Manchester Airport The Choir

Gareth Malone wants to help Britain's workers find their voice.

Good morning, everyone. I'm here to start the choir.

If you are at all interested, make yourself known to me.

In search of hidden talent, he wants to create choirs

in four of Britain's busiest workplaces.

Are you a singer?

-What do you do?

-Dig holes for a living, basically.

LAUGHTER

# Puts all his postbags in the van... #

Yes he does!

And, for the workers,

company pride will be at stake,

when they compete to find

Gareth's best workplace choir.

Is everybody ready? ALL: Yes!

Fighting spirit? ALL: Yes!

Let's go and do it.

When I learned to sing, it was through competing with other people that I got better,

and I want that for these choirs -

I want them to feel the pressure and get better.

Before the performance, I'll pray to God.

"God, help us this time."

-Want to win it.

-Yeah.

I'll go hell for leather to win it.

Months and months of work and slog

come down to that one moment you're on stage -

that's why I love it.

Gareth has set up two of his workplace choirs,

at Lewisham NHS Trust and at the Royal Mail in Bristol.

He's now on his way to set up the third,

at Britain's busiest owned airport, Manchester.

I never think about the staff of an airport when I go on holiday.

see the person at the check-in desk,

I see the security guard, and that's it.

There must be thousands of people working at the airport.

They're like huge cities.

I don't know who these people are,

and what kind of choir that's going to make.

Manchester Airport handles over 19 million passengers a year.

Over 20,000 staff are divided across the public areas, "landside",

and security-restricted areas, "airside".

Manchester Airport really is a busy set up.

We can have an aircraft departing every 60 seconds,

whilst an aircraft at the same time landing every 90 seconds.

That shows you, when it's going, it's really ticking over some up here.

The numbers that come through within the hour are absolutely phenomenal.

You're talking 1,000, 2,000 people

within an hour when it's really, really busy.

People think, you work at the airport, you all know each other.

We don't know each other.

There's so many people that work here and we never get to mix.

It's just the airport for you.

I'm on a travelator. There's a plane. This is so exciting.

I know it's boyish, but I really get a kick out of being in an airport.

It's a place of dreams.

Gareth needs the choir to be strong enough

to compete against the other workplaces.

His first job? To scout the airport

to make sure he finds the best singers to audition.

-Hello, I'm Gareth. I'm here to start a choir.

-Oh, no!

No? SHE LAUGHS

I'm an awful singer. You wouldn't want to hear me.

-Have you put your name forward?

-No!

No? Not a singer?

I wouldn't even do karaoke when I've had a drink.

I'm just trying to avoid the strip search.

BEEPING

Are you a singer?

No.

I've heard myself when you're showering. It's not very good.

I've never been touched like that in my life!

Amazing!

I can die happy.

There's so many people here and they're all doing something very important.

These are the people you never see.

Or you just see through the window of your aeroplane as you land.

I want to get them in my choir.

What do you do?

I'm the wildlife manager. I look after all the wildlife on field.

Oh, really? Do you sing?

If I sung out there on the airfield,

it'd clear that airfield.

Well, I'll keep searching.

Knock, knock.

-My name's Gareth. I'm here to start a choir.

-Gareth?

I've got to that stage in my life now

where I'll have a lot of funerals to go to in the next few years.

LAUGHTER

So I need to project my voice.

That is a good, pragmatic reason to come and train in the choir.

Absolutely. I'll train you up for funerals.

There's the baggage handler.

Can you ask him if he sings?

PHONE DIALS

Dougie?

How are you at singing?

Very good.

Do you sing around here? Do you sing to the bags?

Hopefully, I can hold a tune.

Do you want to give us a quick blast?

# Only the lonely

# Is the way I feel tonight

# Only the lonely... #

-I think that's as much as I...

-As much as you're going to give me.

I'm glad you put your name forward and look forward to seeing you at the audition.

The following day, staff from across the airport,

both airside

and landside,

gather for auditions.

-Little bit nervous. I think you can smell the nerves.

-HE SNIFFS

LAUGHTER

It's an opportunity - the chance of a lifetime.

I'm really hoping that my voice does impress Gareth, yeah.

But I am quite nervous, but we'll see.

This will be a tough process.

This isn't opening the doors to any singer,

this is looking for people who are really excellent.

The pressure is on in this contest.

I think the standard is very high,

and I owe it to the airport and the staff here

to choose the best people,

to go up against these other very, very competitive choirs.

Hello!

ALL: Hello!

You all ready? Come on up!

What do you all do?

Valet parking.

Very useful person. Air traffic?

-Customer services.

-Fire?

Hello!

-And you're covered for emergencies, I take it?

-Yeah.

We'll use the stairs, not a ladder.

Good afternoon, everyone. ALL: Good afternoon.

My name's Gareth. It's very good to be here at Manchester Airport.

We are here today to create a choir.

It will be, I hope,

the best choir I can possibly create

from everyone in the airport.

We're all going to sing the same song individually.

There is no other way

to do an audition.

I can see the ripples of terror.

LAUGHTER

The song that I've come up with for the audition is Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines.

Here we go.

So, we will start with... Heather?

One, two, three...

# Those magnificent men in their flying machines

"They go up-diddly-up-up They go down-diddly-down-down. #

Oh, I like that bottom, that's good.

