Jump to content

Children in Need Choir

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Since 2011 one of the recurring acts on the BBC telethon Children in Need has been a choir where usually over 1000 children come together in the studio and in around 8-10 locations across the UK and sing one song live in unison from the various locations. These choirs are created by the BBC local news regions using local schools and theatre groups and they usually sing from where the regional outside broadcast takes place. The performance usually starts in the studio and cuts between to the different locations throughout the performance before ending in the studio (2022 and 2023 do not start in the studio) with a short 20-30 second instrumental break to show a montage of clips the night's appeal films. However, since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic the choir there have been fewer singers and the choirs across the UK have been pre-recorded with only the studio choir singing live.

[edit]

The idea for nationwide link ups on Children in Need has been around since the early 1990s and started in the form of a jazz band performing from the regional events. However in 1996 the link-ups started to move towards the current format when 500 children in 13 locations led by Gary Wilmot and a further 100 children in the studio performed the 1989 Children in Need Single - If You Want To Help. This eventually grew to become the Children in Need choir that has been shown since 2011.

1996

[edit]

In 1996 Gary Wilmot led 100 children in the studio and a further 500 across the UK performed If You Want To Help in unison.[1] They performed from:

1997

[edit]

In 1997 Children in Need attempted to break the world record for the most people simultaneously line dancing which previously had stood at 1788. 5500 people from all the regions danced in unison to 5, 6, 7, 8 led by Steps themselves in the studio.

1998

[edit]

In 1998 Children in Need paid tribute to Frank Sinatra after his death earlier that year. Music groups, choirs and singers performed My Way in unison from across the regions. They were led by Michael Ball in Belfast and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales in London

2000

[edit]

In 2000 Children in Need performed a medley of Abba songs led by Martine McCutcheon in the studio. Acts ranging from school choirs to, local bands to Atomic Kitten performed snippets from the songs one after another to a live accompaniment from the BBC National Orchestra of Wales who were in the studio.

2001

[edit]

In 2001 S Club 7 performed the Children in Need Single Have You Ever accompanied by 3616 schools across the UK who sent in tapes of the chorus Six live school choirs sang along representing them from the 6 regional concerts. These were:

S Club 8 performed in the studio in their first televised performance.

2007

[edit]

Lee Mead performed Any Dream Will Do with choirs in 8 locations across the UK live.

Children in Need Choirs

[edit]

2011

[edit]

In 2011,[3][4] the Children in Need Choir started by Gareth Malone featured the contestants on The Big Performance Series 2. They sang "Keep Holding On" by Avril Lavigne The choirs sang at:

Hull, Hampshire, Colchester, County Durham and Loughborough weren't included in the nationwide link up performance and were instead included in the highlights programme.

2012

[edit]

In 2012,[19][20] the choir was led by Aled Jones and featured over 2000 singers in 15 locations. They sang "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Simon and Garfunkel

The choirs were singing at:

Cambridge, Exeter, Leicestershire, Rotherham and Salford weren't included in the nationwide link up performance and were instead included in the highlights programme.

2013

[edit]

In 2013, the main studio moved to Elstree Studios in Borehamwood just outside of London, the performance featured only 10 choirs and 1624 children, instead of all of the events having choirs and some not being included it was decided those regions would just not have choirs and this idea had continued. The choirs sang at:

2014

[edit]

In 2014,[31][32] the choir had a similar format to 2013 with 10 locations and 1685 and they sang "I'll Stand by You" by The Pretenders.

The choirs sang from:

2015

[edit]

In 2015,[36] there were 1661 children in 10 locations and the choir sang "The Climb" by Miley Cyrus.

The choirs sang from:

2016

[edit]

In 2016,[44] they had 1580 children in 9 choirs and they sang "Lean on Me" by Bill Withers.

The Choirs sang at:

2017

[edit]

In 2017, there were 1788 children in 10 choirs and they sang "Over the Rainbow" by Judy Garland.

The choirs sang from:

2018

[edit]

In 2018, the 1466 children in 9 choirs sang "A Million Dreams" from The Greatest Showman.

The choirs sang from:

2019

[edit]

In 2019, there were 9 choirs and 1399 children and they sang "True Colours" by Cyndi Lauper.

The Choirs sang from:

2020

[edit]

In 2020, due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, the choir was altered to fit guidelines: choirs in each location were reduced to around 4-5 singers and it was pre-recorded, except for the studio choir, which had 12 members and were live on the night. Instead of an instrumental section, it went to a montage of all the choirs together before returning to showing the locations as usual. Instead of Museums or Theatres more of the locations were landmarks with their on screen labels being the landmark name instead of just the city/ town. It was also the last year to be in Elstree Studios. They sang "Fix You" by Coldplay.

The singers sang from:

2021

[edit]

In 2021 the choir followed a similar format to 2020: most locations have 4-6 singers and 12 in the live studio choir. However, it did include the instrumental section. This was the first year to use Salford for the Main Studio. They sang "Rise Up" by Andra Day. The on-screen name labels followed the same format as 2020.

