The Singing Estate

Last night I watched The Singing Estate on Channel 5 and thoroughly enjoyed it. If you didn’t see it, the gist is this: take one classical conductor, dump him in a rough estate in Oxford and ask him to find forty people to form a choir capable of performing at the Albert Hall after just ten weeks’ rehearsal.

The wonderful thing was to see how many people turned up to audition and how delighted the lucky few were when told they’d made it. Not at all what you’d expect from people who some might simply dismiss. It just shows what ordinary people can and will do if they have the opportunity. One of those programmes that really restores your faith in humanity.

62 thoughts on “The Singing Estate

  1. Best programme on tv. Hate waiting a week for next programme. The conductor can be a bit unfair at times when he says he has been humiliated. The choir feels the same. They shouldnt have been given a task they cannot do. They need to have faith in the conductor more than he needs faith in them. If he shows doubt in them,they will go under. He’s acting as if he’s the only one to put his reputaion on the line.

  2. Well what can i say alot of behind the scenes action was left out of this. For instance how this was meant to be a choir built for blackbird leys residents and workers but there was a young lady who stood out from the crowd in that programme which angers me as my daughter missed out on a place due to the fact that someone lied her way into the programme by telling the producers she’s a carer/cleaner for an old lady who lives in blackbird leys? Since when this girl lives in woodfarm and claims benefits! I am outraged that this has been allowed to happen!!! People were devastated being turned away from this project! And alot of the choir was angered by the decision that the producers are aware of her situation so everyone is just to leave it! This girl cannot sing and is holding on to the hope that this programme will gain her attention from the public eye. I hope this gets investigated further as its just not right to call it a bbl project when a particular person has nothing to do with this estate!
    Anon

  3. i saw it advertised and i couldnt wait for it to start it is a wicked programme, my friend is on it and she is an amazing singer so i dont no why she was put in the reserves? That kaye girl does my head in though, the thing is she isnt from blackbird leys and she doesnt work there either. I know this as friends and i know her personally and she lives no where near blackbird leys and she is currently unemployed and has been for a long time. It just rages me to think that other people with good voices were either turned down or put into the reserves when there is someone who isnt even from the estate and lied there way to be there. she said that she was a local cleaner from blackbird leys which is complete crap. she had no proof that she worked there or even lived there yet she was still able to join. other resisdents had to take proof that they lived there and kaye didnt ????wheres the fareness in that.

  4. looking forward to sunday because its goin to be showing them performing at blackbird leys park, i was there watching my sister, its nice to see your neigbours on the tv, candice,julie mckenzie and zoe all really good friends off mine there all amazing. Really enjoyed watching last week the booze cruise was well funny. and anyone tryin to defend there historic tour i wouldnt bother the booze cruise looked alot more fun.

  5. I’m a singer who lives in the U.S. and I am fascinated by the idea of this show! Is there a way to purchase video or DVD recordings, since we don’t get this program over here? Many thanks for any help you can offer.

  6. what a wonderful opportunity for these people, I applaud the show, and can’t wait until next Sunday. Anyone know if there will be a follow up as to what they did after?

  7. For Aunty Anita,
    The choir will still keep going but being run by a different conductor and they will be hoping to perform again next year in another theatre.
    Unfortunately will not be a documentary and covered by cameras or anything like that.
    Hope this helps!

  8. Beatrice,
    There is no video or dvd recordings as yet! But they do have there own personal website. Type in Channel 5-The singing Estate and it will be there. You can request a brochure/booklet on their story though.Im sure if you keep your eye on this some video/cd will come up.
    Good Luck!

  9. I know one of the girls in the choir really well, and she is amazing, she should be proud of herself and what she has achieved, I wish her well and hope that she sticks with this and realises her dream, she is beautiful, her name is Mckenzy. I was told she was on Richard and Judy, did anyone see it, what was it like? What are your feelings, thoughts about Mckenzie?

  10. There seems to be some real untapped talent here, someone out there should look closer at these guys and gals in this choir

  11. I knew Mckenzie a couple of years ago and she was a lovely girl, very pretty and very bubbly, good luck to you all and especially you Mclenzie. Soph x

  12. I am very much enjoying this programme. Good to see people getting so involved and enjoying doing something they have always wanted to do.