I mean...

-LAUGHTER

-Thanks, Gareth(!)

-You're welcome.

-Yours is all right, as well.

Talking about your voice, obviously.

-Much singing in your life?

-Not really, no.

-Bit of karaoke when I have a few drinks and all that.

-Great.

-Here we go.

-The hard part's learning the words for this, now.

It's not a word test. Here we go.

One, two, three...

# Those magnificent men in their flying machines

# Go dee-up-dee-pum-pum

# Go dee-down-tiddy-bum-down. #

I think that's my favourite version so far, actually, Brian.

Yeah, it's a bit rough at the moment.

A little bit rough, but there's something in there.

I can hear the diamond inside, that's good.

One, two, three...

# Those magnificent men in their flying machines

# They go up-diddly-up-up

# They go down-dee-down-down. #

It's sort of there.

-It finished at the end, didn't it? Like...

-BLOWS RASPBERRY

# ...Down. #

I don't have that note. Sing me that note.

-# Down. #

-OK, good.

You got a D at the bottom. Good.

A bit like school!

-A bit like school?

-"D again, Daz."

LAUGHTER

In this case, D is very good. D is good.

I would love to be part of the choir.

To have Gareth at Manchester Airport, and for Manchester Airport to be given this opportunity,

then, I'd absolutely love it.

Just another karaoke to you, wasn't it?

It was like getting up on a Saturday night,

after about five pints, and singing.

It's very early days,

but I'm yet to find the person that makes me really astounded.

There have been few people that I've thought,

"Oh, you've sung in a choir before."

Come on in.

We just need one or two in there who really know what they're doing,

and it makes the whole thing go a lot more smoothly.

One, two, three...

# Those magnificent men in their flying machines

# They go up-diddly-up-up

# They go down-tiddly-down-down. #

I liked that. That had a lot of spirit.

# They go up-tiddly-up

# They go down-tiddly-down. #

I think the foundations of the building shook there.

Well done, thank you.

All right, Hayley.

One, two, three...

# Those magnificent men in their flying machines

# They go up-tiddly-up-up

# They go down-tiddly-down-down. #

-What do you do?

-Airfield security officer.

Are you the muscle?

-LAUGHTER

-I don't know about that.

-Should I stand a bit further back?

-Don't be scared of me, I wouldn't get to frisk you, anyway.

-You're the frisker!

-Yeah.

-LAUGHTER

I've worked here for eight years at the airport,

and airfield security.

We search vehicles, cargo.

Anything that goes onto the airfield, we have to search it and deal with it first.

We have to put our hands in places

that other people wouldn't put.

You just look at that machine and think, "Please don't beep,

"please don't beep."

But they do, and you've got to search them.

I'm proud of the job we do at security.

cos I know that I've helped to make everybody's holiday

a good holiday, cos it's a safe holiday.

# They go up-tiddly-up-up

# They go down-tiddly-down-down. #

Indeed they do. Good, have a seat. Well done.

Thank you.

-Richard, what do you do?

-I'm an air traffic controller at the airport.

-How long have you done that for?

-23 years.

-23 years? That's a lot of planes you've seen.

-It IS a lot of planes.

-You were going to say, "It has its up and downs," weren't you?

-You beat me to it!

-HE LAUGHS

-Up you get, Richard, and stop procrastinating.

-Game on, no pressure.

# Those magnificent men in their flying machines

# They go up-diddly-up-up They go down diddly-um-down. #

-So that's hitting an F sharp?

-Yeah.

Let's go up again, a tone.

One, two, three...

# Those magnificent men in their flying machines

# They go up-diddly-up-up They go down-diddly-um-down. #

Christ, no more.

-Jut one semitone.

-What, up?

-I don't even know what that means.

-One, two, three...

# Those magnificent men in their flying machines

# It's very high is it now

-LOWER VOICE:

-# I can't sing it that high. #

There's no need.

LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE

Well done. Very good. Thank you very much.

You may go.

APPLAUSE

I've got no idea how I got on, singing-wise.

I really have no idea.

All I know is I enjoyed it, sang my heart out, and that was it, really.

Fingers crossed. If I get in, I will do everything.

I would love to be in the choir, to support the airport.

I think a choir would be a good thing.

I think it's a good way of getting to meet each other,

and all singing from the same hymn sheet.

Having auditioned over 120 staff,

Gareth must now select the 30 strongest singers.

I feel that the spread of people throughout the company

is really strong.

I'm getting people from airside, I'm getting people from landside,

management, air traffic control.

We've got some very big,

bold, brash voices.

There's a lot of people used to singing pop,

musical theatre.

Lots of karaoke singers.

We're only talking about six to eight, in the entire choir,

who've got a choral sound.

And that will take some training...

and persuasion, to get them to sing in the way I need them to sing for this contest.

'But this is Manchester Airport.'

That's my choir.

The next morning, Gareth's chosen 30 staff

gather for their first ever rehearsal.

It's good to meet you.

Are you all right?

Take it you're in?

-No, I just thought I'd turn up on spec.

-In fancy dress(!)

It's really exciting to hear them for the first time.

It will really excite them, as well.

Because they won't know each other.

They won't have met each other in their auditions,

cos they did so many different sessions.

Really, it's a magical moment.

