I haven't been around much for a while but I'd like to wish everyone a Happy Christmas and hope you all have a wonderful year in 2012.
Sometimes telly isn't very inspiring, last year's Christmas output was dire. This year it's very different! We've already had the new drama series about the vet James Herriot and a new series of Garrow's Law. Tomorrow we're spoilt for choice with the new Christmas Dr Who, Downton Abbey and Strictly Come Dancing Christmas programmes as well as the first of three new Absolutely Fabulous 20th anniversary specials.
However they'll all be hard pushed to beat last night's very moving The Choir. It's an amazing programme about a group of wives whose husbands and partners were serving in Afghanistan who formed a military choir with the help of the inspirational choirmaster Gareth Malone.
Have to say it was very moving listening to their stories about their husbands and their lives without them. The letters to their loved ones inspired Paul Mealor (the royal wedding composer) to write a song for them, Wherever You Are. They performed it live at the British Legion's Festival of Remembrance at the Albert Hall in November. This week their record reached Number 1 and is the fastest selling single for six years. What a pleasant change from the X Factor hyped plastic songs produced over the last few years.
I can't upload the video from YouTube but here's the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hR6O7VxKaQ
If you can watch the BBC's iPlayer you can see the very moving programme here http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0195vs2/The_Choir_Military_Wives_Compilation/