    I’m very much looking forward to episode 4 to see G4’s arrival and contribution – and hopefully we will get to see the final performances at the RAH.

    According to the Radio Times, the whole concert from the RAH is being broadcast on CFM radio on Sunday 2nd July at 9pm immediately after the last episode of The Singing Estate.

  13. my mate zoe was on there and she is an amazing signer, im upset i havent heard her sing yet as i think everyone would be blown away. zoes a very good singer and i can remember when we were both in bugsy malone which was when zoe found her confidence to sing and she hasnt shut up since. i used to love listening to her sing along side other friends at school performances. i wish her all the luck. go zoe you rock and you’ve got it all. ive also heard that candice is an amazing singer to i hope we get to hear both them sing in this forth episode.

  14. Fourth episode, great but I guess I don’t want to see it end
    to see these guys doing so well and none of them with anybexperience , and well, there just amazing……
    under privileged, what does that mean, crap schools, crap parents, crap homelife, who knows
    These are real troupers, they need recognition . Some of them really stand out, how does a kid who has no contact with it’s family manage to carry on, why what the hell did the family do? what makes them tick, this is really interesting shit, why, how, who knows, what’s the problem, lets delve into these guys a little more, do a follow up programme on some of them or look into their pasts, and let’s see what will, what did, go on to bring them to the Royal Albert Hall. An old guy, a former bouncer, a sweet body in a shower, a tatooed lady, and a young confident? girl with a boyfriend in prison, what happened to these guys in their lives, all my mates wanna know more……….. god some of them are gorgeous and so much talent. This would make a great Big Brother hous3, put some of these REAL people in , not selectede and see what would happen, come on do it Davina – Channel 4, the ones on Richard and JUdy are amazing……….. I am writing this on behalf of almost all of the 1st year undergrads at Balliol.

  15. I was only told about this blog last night and want to comment.
    I have been watching this avidly, are any of these people going to pursue singing as a career, has anyone been offered any work, or do they just all gomback to their day jobs again. What a shame if they do, there are some really good personalities on their, attractive people real voices, and ambitious, someone out there should offer them some work. Good luck, and keep pursuing your dreams, and keep your fingers crossed that some of you will get contracts out of this.

  16. I watched this programme and i thought it was fantastic. there were so many talented singers in there and they done so well in the performances. it just goes to show what you can do when you give the time and energy to it.

  17. Really excellent. Please will someone tell us when they are singing again? The end of the programme said they were singing again in February next year, and I’d love to be there.

  18. It was great that all the covers got to sing at the RAH. It gave me goose pimples as I listened to their performance, absolutely brilliant ……well done to everyone. Looking forward to next February when you will hopefully perform in Oxford. Good luck.

  19. I & My Wife both watched the whole series.
    It was one of the best things I have seen Channel Five put on.
    It shows what CAN BE DONE. Classical music is not just for the “upper classes” ( I hate the use of class, but I can’t think of another way of putting it) It was tear jerking success. If only more people could do more like this, there would be a lot more happy people.
    The whole concept was brilliant.

  20. I missed the last night of this series. I have been thoroughly enjoying it and am very disappointd to have missed it. Is it repeated on any other channel?

  21. All I can say is who is the beautiful girl with the hair tied up and in a black glittery dress, she was brilliant! Of course everyone was but she did stand out. Will anyone pursue a career in singing now? Answers please

  22. I really enjoyed the series and was very pleased to hear that the choir is going to continue. It was a great opportunity for them. May they enjoy their singing. It is hard work, tiring just keep at it and do not give up.
    Best wishes Liz.