-Hiya.

-Richard.

-I'm Steve.

-Hi, Richard, I'm Heather.

-Hi, Heather.

Looking forward to it. You can feel it in here. Everyone's buzzing, aren't they?

-You landside or airside?

-Airside.

Airside, to my left.

-Landside or airside?

-Airside.

-Airside, to my left.

Landside or airside? Airside, that way. Hello.

-Airside.

-Airside, this way.

-I'm landside.

-Landside's this side.

OK, this is your captain speaking.

We are cleared for take off. CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Very good to see you, hello!

A very, very, very warm welcome to our first choir rehearsal.

Many congratulations on making it into the choir.

I'm very excited.

Now, I'm looking at the moment

at a divided community.

There's a Berlin Wall

down the middle of your organisation.

Landside, airside.

This choir is all about bringing both sides of this business together.

So we're going to do that straightaway.

We're going to mix you up.

We'll have the sopranos here,

the altos here,

the tenors here,

and the basses here. Go!

OK, that's looking really good.

THEY LAUGH

Sh-sh-sh!

You are now entered into a contest to find the best

workplace choir.

I will put you head to head with all these other choirs I'm starting.

But before we do all that,

I would like to talk about songs,

because I think it's really important

that you choose a song

that represents you as an organisation.

Does anyone have any thoughts about a song?

-Yes. Linda?

-Fly Me To The Moon.

-Fly Me To The Moon?

# Fly me to the moon

# And let me swing upon the stars

# Doo-doo-doo-doo-doo

# Jupiter and Mars...#

-Do you fly to Jupiter and Mars here?

-We could if we wanted to.

It might be on a rocket.

LAUGHTER Right. Any others?

-We're Going To Ibiza, yeah.

-Oh, We're Going To Ibiza.

Hey, We're Going To Ibiza, I'm just going to veto.

LAUGHTER

-Jet.

-By Wings.

Jet, by Wings. How does that go?

# Jet! Ooh-ooh-ooh-woo-ooh-ooh Woo-ooh

-# Jet! Woo-ooh-ooh...#

-LAUGHTER

That sounds really good(!)

That's the best one ever, that one.

HE BLOWS RASPBERRY

LAUGHTER Any other ones?

-Learn To Fly, Foo Fighters.

-Learn To Fly, how does that go?

# Now I'm looking at the sky to save me

# Now I'm looking for a sign of life

# Looking for something to help me

# Keep things right... #

I quite like this, actually.

Do you like it?

I think with Learn To Fly, we could probably do a lot more with it,

like harmonies and things like that.

With our own arrangement.

So, all those in favour of Learn To Fly,

put your hands up.

15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.

I think it's good. I think that's 20 good reasons to do it.

Shall we say, "Motion passed?" ALL: Yes.

Motion passed. Congratulations, that's your song.

APPLAUSE

So, I've printed off the music and words.

And we are going to have a little bash at them.

Let's stand up, let's give that one a go.

I actually feel like

we could quite quickly just do a very brief harmony.

Sopranos are going to go,

# Ah... # Two, three, and...

# Ah, ah... #

SOPRANO VOICE: # Ah, ah... #

# Ah, ah... #

Together - two, three, and...

# Ah, ah

# Ah

# Ah... #

A few lumps and bumps, but we got there. Basses, arise!

One, two, three, and...

# Run and tell all of the angels

# This could take all night

# I think I need a devil to help me

# Get things right... #

Bit of rock energy.

# Now I'm looking for a complication

# Looking cos I'm tired of trying

# To make my way back home

HARMONY: # Ah!

# When I learn to fly

HARMONY: # Ah!

Very good! Thank you, have a seat.

Pretty good.

Listen...

First choir rehearsals, everyone goes out and your mind is like,

"Oh, my God! How am I ever going to remember any of that?"

Don't be spooked or panicked.

I think the experience is something you'll have to work on,

and getting the choral sound.

But you can do it.

Let's go!

'The song choice, I think,'

is a fantastic choice,

cos it was my idea!

I've never heard a choir sing that song.

To be honest, I've not really heard a lot of choirs singing.

Hi, nice to meet you. Hi, Daz.

We're new to this, and a bit ropey...

in parts, all of us.

When the little bits gel,

you can hear what it's going to become, later.

I really like this bunch, I think they're great.

They're fun, they're feisty. There's a real energy and a real sound there.

Dare I say "rowdy", actually!

It's about creating a good-quality choral sound.

They're completely capable of it, but that's not how they sing at the moment.

They've come in, completely untutored,

and singing like they're at the karaoke.

And that's my job,

to move them away from that.

A few days later,

Gareth is back,

to find out more about the work of the airport.

Meeting up with one of his tenors,

air traffic controller, Richard.

Two, three... Cleared for take off.

Boyhood dream.

This is really exciting.

There you have Manchester air traffic control.

(What a great place.)

-What a view!

-Yeah, yeah.

Plane?

Plane taking off, yeah.

-Oh, there's another one!

-Here they come.

There it is!

I don't think I've ever thought about the people who are in the tower.

-Well, you wouldn't do...

-You're faceless, aren't you?

Yeah, very much. We're just tucked away, getting on with it.

Our main job is to make sure you get from A to B as safely as you can.

Check 270 degrees...

