:23Please welcome Gareth Malone.
0:43:23 > 0:43:26And the Military Wives.
0:43:26 > 0:43:29I mean, it got so big that we went to places that
0:43:29 > 0:43:31I never dreamed of going.
0:43:31 > 0:43:33After weeks of media appearances,
0:43:33 > 0:43:36the choir were invited to perform at a celebration,
0:43:36 > 0:43:39held at Number 10 Downing Street, in honour of returning servicemen.
0:43:39 > 0:43:41Follow me!
0:43:41 > 0:43:44Listen, ladies, we are going to work our way through,
0:43:44 > 0:43:47this is my last chance to talk to you before you go and sing.
0:43:47 > 0:43:51How do I even say, we started in Chivenor, got to Plymouth
0:43:51 > 0:43:54and now look where we are. Absolutely amazing,
0:43:54 > 0:43:58so, just take a deep breath...
0:43:58 > 0:44:00..get strong in the spine
0:44:00 > 0:44:03and really go for this. Make me proud. Let's go for it.
0:44:04 > 0:44:08What was so wonderful about standing in Number 10 is the significance of the place,
0:44:08 > 0:44:10it's beyond politics, hearing the man
0:44:10 > 0:44:16in that office who is responsible for the country, acknowledging these
0:44:16 > 0:44:21women, was of huge significance, no matter what political background you're from.
0:44:21 > 0:44:25I think we should remember the huge pressure that families are put under
0:44:25 > 0:44:30with the service life that you've chosen, and the nation owes you a very big thank you for what you do.
0:44:30 > 0:44:34A big thank you from me, a very warm welcome here to Number 10 Downing Street,
0:44:34 > 0:44:37and now let's hear from the real talent, the Military Wives Choir.
0:44:37 > 0:44:39Over to you!
0:44:39 > 0:44:40CHEERS
0:44:40 > 0:44:46# Oooooh. #
0:44:46 > 0:44:50There's men in there, and wives, who have just literally came back from Libya
0:44:50 > 0:44:54and they've not even seen their own families yet, and they're here to see us,
0:44:54 > 0:44:59it's such a privilege and an honour to be here.
0:44:59 > 0:45:01Sorry, it's quite emotional.
0:45:01 > 0:45:04One man came up to me after the performance and said,
0:45:04 > 0:45:07"I've been in the military for 15 years and I've never been
0:45:07 > 0:45:10"moved to tears and I just cried through that performance."
0:45:10 > 0:45:12There was something extraordinary in the air that day.
0:45:12 > 0:45:17# My heart will build a bridge of light across both time and space. #
0:45:17 > 0:45:21For the first time they're seeing it from the flip side -
0:45:21 > 0:45:23one of the officers said, "For the first time
0:45:23 > 0:45:26"I'm seeing it from my wife's perspective.
0:45:26 > 0:45:28"I've never seen it before.
0:45:28 > 0:45:31"Now I actually feel what she goes through."
0:45:31 > 0:45:34People in the crowd, men, women in tears. Absolutely sobbing,
0:45:34 > 0:45:36and it just blew me away.
0:45:39 > 0:45:44I mean, this is the best thing I've ever done, absolutely.
0:45:44 > 0:45:49It's incredible. How am I going to top this?
0:45:49 > 0:45:52Then on Christmas Day, the unthinkable happened.
0:45:52 > 0:45:56"The Military Wives are the Christmas number one."
0:45:56 > 0:45:59Now, the moment you've all been waiting for, your Christmas number one -
0:45:59 > 0:46:00it's Military Wives.
0:46:02 > 0:46:07Wherever You Are sold over 556,000 copies in its first week.
0:46:07 > 0:46:11Crazy experience was Christmas Day, we got the Christmas number one,
0:46:11 > 0:46:13then having champagne
0:46:13 > 0:46:18and celebrating, photos taken from newspapers, then an hour later
0:46:18 > 0:46:21back at home cooking Christmas dinner,
0:46:21 > 0:46:24washing the pots and clearing up and falling asleep on the sofa
0:46:24 > 0:46:27like everyone else on Christmas Day.
0:46:27 > 0:46:32Following its success in the charts, the single reached another milestone.
0:46:32 > 0:46:38In October 2012, Wherever You Are was nominated for a Classical Brit.