  23. You were great Kenzy B, and you looked wonderful, you are very beautiful, but then of course you are – look at all of us (joke). No my darling, you really are amazing.
    We all watched it, even though it was hard for us, well done, we love you so much. Mark and Luke and all of their friends have been watching, and loads and loads of other people have commented everyone sends their love, we have had so many phone calls about you, from your old friends all wishing you well.
    We all love you darling, stay safe, and be happy, hopefully we’ll hear from you soon. Angels on your bodyxxxxxxxxxxx

  24. Just like to say a great last episode! Im quite suprised at all the fuss over mckenzie as she was quite immature throughout the whole thing! She hasnt bothered with any choir rehersals since the TV performance. Just goes to show who was in it for the boredom of life and to get on tv!
    I know all the choir very well and wish MOST people all the best!
    Does anyone know who won the bet to see how many times drama queen loner kaye had cried? Let me know!!!!

  25. yeah Mckenzy was ok but not anything special to me. i mean i didnt once hear her sing on her own so how can every one big her up!there were many beautiful singers there that were all amazing so why are people goin on like Mckenzy was the only one there.

  26. Hey!,
    The series was wicked! Candice and Julie wooohoooo go girls they’re wicked and two of the few people that could actually sing in the programme! Well as for that tramp Kaye! What was she even doin on the programme! I’ve heard the girl whalling on the karoke making a preoper tit out of herself! She makes my ears bleed! The funny thing is the girl actually thinks she has got talent! Phaaa! She shouldn’t of even been allowed on the show she doesn’t even live in bbl! Personally i would like to say well done to those in the choir that refrained themselves from knocking the girl out i don’t think i could have controlled myself!

    Anyway wish all the choir luck and hope they continue to sing together! Lets hope this time minus Kaye!

  27. I watched the entire series and it was the best “reality” show I think I have
    ever seen. The changes in the choir as they grew in confidence was lovely
    to see and I wish them every success in the future.

    Channel 5 tells me they have no plans for a follow-up programme, which
    seems a real shame to me – I am sure there would be some interest if
    they changed their minds.

  28. What a wonderful programme! I loved all of it. Such determination and perseverance was great to see. I would like to see another programme like this. A gripping, enthralling experience for the viewer.

  29. Jo and Jem, maybe you should look beyond what you see and hear, theres always more to what is going on, everyone was brilliant, and yeh, some of the lads and lassies scrubbed up better than others, and they just stood out, it’s not there fault they look like they do. Anyway, some people are made to do things, otheres have choices, and some are bullied into and out of things. Think about it, do you know the reasons behind all of this, for some of the choir members it was a temporary escape from life and nothing to do with TV, remember it was the TV guys who edited the filming, not the choir members. Just remember not all you see, is what goes on inside someone,some people are just much better at pretending to be OK when inside their dying. I should know, and by the way I was in the choir, guess who I am. Only Ivor really knew some of the peoples personal tragedies. So come on give everyone a hand, we all did great, no more sourgrapes, thats just bitchiness, and immaturity.
    You need to get a grip Jo and Jem,

  30. Zoe was good jem as you said earlier and so was everybody, and whats with keep getting at each other a choir is a team thing, YOU WERE ALL GREAT, everyone, and yeh, the film crew do the editing. Someone said this would make a great big brother house, and your not kidding it would with all these crazy personalities. That would be real, reality. Go on channel 5 follow it up. Anyway I’m off to work now to continue the night job. Bye.

  31. whats the problem with the 2 J’s. I was in the choir, and no-one knows what goes on in someones head, some people have to do stuff, some are made to , some are bullied, and some, and I know one in this choir, who put on a front all the way through, and I know they were dying inside. So stop getting at people, it’s true some people scrub up better than others, and yeh some of the lads and lassies looked amazing, and went through more than you two will ever know. What’s with the ingighting, yeh Zoe is great too, but this is where everyone can have say and not just bitch about each other. Look a bit further into peoples actions, maybe theres reasons behind why some people cant carry on in the choir, I know Mckenzy cant, it’s not her fault, she loves singing, and has sung all her life, you don’t know everything, none of us do. Only Ivor knows somme or all of everyones stories.

  32. Jasmine,
    Get a grip!!!!! If you were in the choir you would no what i am talking about! Im not here bigging up what everyone saw on TV!! Im here keeping it real! I have no sourgrapes i am part of the choir too, Can you guess who i am?
    The arguements were everywhere and everyone is entitled to their own opinion! I am speaking up for the ones who cant! No one is having a bitch! I saw what the viewers didnt and this choir has more ghosts than Most Haunted! Most people were good and im not slating everyone! Obviously you have taken it personally! Are you mckenzie?