It's very calm up here.

Even if all hell was breaking loose and it was manic outside,

if it was really, really busy, it'd still be calm in here.

-From here, you can see all these people who work in the airport.

-Yeah.

That's what's quite bizarre about an airport, because, right now,

there are thousands of people doing their jobs around us,

and none of us meet.

I tell you what was interesting, when we all got together,

when you chose who wanted to be in the choir, when we all ended up

in that room and we all had this common reason for being there...

-Yeah.

-..there were no shy people.

"Oh, hello, my name's so-and-so. I do this..."

"My name's so-and-so, I do this..." And that's interesting, that's good.

-You didn't know any of them?

-No.

The firemen, like Daz and Andy, I think I've probably spoken to them,

because when they come out on the airfield, they have to speak to us

on the radio. But I couldn't put a face to them.

Interesting. Well, let's hope the choir can give you

a different experience of the airport.

Richard's been here for 22 years, and he doesn't know any of the people

who work in the rest of the airport,

because there's just no opportunity to meet them.

I think it's brilliant they're now getting a chance

to start to work together for something.

# Ah, ah

# Ah

# Run and tell all of the angels

# This could take all night... #

Over the following weeks,

Gareth arranges extra rehearsals with a local choirmaster

to help the choir to get to contest standard.

It was good, but it's still a bit too raw.

THEY SING IN HARMONY

At his next rehearsal, Gareth is trying to refine the sound.

Let's do your ahs. And...

# Ah... #

Whoa! There was a Boeing 747 taking off in the middle of that one.

SINGS RISING SCALE

Yeah, just make sure we are on the note. One, two, three...

# Ah, ah, ah... #

OK, good.

I think, lesson for everyone here is, none of you are doing a solo.

Yeah? # Ah, ah... #

I know it says loud, but don't feel like it's, "Oh, God, it's just me!"

This is the big word for me - blend.

Making sure you all sound, not like individuals, but like one.

This is where it becomes teamwork. Blend into the sound.

One, two, three...

# Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah... #

Let's do that whole bit, everyone. Here we go. So, one, two, three...

PIANO STARTS

Good luck. Focus on the sound you want to make, and breathe!

One, two, three...

# Ah, ah

# Ah, ah

# Run and tell all of the angels

# This could take all night

# I think I need a devil to help me get things right

# Ooh... #

Good, that's really good! What a lovely sound!

Really blended, fantastic listening.

Go and have a break. Thank you very much, see you in a moment.

We're finding the song...

quite difficult to learn, but we're getting there.

We're getting there.

The song itself is quite easy to sing,

but when you put the harmonies in, it becomes more difficult,

cos you want to sing other people's parts.

I didn't think there was so much inter-choir singing.

I thought, as a group, we'd all get up and sing a song,

but all the harmonies and the ups and downs,

it is a lot, lot harder than what I thought.

OK, good. Have a seat, please.

As the choir regroup for the second half of their rehearsal,

Gareth has a surprise.

I flew in for rehearsals today. I flew...

THEY CHEER

I did it for you. Keep you in business! THEY LAUGH

I flew in from Heathrow and it really struck me,

as a passenger, you just don't see the people backstage.

Let's go and do something really positive.

Let's go and perform right now...

ALL CHATTER

..in the arrival hall of Terminal One. OK?

Let's go!

I feel we're definitely ready to perform as a choir,

after today's rehearsal, especially, because we're more tight

and have just tidied up everything that we needed to tidy up now.

They're excited, up for this, there was a really good reaction

to me announcing that we're going to go and do an impromptu performance.

No fear. I think they're really...

I think they're going to go for it with gusto.

Reining that in is going to be the trick.

Hopefully, there's not many people in there.

We'll clear the arrivals, anyway.

Right, in here, everyone.

OK, so currently there's a flight coming in.

We're going to surprise them as they all come out.

Yeah? Shall we do it now?

One, two, three, four...

PIANO STARTS

Two, three, four.

# Ah, ah, ah, ah

# Run and tell all of the angels

# This could take all night

# I think I need a devil to help me get things right

# Ooh

# Hook me up a new revolution

# Cos this one is a lie

# We sat around laughing and watched the last one die

# Watched the last one die I'm looking to the sky to save me

# Looking for a sign of life

# Looking for something to help me burn out bright

# I'm looking for a complication

# Looking for a sign of life

# To make my way back home when I learn to fly

# High, high

# Make my way back home when I learn to fly

# Make my way back home when I learn to fly

# Fly

# Fly

# Fly. #

Welcome home!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

The staff, everyone! The staff of the airport!

I think you've earned your stripes. Well done.

You are a choir at last!

-I loved it. Did you?

-Beautiful. Very nice.

I think when we first started, everybody was shouting,

because it's nerves, but as we went along,

everybody was listening to what Gareth was saying.

It sounded good in the end.

It's made us realise that we can perform...

-We can sing!

-..and we can create a musical extravaganza.

-Yeah.

The staff choir is excellent,

and I think it's a fantastic idea.

-I thought they were pro!

-Yeah.

This is the second time I come to England

and they just instantly put a smile on my face.

It was so awesome to walk down the corridor.

I'm excited about some of those singers.

They're having to learn very, very fast how to blend,

how to listen to each other, how to create one homogeneous sound.

