The former chart-topping NHS Choir are reuniting to raise the roof and raise funds for good causes on the eve of the NHS 70th anniversary in the Big NHS Singalong
The NHS Choir first found fame on BBC2’s Sing While You Work in 2012 and then went on to beat Justin Bieber to the 2015 Christmas No 1 with A Bridge over You.
Now they want to make headlines again as they attempt to break the world record for Most People Singing on a Radio Broadcast to celebrate the NHS’s 70th birthday.
Hosts Sara Cox, 43, and Diversity frontman Ashley Banjo, 29, tell TV Times just what to expect on The Big NHS Singalong…
'It’s the brainchild of three NHS staff, Joe, Katie and Caroline, who are from the NHS choir,' explains Sara. 'They wanted to celebrate the 70th birthday of the health service with a singalong – and they’ve got me and Ashley on board to help.
'On the night, we’ll be hooking up with various groups of people across the UK and getting them to sing to The Beatles’ classic With a Little Help from My Friends. So it’ll be lots of different people singing together to mark the anniversary of this wonderful institution,' she adds.
'We recorded the song [which will be available to download straight after the singalong] with a host of famous faces at the Abbey Road Studios in London,' says Ashley. 'Those involved include Nile Rodgers, Kimberley Walsh from Girls Aloud, UB40 and Blue, while Myleene Klass is playing piano…'
'Myleene’s mum was a nurse for 20-odd years and Myleene’s doing it out of respect for her, knowing how hard she worked,' says Sara.
'We’ve got some lovely popstars singing, but it’s all about the choir really. I don’t think [ex-Spandau Ballet frontman] Tony Hadley will mind me saying it’s more about the NHS workers than him!' jokes Sara.
TV Times rating: *****