0:46:38 > 0:46:43With so many fantastic singles to choose from I'm surprised the judges
0:46:43 > 0:46:45even managed to choose a shortlist,
0:46:45 > 0:46:47let alone a winner...
0:46:47 > 0:46:50When I heard we'd been nominated for a Classical Brit,
0:46:50 > 0:46:53again it comes down to, "Is this really us?"
0:46:53 > 0:46:55You really want to pinch yourself.
0:46:55 > 0:46:58..so let's take a look at this year's nominees.
0:46:58 > 0:47:02To win they had to beat singles from some of the best known names in the classical world.
0:47:02 > 0:47:06Other people nominated in the same category, it was like Pavarotti.
0:47:06 > 0:47:10Crazy, this is like, world famous...
0:47:10 > 0:47:13and the Military Wives.
0:47:13 > 0:47:15It takes a while to sink in.
0:47:17 > 0:47:22And the winner of the Classic Brit Single of the Year is...
0:47:22 > 0:47:25and I'm excited about this -
0:47:25 > 0:47:28Wherever You Are by the Military Wives with Gareth Malone.
0:47:30 > 0:47:33Not only had Wherever You Are been a Christmas number one,
0:47:33 > 0:47:35it was now also an award winner.
0:47:37 > 0:47:41We were proud of Gareth that night, and glad that he got that award.
0:47:43 > 0:47:45He was the one that started all this,
0:47:45 > 0:47:49he was the one that got all these military wives together
0:47:49 > 0:47:51to sing that song.
0:47:51 > 0:47:52Thank you very much for this.
0:47:52 > 0:47:57I, of course, think that this entirely belongs to the wives of
0:47:57 > 0:48:02Chivenor and the wives of Plymouth, and their fine, fine achievement.
0:48:02 > 0:48:05Long may they continue to sing.
0:48:05 > 0:48:11For our song to win the Classical Brit, that's really special, I'm glad we could give him
0:48:11 > 0:48:14something back for what he's given to us.
0:48:14 > 0:48:17I didn't think that 50 women from Chivenor would change my life,
0:48:17 > 0:48:21I thought I knew how this would run and it's taken me
0:48:21 > 0:48:23by surprise every single day.
0:48:25 > 0:48:27After their success, the women of Chivenor
0:48:27 > 0:48:30and Plymouth joined forces with other military wives choirs
0:48:30 > 0:48:35to form a charitable foundation that has now helped establish 75 choirs.
0:48:35 > 0:48:38It gives you great friendships,
0:48:38 > 0:48:41it gives you a great support network
0:48:41 > 0:48:45and it gives you great happiness through singing.
0:48:45 > 0:48:49It can be quite a lonely life being an army wife,
0:48:49 > 0:48:55so to go and join the choir has given me a new lease to be honest.
0:48:55 > 0:48:58It's gone national, there are choirs up and down the country,
0:48:58 > 0:49:02there's a foundation funded through the charity SSAFA
0:49:02 > 0:49:05and there are choirs even abroad,
0:49:05 > 0:49:07I'm pinching myself really.
0:49:10 > 0:49:13The new choirs also brought in a wave of new voices which
0:49:13 > 0:49:16Gareth would involve in future big events.
0:49:20 > 0:49:26In June this year, Gareth and the Military Wives performed a new song written by Gary Barlow
0:49:26 > 0:49:29and Andrew Lloyd-Webber at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.
0:49:29 > 0:49:33It was their biggest event so far.
0:49:33 > 0:49:35It's like Christmas Day is going to come early.
0:49:35 > 0:49:39It's not normal, is it, you're going to sing for the Queen with
0:49:39 > 0:49:43Gary Barlow, in front of millions.
0:49:43 > 0:49:47OK, everybody, for one performance only, the Commonwealth Band is here
0:49:47 > 0:49:50and we're going to sing Sing. Please enjoy.
0:49:51 > 0:49:54Alongside artists from the Commonwealth, Gareth had brought
0:49:54 > 0:49:58together 50 women from across the choir network for the performance.
0:49:58 > 0:50:00Going into any performance you feel a sense of nerves,
0:50:00 > 0:50:03you feel a sense of excitement and it's all kind of mixed up.
0:50:03 > 0:50:09But that day it was a real sense of responsibility,
0:50:09 > 0:50:11I had to get it right.