That is tough.

What they do have is a secret weapon of...

just...flamboyance.

There's some real character in here. But have we got time

in the contest for them really to shape up to the right level?

The following day...

Come on.

GARETH STRAINS

Really pull on here.

There's an aircraft on fire, Gareth, but take your time, you know.

Ah, got it.

..Gareth joins firefighters Daz and Dave

on a fire training exercise.

Thumbs up?

-Water on.

-Yeah.

-One arm straight in the air, and shout, "Water on!"

-OK.

Practise that for us.

-Water on!

-It's got to be louder than that, Gareth.

-Oh, OK.

From here. Like you teach us for singing.

-Water on!

-That's better!

-OK, got it.

We've got a call.

SIREN WAILS

Visor down.

Water on!

-Oh, my God!

-Hard work, isn't it?

That was the most intense thing I've ever done. That was brilliant.

-That was only a small fire.

-I know.

It's a bit like conducting, isn't it, really?

Yeah, yeah, there's nothing to it(!)

My heart was pounding.

It was exactly like when you go on stage,

you get that lurch in your stomach.

-That's right.

-You think, "OK, here we go."

We'll feel that. When we perform, it's an experience we're not used to.

This is...day-to-day stuff for us, so we're calm about that.

It's good to have people in there

that understand that element of adrenaline.

-Well done.

-Wow. Thank you.

-Well done, Gareth.

-Thanks very much.

-That was really good. It's given me an insight into your world.

-Yep.

Increased respect. it's intense.

-You'll be easier on me and Dave today?

-No.

These guys, they're amazing. They're heroic. They really are.

These firefighters being in the choir is just such a good thing,

because they understand teamwork, because they do it every single day.

They're useful, these guys.

That evening, Gareth arranges a second, more challenging song for the choir.

I remember this song coming out as a teenager

and absolutely loving it,

cos it's very summery and sunshiney.

It makes me feel like it's about to be a holiday,

and I think that's perfect for an airport.

It's very much them.

They're quite gutsy, and it's a bit of a belter, this one.

But I think it's more of a challenge in terms of performance,

because it could just turn into a shouting match,

and I think that there needs to be some gradation of colour,

some moments that are really exciting and some that are soft,

and they haven't really managed that yet.

There's quite a lot of that in this piece.

So it is time, ladies and gentlemen,

for you to have a new song.

ALL: Oooh.

Yes. I really like this song, but I think it's appropriate for you.

You're a feisty bunch... THEY GIGGLE

..and it's a feisty song by quite a feisty band.

So the song is...

Moving On Up by Primal Scream.

Brilliant!

-It was on the radio this morning.

-Oh, was it?

-Yeah.

-Yeah?

# I'm moving on up now. #

So happy with that? ALL: Yes.

There's a couple of different sections to this.

At the end of it is a big...

It's sort of gospel on the original.

..a big, choral end piece.

That's what we're going to look at first. One, two...

# My light shines on

-# Shines on

-My light shines on

# My light shines on. #

Well done. Just keep it small.

# My light shines... #

Don't get too hefty with it.

# My...! # Save the rock for another day.

Altos, can I hear your line? One, two, three, four.

# My light shines on... # Keep it light.

# My light shines on... #

Two, three, four... Off.

Let's all stand and let's sing that whole page.

Ready, and...

one, two...

# My light shines on

# My light shines on

# My light shines on... #

One, two.

# My light shines on... # One, two.

# My light shines on

# My light shines on. #

OK, not perfect, but not bad. Have a seat. Good.

As far as I'm concerned, I thought that was an excellent rehearsal.

I think we're really coming on.

I just wanted to say, it is serious,

because you're going out to compete in a contest.

Get behind it now, and you'll be bloody glad you did it.

So that's it for today, I will see you tomorrow. Bye-bye.

-Thanks, Gareth.

-Well done. Good one.

I think when you first came in,

-everyone was just so concentrated on themselves.

-Yeah.

But now we're concentrating on everybody else,

which is what you've got to do.

And Gareth is brilliant, he is, cos that's what he's making us do.

We're all starting to know each other now,

getting to know each other a bit better,

and when it starts sounding right in the choir, you get confidence.

If I'm honest, I didn't think they were going to get as good as they've got this quickly.

So I'm really pleased. They've worked hard.

Now they've got this great new song that they all love,

I think their desire to do well and be good at this,

and possibly even to win, is starting to creep in.

The competition is really... is really in evidence.

To build momentum, and help focus the choir for their big performance

in front of their work colleagues, Gareth is looking for a soloist.

It's so important to get the right kind of person for the solo.

It's not just somebody who can sing it.

It's somebody who can really take charge of the whole performance

and lead the way for everyone else.

I'm looking for somebody to be able to really belt out a top A.

And that's hard, that's really hard.

It's demanding. I don't know if I'll find anyone.

Can't miss you in that coat!

Wow! I need sunglasses.

# I was blind... #

-VOICE CRACKS:

-# Now I can see... #

-It's hard.

-# You made a believer

# Out of me. #

-Mmm. It's possibly a little on the high side.

-Could be.

# I was blind

# But I can see

# You made a believer

# Out of me. #

-Good. OK. Thank you. Well done, good job.

-Thank you.

-You can go.

-Cheers.