The singers sang at:

2022

[edit]

In 2022 the choir was again pre-recorded with the studio choir live. The number of singers was upped to around 20 per location and. This year was the first year not to start and end with the studio choir's performance instead starting with a montage of the children preparing for singing and all of the choirs were shown before the instrumental with only the Studio and a montage of all the choirs shown after. They sang "Somewhere Only We Know" by Keane.

The choirs this year were:

2023

[edit]

The choirs sang from:

2024

[edit]

To be announced

References

[edit]
  1. ^ lots of the venues 1996-2000 come from emails from BBC Archivists
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Condon, Paul (14 November 2012). "Live BBC Outside Broadcasts for Children in Need appeal night". BBC Children in Need Blog. BBC. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  3. ^ "Children in Need 2011", Wikipedia, 2024-04-09, retrieved 2024-04-21
  4. ^ Gareth Malone's Children in Need Choir - BBC Children in Need 2011. Retrieved 2024-04-21 – via www.youtube.com.
  5. ^ BBC Scotland, Reporting Scotland, 18 November 2011
  6. ^ BBC South East, South East Today, 18 November 2011
  7. ^ BBC West, Points West, 18 November 2011
  8. ^ BBC North West, North West Tonight, 18 November 2011
  9. ^ BBC South West, Spotlight, 18 November 2011
  10. ^ BBC Cymru Wales, Wales Today, 18 November 2011
  11. ^ BBC Yorkshire, Look North, 18 November 2011
  12. ^ BBC West Midlands, Midlands Today, 18 November 2011
  13. ^ Signage for location seen in background of BBC Northern Ireland programme Children in Need in Northern Ireland 2011, broadcast 19 November 2011
  14. ^ BBC Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, Look North, 18 November 2011
  15. ^ BBC South, South Today, 18 November 2011
  16. ^ BBC East, Look East, 18 November 2011
  17. ^ BBC North East & Cumbria, Look North, 18 November 2011
  18. ^ BBC East Midlands, East Midlands Today, 18 November 2011
  19. ^ "Children in Need b2012", Wikipedia, 2024-04-05, retrieved 2024-04-21
  20. ^ "BBC - BBC Children in Need, BBC Children in Need Choir: Around the UK". BBC. 2012-11-22. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
  21. ^ BBC Newsline 16 November 2012.
  22. ^ BBC Wales Today 16 November 2012.
  23. ^ "BBC Children in Need". Roman Baths, Bath. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  24. ^ BBC Newsline, 15 November 2013
  25. ^ North West Tonight, 15 November 2013
  26. ^ "National Maritime Museum Cornwall all set for BBC Children in Need live broadcast on Friday". West Briton. 12 November 2013. Archived from the original on 11 November 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  27. ^ Reporting Scotland, 15 November 2013
  28. ^ "Children in Need - Friday 15 November". Library of Birmingham. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  29. ^ Bieber, Nicholas (14 November 2013). "Northamptonshire Children In Need comes from Wicksteed Park, Kettering". Northampton Herald and Post. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  30. ^ "The College". The College. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  31. ^ "Children in Need 2014", Wikipedia, 2024-04-15, retrieved 2024-04-21
  32. ^ bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02bxhs1 The full choir performance taken from the main telethon
  33. ^ bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02bxhs1 Sign behind choir at 1:06
  34. ^ McCrum, Kirstie (2014-11-15). "Children in Need in another record-breaking total". Wales Online. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
  35. ^ "Barra Best and Jo Scott present Northern Ireland Children in Need". BBC News. 2014-11-14. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
  36. ^ "Children in Need 2015", Wikipedia, 2024-04-14, retrieved 2024-04-21
  37. ^ "Gloucestershire residents raise £1,374,202 for BBC Children in Need". Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard. 2015-11-19. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  38. ^ "BBC - BBC Children in Need, 2015, Northern Ireland's Best Bits". BBC. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  39. ^ "Great Yarmouth schools to join the Children in Need choir". Eastern Daily Press. 2015-11-03. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  40. ^ "BBC - BBC Children in Need, 2015, Wales' Best Bits". BBC. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  41. ^ "Choir of 200 young people to perform for Children in Need". Jersey Evening Post. 2015-11-10. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  42. ^ "BBC - BBC Children in Need, 2015, Scotland's Best Bits". BBC. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  43. ^ "Arundel Castle to appear on BBC Children in Need". Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  44. ^ "Children in Need 2016", Wikipedia, 2024-04-14, retrieved 2024-04-21
  45. ^ a b c d e f g h i Newsroom, The. "Milton Keynes pupils to perform live for bbc children in need". {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  46. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Pupils to perform live on Children in Need from the Piece Hall". Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  47. ^ a b c d e f g h "News: grand theatre to host bbc children in need live choir broadcast".
  48. ^ a b c d e f g h Rimell, William (14 November 2019). "south wiltshire primary schools sing live bbc children need".
  49. ^ "BBC One - Midlands Today, Evening News, 06/11/2020, Children in Need choir at Coventry Cathedral". BBC. 2020-11-06. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
  50. ^ a b "BBC - BBC Children in Need, 2020, The Big Welsh Round-Up". BBC. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  51. ^ "BBC - BBC Children in Need, 2020, Pudsey's Best Bits". BBC. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
[edit]