The Choir

I don't doubt that the black guy was asked if he wanted to take part and maybe its helpful to him to be open about it. Isn't that facing up to his previous behaviour.

I guess it is no secret in his family or community. On balance I think it was good to see that someone could be given a second chance by a big corporation.

Did anyone watch The Choir yesterday? I was surprised to see that it was in our local Sainsbury's and I recognised a few of the people.

I was a bit concerned to see the young black chap being quizzed about where he'd been before working at Sainsbury's - prison - and then asked what he'd been in for - drug dealing. Given that he had two children, I wondered if it was right to encourage him to reveal these details.

Thank you Elegran that is exactly the one that I tried (and failed) to find!

I quite enjoy The Choir but preferred it when it focused on just one choir.
It gave the viewer much more of a chance to get to know the people involved.

The one I especially remember was set in a very ordinary, rather rundown new town. There was older gentleman who had recently lost his wife and who was feeling very depressed and lonely. The chance to join a choir and meet new people gave him a new lease of life. Also the choir brought the whole community together and people formed new friendships. Some might say that these sorts of programmes are cynically tugging at the viewers' heart strings but I found that particular series quite moving.

Ive sung in choirs on and off all my life and promote it as uplifting therapy but I switch off if competition is mentioned and am not interested in taking part in festivals etc.
Im not even that fussed about performing to others, the choral singing experience is enough for me. Not sure I like the competition aspect of The Choir. I suppose it makes for better viewing figures though.

Here is someone else.
www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/10431015/Michael-Deacon-Competitive-Gareth-and-super-Hans.html

He comments on the world poulation explosion too, which is not happening quite as predicted.

cheer yourselves up folks and watch the youtube clip above!

Is this any use? www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/10442135/The-Choir-Sing-While-You-Work-BBC-Two-review.html

I agree - as usual the TV channels have found a fascinating subject for a series and don't know when to stop.
I expect the producers have "groomed " Gareth, and now he's nothing like the genuine, enthusiastic person he was in the first series.
But I think they've still managed to capture some of the thrill of singing together in a choir, however mundane the choice of music.
I was a member of choirs for many years and loved it.

You and me both, Gally - it seems another example of how to kill the goose that laid the golden egg by (to mix my metaphors) milking an initially good idea to death. Boring, repetitive, and that dreary song (yet again) ..... .as far as the ratings are concerned I feel "The only way is down"

I found the page but can't manage to copy it and blue it on here. I gave up last night and watched something else. I really used to enjoy Gareth but I think he is too busy rushing about the country filming 5 lots at once. I think it's time to call it quits

Useless DT on line! Maybe someone with more patience can find it, it was written by Sameer Rahim, in the "last night on television" column

Gareth does seem less than enthusiastic this time. The whole format is becoming too predictable IMO. I do not feel as engaged as I did with this series before.

There was a very much less than favourable article in the TV section of todays Telegraph, practically stating that GM hardly does a thing this time round.

Will see if I can find a link.....

As someone who lives abroad I like to catch up on what people are doing in the UK. their jobs and responsibilities. I liked looking at Birmingham City Council and the city - a city I haven't visited for over 25 years. Gareth can listen to people and I like that and I think he does get the best out of his singers.

AND Gareth patronising , insincere AND uninspiring !
hey ho !

You are not alone goldengirl.

Oh dear! Am I the only one to find this series - dare I say it - b-o-r-i-n-g enough to switch off

A real morale booster..nearly squeezed a tear!

Aren't the chaps fantastic?

Oh, yes. I enjoyed that!

We liked Birmingham council didn't we. Very sympathetic portrayal.
Bit of a better choice of singers than in P and O as well.
If you want to listen to an uplifting bit of singing... I don't usually post video links but...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=czGABOkLGqU

Obviously got a purer mind than some...

Oh yes - and he does mention the beard but confines his comments to how it is a different colour from his head hair - he desists from further speculation!