-Well done, Pete.

It's interesting. We've had two tenors, and they've both got it in their voice,

but it's just that bit too high for them to do it safely.

It's not easy, this. Honestly.

# I was blind

# But now I see

# You made a believer

# Out of me. #

-Oh, sorry.

-Why are you apologising?

-Because it went...

-MIMICS SLIDING NOTE

-Did the nerves get the better of you?

-They certainly did.

-Thank you. See you later.

-Bye. And she ran out!

-I'm sorry.

-Bye!

-Bye!

# I was blind

# But now I... # I'm sorry.

Try it one more time.

And...

-SOFTLY:

-# Blind...

# Now I can see...#

-Oh, I'm sorry.

-Don't worry, it's fine.

I'm not usually like this.

A toughie like you?

I've been practising all morning, it sounds all right

and then you come in here and my stomach is just...

Yeah, yeah, don't worry.

-Couldn't do it.

-You did.

-No, I didn't.

I couldn't do it. I didn't hit a real note.

It's difficult to come in here

and find the right kind of... connection to the song.

No-one's done it yet.

Looking forward to it. A bit nervous.

I'm just thinking to myself now I'm just going to get on with it.

If I don't try, I won't know.

And I don't want somebody else to get it and I think,

"I could have done that better."

So I'm just going to go for it and see how we go.

-Hi, Hayley. Come on in.

-Thank you.

My only question mark with it is, is it in the right part of your voice?

-I think so.

-Come on, let's hear it.

-Yeah.

# I was blind

# But now I see

# You made a believer

# Out of me

# I was blind

# But now I see

# You made a believer

# Out of me. #

Back of the park. Well done.

-Good job. Thank you very much.

-Thank you, Gareth.

-Very nice.

-OK-doke.

-See you later.

There's just something about Hayley. When she sings,

I really want to listen to it.

She's got a kind of fearlessness about her.

I thought that was really good. It will take a lot to beat that.

Richard? Enter. You all right?

-Do you think you'll get the top note?

-We'll soon find out, won't we?

# I was blind

# But now I see

# You made a believer

# Out of me

# I was blind

# But now I see

# You made a believer

# Out of me

# I'm movin' on up now... #

That's where the ladies take over.

-You got it!

-Thank you.

-You hit the top note.

-Yeah, just.

-I'm pretty happy with that. Thank you.

-Smashing. Thank you.

-Thanks, Richard.

-Thanks.

It's one thing your mate turning round to you after a few ciders

and saying, "You sang that all right. Really well done."

When Gareth Malone, as somebody in his profession, says,

"That's good," then it's great.

I would love to do it. I would love to do a solo bit, yeah.

HE SIGHS

Oh, I hate it when more than one person is good.

It makes it much more difficult.

Let's make a start, shall we?

Now, I've got a small problem.

I thought that two people did a great job. Really great job.

And I genuinely cannot choose between them.

Hayley. Well done, Hayley.

-MOUTHS:

-Thank you.

Hayley, you did an absolutely cracking job. It was really good.

-I think you could do the whole thing, but you have competition.

-OK.

Richard.

ALL: Oooh! Well done.

So I just felt like it would be nice to hear both people again,

and I'm going to make my mind up today in this rehearsal.

Would you both come out to the front, please?

Give them an encouraging round of applause.

Come and stand here.

-Could we try it...? Because I quite like them both.

-As a duet.

..as a duet. ALL: Yes.

Well, I wondered if we could do maybe one phrase each? Ready?

-Let's try that. Ready?

-Yep.

PIANO STARTS

# I was blind

# Now I can see

# You made a believer

# Out of me

# I was blind

# Now I can see

# You made a believer

# Out of me

ALL: # I'm movin' on up now

# Gettin' out of the darkness... #

It's one of those, isn't it?

# My light shines on

# My light shines on

-# My light shines on

-My light shines on... #

Yes, it's going to be great! ALL CHEER

It's a duet.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

-Love it. Well done.

-Thank you.

Our stars. Our two stars of the day. Very good.

-Thank you, mate.

-When you sing together, beautiful.

'They're enjoying it and they've bonded.'

They're coming together as people, which is lovely, not just as singers. I think it's gone very well.

Hayley's airside, and Richard's landside,

and ne'er the twain shall meet, really,

in some instances, isn't it?

And, really, without this, there's no chance of them

ever meeting or performing together.

Would they...? They'd never see each other or meet each other.

-I mean, we never see each other...

-No, no! We would never have known each other!

OK, everyone! Let's get cracking!

Time and tide wait for no man, and not even for choirs.

OK. Next thing,

and this is a biggie.

I would like to announce my intention for a big performance

right here at the airport to the rest of the workforce.

ALL: Oh.

My plan is to go and perform it in the Concorde hangar,

which would be amazing.

I mean, it would be great acoustics in there, I'm sure,

and you'll have a Concorde behind you, so if you don't sound good,

at least they'll be able to look at Concorde.

So that will be good. But you will sound good!

And I want to come out guns blazing and hear a very good sound.

Obviously, there won't be any guns, because we've got airport security.

I strongly urge you to practise as hard as you possibly can.

Can I suggest that you get together in your sections

and do little sectional rehearsals?

Informally, formally, whatever you can do.

That will make a real difference.

