The Choir: New Military Wives, BBC2 - TV review (independent.co.uk)

Choirmaster Gareth Malone is back!" announced the voiceover for The Choir: New Military Wives (BBC2)– a valiant attempt to introduce a sense of occasion, but in vain. It's been barely six weeks since Malone was last on telly in The Choir's Children in Need special.

That project produced his second hit record, but the first came in 2011, when he organised the first Military Wives choir, and their single "Wherever You Are" reached the Christmas No 1 spot. There are now more than ... continue reading

Gareth's All Star Choir sees choirmaster Malone get tough with celebrity singers for Children In Need (Jennifer Rodger)

When he was tasked with creating this year’s Children In Need single with a group of stars, Gareth Malone admits he got his natty bow tie in a bit of a twist.

“I had to be quite stressy and strict at times,” recalls the charming 38-year-old choirmaster.

“They just wouldn’t shut up,” he adds about the recording of the song, which is captured in this two-hour documentary.

“I think they turned up thinking it was all going to be a bit of a jolly,” says Gareth, “and they were actually surprised by how difficult it is – and how rewarding.

“Nitin Ganatra from EastEnders [who plays Masood] had wanted to ... continue reading