  33. Sorry Jasmine but you need to shut up and go home! Peoiple are bitching mainly about that dick Kaye! They have a reason too! The girl has not suffered ne personal tragedies and if youy knew her like others do you’d realise that the shit that comes out of her mouth is boolocks and is purely for the sympathy vote!

    We all have a rite to have our say! If we didn’t the person we were bitching about and were just chattin about her from what we’d seen on the tv then far enough i can see why you’d say we had no reason to bitch! But i do know Kaye and she’s a stupid hoe always out looking for attention!

    I’m pretty confident that nearly evry1 in the choir will agree with me!

  34. ok jasmine or who ever you are, why tell me the same thing twice,i get your jist, but i dont think that you were reading my comments correctly!i know things were hard for some people i actually know many people in the choir it just happens to be that zoe is one of my best friend so therefore i support her, i havent put anyone down all i said was basically that everyone was goin on bout mckenzie but there were other choir memebers there and they all deserve credi if you look at my comments in nearly all of them i said they were ALL AMAZING. so please tell me who im getting at?i know there was alot of editing made by camera crew and i do no there were alot of things that went on behind the scenes which we ddint get to see who said anything bout anyone scrubbing up better than others where did you get that from?????????maybe ivor doesnt know all of your stories because you never no wether he was lied to or not, i no one girl personally who blantantly lied to him so like you said who knows?how do you no that i dont no what theyve been through you dont know me or what ive been through, so your havin a go at me for judging other people when your doin the same thing your self. Or is it that i havent mentioned you maybe? Or maybe i have?

  35. Hi you all
    big thunderstorm last night, and it looks like one has been brewing here….
    no I’m not Mckenzy, and yes, the choir, was great for me and everyone in it, I just don’t want anyone to be nasty about anyone, I thoroughly enjoyed it even though there were lots of tears and tantrums, and I want to continue to enjoy it under the ‘new management’ too. Jem, Zoe is a great girl, just like most in the choir. So let’s give everyone a break eh! and for the record Mckenzy did look great on the night, but so did everyone. I love doing this and I don’t want anyone to be sad and I just know that she is, and yeh I know otheres are but I don’t know about them so much. I’m sorry my message was printed twice, but I thought I had lost it first time, I’m not too great on computers, but I can’t get out too much, so I’m learning. And Joe no I’m not Mckenzy, she has no access to a computer, she is not that lucky as us.

  36. Can I make a relatively mundane plea? I didn’t see the last episode of the series. I realise they may show it again in the future, although they don’t seem to have plans to show it soon on another channel.
    Has anyone got a recording they could share of the last episode at the Albert Hall? I have no idea what happened.

  37. jasmine, i just wanted to say that i never said that mckenzie didnt look stunning on the night because like you said you ALL did. and i wasnt putting her or anyone else down i was saying that she wasnt the only one in the choir and you all deserve recommendations, im also not saying that zoe was the only good singer there either because there were many brilliant singers there and many beautiful people within the choir, all im doing is supporting my friend because im so proud of her, but aswell as supporting my friend ive always said that you were ALL amazing,in nearly all of my comments ive also acknoledged you all. i think that you are the new mum whom i think your name is ellie.

  38. I thought the whole “thing” was excellent. It’s amazing what talent there is to be found when it’s channelled! Well done Choir, Mr Setterfield and Channel Five for giving us something worthy of viewing!!!

  39. That’s not mundane, I’d love to know where I can get copies of all the episodes. Can anyone help? would channel 5 have anything I wonder? Well done you all, great show and lots of luck to everyone for the future, whatever they do.

  40. I thoroughly enjoyed the series and thought it was one of the best things I have seen on TV for some time. However, I missed the last episode, so don’t know what happened. Is there anywhere I can get a recording, or has someone taped it, or is it due to be repeated any time in the near future.

    As well as missing the Choir’s performance at the albert Hall, I missed G4.