I think you're starting to make a really impressive sound.

With the work that you going to do over the next couple of weeks,

you will get there, and we're going to go and knock their socks off. ALL: Yeah!

Thank you. Well done, everyone! I've got a flight to get.

Hi, Heather. Choir practice.

-# We are moving on up... #

-HE LAUGHS

-Come on!

-I'm just going to start laughing.

-This is the time we can do a little practice!

# I was blind

# Now I see... #

HE HUMS "Movin' On Up"

With the workplace performance approaching,

the choir take every opportunity to practise.

# My light shines on

# My light shines on... #

ALL: # My light shines on... #

# Shines on... #

# Shines on... #

One, two.

# I'm movin' on... # Early. Late.

# I'm movin' on... # Everyone!

# I'm movin' on... # Now we're getting it!

I think we finally sound choral.

It took a long time, because we were all individual voices

in the beginning, but now we sound like one.

We've got to go a bit more opera on this. Energy right the way through.

# Ooh... #

# Movin' on up now... #

-It is getting there.

-It's getting there.

-I'm so excited!

# We are movin' on up now... #

Before, it was just 30 people that worked across the airport,

and now it's a tight-knit, friendly group.

There is a difference in us.

# My light shines on... #

Good.

It's less than 24 hours till the workplace performance.

-Morning. How are you?

-Very good. You?

-Good, thanks.

-Come in.

-Brought my keyboard.

-Oh, good.

Gareth is visiting soloist Hayley for some last-minute practice.

SHE SINGS A SCALE

Good.

SHE SINGS A SCALE

-Are you in discomfort?

-No.

-No? You look tense.

I think I'm always tense when I sing originally.

-I just like to get it right, I think.

-Mmm.

You don't want tension.

So... I don't know. I'm almost tempted to get you

to do the washing up whilst you sing.

You know? Just something... It just needs to be looser.

HE SINGS A SCALE

So the sound can just be released. It feels like it's a little bit...

NOTE STICKS IN HIS THROAT

Longer here. "Ah."

Breathe here.

# Ah

# Ah... #

-Yeah...

-The breath.

-HE MIMICS SHALLOW GASPING

-I think posture's your big thing, actually.

-It is.

-Do you have a lot of postural problems?

-I think so, yeah.

-Do you?

-I slouch a lot. A lot.

-Do you get back pain?

-Yes.

-Have you been to see anyone about it?

-No.

I had a bit of an accident a while ago,

so my back has never been the same since.

-What happened?

-I was in a car accident, so I broke a lot of bones.

-In your back?

-Yes, dislocated my hip, smashed my pelvis apart...

-Oh, my God!

-I've got internal problems as well.

I had a lacerated liver, damaged kidneys.

-I had to have a tracheostomy cos...

-Yeah, I saw the scar. You had a tracheostomy.

I couldn't breathe for myself, and...

-Oh, my gosh. You must have had some dark days.

-Very dark days, yeah.

I was off for a good year from work. I went back in February 2010.

I've worked since, but recently I've had to come off again

cos one of my bones hasn't healed properly

so I've got to have it sorted out, and the job we do is a bit physical.

It was just too much.

So you're sitting round waiting for your shoulder to be all right?

-This is why the choir's been brilliant.

-Has this got you back in?

Yeah. This is helping me feel good about myself again, given me something to do.

I think you're excelling in it, I really do.

In fact, I think the altos, actually, are the strongest section,

and I think you're a big part of that.

-See you later.

-Bye.

-Well done, thanks.

-See you later.

Hayley is the better for being in the choir,

and she's back in the work environment, she's back talking to her colleagues.

She is able to represent the company in a really positive way

and do something for the company, through singing.

She feels useful again. It's... It's a fantastic thing.

It's the day of the performance.

I think the entire workforce

should be proud of everything they've achieved.

It's a good choir, and they've got real spirit,

and I think they represent this airport brilliantly.

We've got people across the business, and they've got an energy and pizzazz about them that I really like.

My biggest worry is that they get a bit carried away.

That's not what choirs are about.

It's about making a contained and beautiful sound.

That can be emotional,

it can be punchy, it can be really visceral and physical,

but it mustn't be a shout.

I'm excited, and I'm nervous,

and I don't know which is overtaking which at the moment.

It's all a little bit of a battle, but, a few deep breaths

and do everyone proud.

I've tried not to think about it too much,

because I think if you think about it too much, you end up...

Your words won't come out properly.

I don't want to let the choir down in front of everybody.

So that's the bit that I am most nervous about.

The rest of it, we can rely on each other, you know.

Yeah, I'm a bit nervy now.

Ooh-ooh! Shibbidy doo!

What the choir don't know is that Gareth has invited

one of the judges who will decide which choir will win the contest -

former head of music at Eton College, Ralph Allwood.

What I'm looking for in choirs

is that beautiful, balanced, blended sound that just pings,

whether they really are singing exactly the right note,

which combines with everybody else's exactly right note.

Teamwork is essential, and I want to see

that there is teamwork going on and see the quality of that teamwork.

Ralph will be hidden in the audience,

amongst family and work colleagues.

Right, this is your chance to prove yourselves as a choir.

Don't get carried away.

Listen! Your ear is your friend.

If you can't hear the other parts, you're too loud.