0:50:11 > 0:50:15It's all resting on me bringing them in at the right time -
0:50:15 > 0:50:18that's intense.
0:50:18 > 0:50:21One or two of the other choirs had never performed before.
0:50:21 > 0:50:24Can you imagine how intense that must be for them?
0:50:24 > 0:50:28# There's a place, there's a time in this life
0:50:28 > 0:50:34# When you sing what you are feeling. #
0:50:34 > 0:50:36Of course, you've got butterflies
0:50:36 > 0:50:39because you want to get it right,
0:50:39 > 0:50:41you want to nail it,
0:50:41 > 0:50:45but you've got to do it, there's no turning back.
0:50:45 > 0:50:52# Sing it louder, sing it clearer, knowing everyone will hear you... #
0:50:53 > 0:50:57Singing Sing on that stage was very emotional
0:50:57 > 0:51:01and I had to really pull myself together to not cry on stage,
0:51:01 > 0:51:04because it was overwhelming, and the words are beautiful.
0:51:07 > 0:51:13The Queen is my husband's boss, so that's a real proud moment.
0:51:13 > 0:51:15To sing for the Queen was amazing,
0:51:15 > 0:51:18and I'll never, ever forget the moments.
0:51:23 > 0:51:2715 million people across the UK watched the choir perform that day.
0:51:33 > 0:51:36Literally, you could feel, in your tummy,
0:51:36 > 0:51:39a resonance of the crowd from the clapping,
0:51:39 > 0:51:41to the shouting, to the singing along,
0:51:41 > 0:51:43you could just feel this pump.
0:51:43 > 0:51:46The noise, the clapping -
0:51:46 > 0:51:48absolutely unbelievable.
0:51:52 > 0:51:58You went off that stage, you were on cloud nine,
0:51:58 > 0:52:01and we wanted to go back and do it again.
0:52:01 > 0:52:04It was like, "Come on, let's do it again."
0:52:12 > 0:52:15Days before the Jubilee, Gareth had returned to
0:52:15 > 0:52:17the chapel in Chivenor, where it all began.
0:52:20 > 0:52:23Babies screaming as usual.
0:52:23 > 0:52:26CHOIR SINGS: "Fix You" by Coldplay
0:52:27 > 0:52:29Sounds pretty good, actually.
0:52:31 > 0:52:32Surprise!
0:52:32 > 0:52:34EXCITED SCREAMS
0:52:35 > 0:52:37Hello!
0:52:37 > 0:52:39- Hello, I'm John.- Nice to meet you.
0:52:39 > 0:52:42- Sorry to interrupt your rehearsal. - It's all right, pleasure to meet you.
0:52:42 > 0:52:45- How are they doing? - OK, they're rising to the challenge.
0:52:45 > 0:52:48It's so good to be back, I can't believe I'm here.
0:52:48 > 0:52:51- How are you?- Very good, thank you.
0:52:51 > 0:52:54- Missing you.- Yeah, I've missed you, as well.
0:52:54 > 0:52:57I have brought you a little gift.
0:52:57 > 0:52:59- Pizza!- No, it's not pizza in that box.
0:52:59 > 0:53:02- Wine?- No, it's not wine, either.
0:53:03 > 0:53:07No, it's too early for shots. No, we're...
0:53:07 > 0:53:10not going to the party.
0:53:10 > 0:53:14I honestly cannot believe that I am here, from those humble beginnings
0:53:14 > 0:53:17of singing in here and getting ready for the
0:53:17 > 0:53:19Pannier Market in Barnstaple
0:53:19 > 0:53:23and I am now about to present you
0:53:23 > 0:53:24with a platinum disc.
0:53:24 > 0:53:26Here it is.
0:53:26 > 0:53:30So, "Presented to the Military Wives Choir Chivenor, to recognise sales
0:53:30 > 0:53:35"in the United Kingdom of more than 600,000 copies."
0:53:35 > 0:53:41If I'm absolutely honest, when I first heard it, and I listened and I thought,
0:53:41 > 0:53:44I actually wondered if it was too much.
0:53:44 > 0:53:49I wondered if it would be too much for you, if it would be right.
0:53:49 > 0:53:52And then we had that moment, that first rehearsal,
0:53:52 > 0:53:55when I first played it to you and, basically, you all cried.
0:53:55 > 0:53:56LAUGHTER
0:53:56 > 0:53:58And then I knew it was right.
