The Hawkstone Farmers’ Choir wowed the Britain’s Got Talent judges and later stunned viewers with the revelation that a household name is behind their formation.
A Britain’s Got Talent choir that moved the audience — and judges — to tears during their emotional audition has revealed they were founded by none other than TV presenter-turned-farmer Jeremy Clarkson.
The Hawkstone Farmers’ Choir, named after the Clarkson’s Farm star’s brewery, was formed just five months ago near his Diddly Squat Farm in Oxfordshire.
Made up entirely of people working in British agriculture, the group was created to highlight the challenges faced by farmers across the UK.
Choir leader Katrina told the audience: “Jeremy Clarkson did a thing — and that thing is the Hawkstone Farmers’ Choir. He put us together five months ago. Every single one of us is in agriculture one way or another.”
Although Clarkson didn’t join them on stage for their performance at the Birmingham Hippodrome on Friday, Katrina confirmed that the former Top Gear host sometimes sings with them.
“Jeremy does sometimes come down and sing, but he’s not here tonight,” she said. “We work by ourselves day in, day out, sometimes 16 hours a day. This has brought us together. We’re not singers by nature, but we’ve got one thing that unites us — farming.
“We love what we do, but it can be incredibly hard and really lonely. So to do this together means the world to us.”
The 33-strong choir performed an emotional rendition of One Day Like This by Elbow, prompting a standing ovation from the audience and all four judges.
Amanda Holden — who lives near Clarkson in the Cotswolds — was visibly moved, telling the group: “As soon as you started singing I felt so much power. I love the whole community, how you come together and work your socks off. You absolutely smashed it.”
Singer and TV presenter Stacey Solomon, who was standing in for Simon Cowell after he fell ill, added: “I don’t think anyone understands the power of a choir unless you’ve been in one, and it’s so special to see you all come together.”