If you feel yourself bellowing or rocking out too much,

just keep it contained. I know you can do it.

When you make that magical sound, it's absolutely wonderful,

so let's get the really good sound that I know you're capable of.

Sorry, we are at an airport,

and we are used to certain things throughout the day.

So we were wondering if you would conduct us with these?

THEY LAUGH

I'd love that.

Is that right?

Plane's coming towards you now.

ALL LAUGH

What if it comes in here?

This way! Hello.

CHEERING

HE MOUTHS

I am very proud to introduce to you the Manchester Airport Choir!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

The fantastic choir that you see behind me today

represents the whole of this organisation.

People who haven't ever met each other,

and yet have worked together for years and years,

have been brought together here.

That's what we're here to celebrate. That's what choirs are all about.

So, without further ado, we're going to sing for you, Movin' On Up.

Here we go. Movin' On Up.

PIANO STARTS

# I was blind

# But now I see

# You made a believer

# Out of me

# I was blind

# But now I see

# You made a believer

# Out of me

ALL: # I'm movin' on up now

# Gettin' out of the darkness

# My light shines on

-# My light shines on

-Shines on

# My light shines on

# My light shines on

# My light shines on

# My light shines on

# My light shines on

# I'm movin' on up now

# Gettin' out of the darkness

# My light shines on

-# My light shines on

-Shines on

# My light shines on

# My light shines on

# My light shines on

# My light shines on. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

I looked at my family first and then looked at my colleagues

-and all the thumbs went up and I was like...

-SHE MOUTHS

"Got it right!" That feeling, I don't think I'll forget it.

-That's great.

-I really won't.

Seeing dad in a choir was awesome.

ALL LAUGH

Perfect, son.

Seeing these guys on the front row helped as well, I think,

and seeing a lot of people who I work with at the back and everywhere.

Yeah, really, really proud of myself. I feel really good.

I was thinking, "I can't believe she's there now -

"that she's stood there after all she's been through."

Wonderful. I'm very proud of her. Very proud.

Oh, well done, it was lovely.

Well done, you did it!

ALL CHEER

Really good. I could really see how much you gave and I really appreciate that.

There was a lot of effort going on there.

You sounded great, it had real energy, a real spark about it.

What you didn't know was that there was somebody in the audience

watching your performance,

and that person was one of the judges from the contest.

ALL GASP

The guy's name is Ralph Allwood,

and he used to be the Head of Music at Eton School

and he's one of the most highly-regarded choir trainers

in this country.

He's going to come and give you some feedback right now.

Hi, everyone.

I'm delighted to introduce you to Ralph Allwood.

-Ralph, they're all yours.

-Well, that was fantastic. Well done.

And you were doing everything together.

You know, everybody was part of the team,

it wasn't just a few individuals sort of going for it and others tagging along.

Solos, well done. Really confident and exciting.

Now, I can see you all want the criticisms as well, don't you?

-I can see in your eyes.

-I've given them a taste for it. ALL LAUGH

Right, now, first of all, every now and then

the impact of individual phrases needed a little bit more.

MY light shines on. I suggest you go...

# My... # Like that. You just close your lips before.

It may seem silly, but it really does make a difference if you do that.

The next thing concerns Gareth, actually.

You've depended on him such a lot up till now, of course,

because he's taught you everything about it.

But I suggest now you wean yourself from the conductor

and you look at the audience and go for it.

You will still see Gareth there,

and if something goes slightly wrong,

he'll still be able to do the firefighting and put it right.

But you are looking right out to the audience.

So next time I hear you,

I will hear complete connection with the audience

and I'll hear a nice punch at the beginning of all of your phrases. OK?

-ALL: Thank you.

-I'll leave you to your very able conductor.

-APPLAUSE

-Thank you.

-How did you find the feedback?

-Really helpful.

-Good.

-Wonderful.

I thought it was all entirely fair, and he clearly enjoyed it.

It was a really convincing performance.

The next time that we gather, it's going to be for the contest.

I think you all know now - you've been in the choir long enough

to get the idea - it's all about hard work.

I look forward to seeing you when it gets serious.

Thank you very much for a fantastic performance.

ALL: Thank you.

-I'm feeling quite competitive.

-Yeah, very competitive.

Cos I think with that feedback, I feel really positive about us now.

-We can't... Not getting to the final is not an option.

-No.

-Not an option.

We've got to get to the final night.

I think we can win it, I think we can nail it.

-That's fighting talk.

-We're going to win it.

Fighting talk from Manchester Airport.

It's ended up being much more refined than I ever thought it'd get.

They've done very well, they've worked very hard.

The ensemble was so much more together

than I ever thought it would be. So, yeah, hats off to them for that.

That was a lot of grit that they showed.

The contest is on now, cos they want to win,

and I think that's going to bring out the best in them.

-Next week...

-Good afternoon, Severn Trent Water.

..Gareth is in one of Britain's biggest water companies.

Bet you're really glad I'm here, then.

-But overworked office staff...

-You're quite stressed, aren't you?

..a lacklustre response from the workmen...

No way. I can't sing.

..and a last-minute drop out...

He's handed in his notice. So we're a man down on the tenor team.

..leave Gareth feeling the pressure.

Can she remember the words? Can she get right through it?

Hmm.

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