    HELP

  41. Marilyn, you are in the same position as me in seeking a copy of the last episode. If someone did have a copy, is there any way of communicating on a one-to-one basis via this site – eg using e-mail – so we can be sent it in the post?

  42. There are no copies available from Channel 5 but the programme will be repeated at some point in the future.

  43. Dave
    Seems a lot of us missed the last episode. If no-one has a copy then it looks like we’ll have to wait for the repeat. At least there will be one!!

  44. Hi every one.
    Also a novis on the computer, I have been thrilled to see how so many have responded to our program.so I too am a choir member .
    For all our intersted followers perhaps I should say,hopefully on behalf of the majority of the choir, that if you all wondered why this seems to be an amazing outlet to vent our spleens, is because we have all signed contracts not to talk to any press or media whilst under the term ,of the time stated within that contract.
    If there there are any legitamate complaints then ,I feel sure that the legal right of reply , is not effect .
    Many more heart rendering stories,that would have attracted a great deal more constructive and fascinating T.V. viewing, is still lying on the cutting room floor. The real efforts,tallents and sacrafices made,in order just to be who all of us really are may never be known. would make a whole years series.
    The reality T.V. part of our experiance,was almost anincumberance to most of us on our journey to this wonerful opertunity, to sing at such a wonderful venue .
    Even experianing seriouse illnesses or deaths .we were still expected to make ourselves available for camara shots,still on the cutting room floor.
    Anyone getting involved in this kind of thing should be aware that media and press have a mind of there own,and that just seconds of filming ,edited or clipped , can chage the whole of reality
    The name Reality T.V., is in itself a joke.
    As long as we don’t expand on the more negative aspects.of the editing and hold instead the most amazing experiance that we each could never realy have ever hoped for,then I think that everyone will be proud of us all.The web is an international tool and I would want the whole wprld to know that despite our own personel feeling .I am very proud of us all.
    x x

  45. I am also a choir member and I agree with Don that some fantastic stories lie on the cutting room floor! Many people on various forums have asked – what happened during rehearsals? Who are these people and why are they here? And, most of all, WHO were the other 32 choir members?

    This could have been a very different programme, full of insight, warmth and humour. Instead it was a pale imitation of a reality show, with traces of Trisha!

    Yes – there were people who did not fit the criteria (had to live and/or work in Blackbird Leys), yes – some people really couldn’t sing that well/at all but made it on personallity alone. But, they showed guts and determination and, for whatever reason, made it to the Albert Hall! I didn’t like one or two of them, but I accepted that they had made it into the choir and I had to deal with it and so should everyone else!

    Ivor was a puppet for the tv company. It was all to serve his own career. I doubt the concept was even his idea. I also doubt he would even have noticed if some of the choir were miming, as long as he got the camera time! The choir members all know how much of what went on was staged. People with mental illness being goaded and provoked into a reaction by the tv crew. That ain’t right!! The boozy night at the hotel where the choir stayed up way too late? Booze provided by the tv crew which was also attended by Ivor who stayed up well after many of the choir members!

    I know the show was very popular and I don’t mean to offend those who were riveted. But, you see, we know just how good it could have been had the cameras simply followed the story as it unfolded, instead of creating drama where it didn’t need to be.

    Finally, for the record, most of us HAVE had musical experience (I can read music) and would have given a fantastic performance under any professional conductor without ‘marvellous’ Ivor or the aid of a camera wedged in our faces! Who knows – it might even have been an enjoyable experience! I’ll never know!!

  46. Hi Gang,

    I am the soprano from the US who has been avidly following all of your comments…Now, I am even more intrigued about this program. Did any of you record the episodes? I would be willing to pay for copies, if any of you would be willing to sell. I have an all-region DVD player as well as VHS player. If you would like to communicate with me directly, I can provide an email address. By the way, I sing in a nice women’s chorus here in California, we just returned from an Eastern European tour. Sadly, we didn’t go to England this time, otherwise, I would love to have met some of you! If you’d like to read more about us (or audition, if you are going to be emigrating to CA!) go to http://www.pwchorus.org

    Anxiously Awaiting word on copies,

    Beatrice

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