0:53:58 > 0:54:01Are you going to sing me a song?
0:54:07 > 0:54:13# When you try your best but you don't succeed... #
0:54:14 > 0:54:18There are ladies here that have come out of their shell
0:54:18 > 0:54:23all because of this little man with glasses who came to visit us.
0:54:25 > 0:54:27It has completely changed my life.
0:54:27 > 0:54:31I will thank Gareth to the end of my days for what he has done.
0:54:31 > 0:54:35He has given me a unity with friends, doing something that I love.
0:54:37 > 0:54:41Obviously, everywhere that a military wife goes now
0:54:41 > 0:54:43with her husband there should be a choir.
0:54:45 > 0:54:50That didn't exist a year ago. And now it does.
0:54:52 > 0:54:56We did it for ourselves, we did it for our sanity.
0:54:56 > 0:55:00And now everybody can have that sanity,
0:55:00 > 0:55:04everybody can have that sistership and they've got something to
0:55:04 > 0:55:06look to when their husbands are away.
0:55:10 > 0:55:13This was Gareth's dream and it's came true
0:55:13 > 0:55:16and not many people can say their dreams have come true in life.
0:55:16 > 0:55:20I don't even think I could express to Gareth how grateful
0:55:20 > 0:55:25we all are for it, it's just, he's really changed our lives.
0:55:25 > 0:55:31# Lights will guide you home
0:55:31 > 0:55:37# And ignite your bones
0:55:37 > 0:55:43# And I will try to fix you. #
0:55:48 > 0:55:51Bloody hell, I promised myself I wasn't going to cry.
0:55:53 > 0:55:54Well done, thank you.
0:55:54 > 0:55:59We'd like to say thank you to you, too, Gareth, because for us...
0:55:59 > 0:56:02- Stop it!- Oh, no!
0:56:02 > 0:56:04There's always one!
0:56:04 > 0:56:08..well, for us, this has been a fantastic ride and a rollercoaster
0:56:08 > 0:56:11for all of us, but the main thing that you've brought to us
0:56:11 > 0:56:16is the friendship, we've just had a fantastic time,
0:56:16 > 0:56:19and we've got 50-odd lifelong friends
0:56:19 > 0:56:22that we're never going to forget because of you, so, thank you.
0:56:22 > 0:56:23Group hug!
0:56:23 > 0:56:27It has been unbelievable this last year,
0:56:27 > 0:56:30the things that they have achieved have been mind blowing and
0:56:30 > 0:56:33there is more to come. There's a bright future and a permanent
0:56:33 > 0:56:37future, I hope, for military wives choirs, because none of the hullabaloo
0:56:37 > 0:56:41and the excitement and the media and the photographs matter,
0:56:41 > 0:56:44what matters is these women getting into a room when the chips are
0:56:44 > 0:56:49down and their husbands are away and singing and being united by that.
0:56:53 > 0:56:56# Wherever you are
0:56:56 > 0:56:59# Our hearts still beat as one
0:56:59 > 0:57:05# I hold you in my dreams each night until your task is done
0:57:05 > 0:57:07# Light up the darkness
0:57:07 > 0:57:11# My wondrous star
0:57:11 > 0:57:17# Our hopes and dreams, my heart and yours, for ever shining far
0:57:17 > 0:57:20# Light up the darkness
0:57:20 > 0:57:24# My prince of peace
0:57:24 > 0:57:26# May the stars shine all around you
0:57:26 > 0:57:33# May your courage never cease. #
0:57:34 > 0:57:37# Oooooh #
0:57:37 > 0:57:44# May your courage never...
0:57:44 > 0:57:48# Cease. #
0:57:57 > 0:58:01Oh, it's flooded up, hasn't it... Bless.
0:58:01 > 0:58:05To sing on that stage and sing that song, again,
0:58:05 > 0:58:09but with a whole new bunch of ladies was just crazy
0:58:09 > 0:58:13because it's still going on, and it means so much to them as well.
0:58:13 > 0:58:15That means a lot to us as well, doesn't it,
0:58:15 > 0:58:17it's quite magical, actually.
0:58:17 > 0:58:20It's the story that's brought everybody together.
0:58:20 > 0:58:23Cos we were the ones that told it, I suppose.
0:58:23 > 0:58:25On it goes!
0:58:32 > 0:58:35Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd