Farmer's 'fantastic feeling' as choir in BGT semis

A member of a choir of farmers has described the "fantastic feeling" of making it through to the semi-finals of Britain's Got Talent within a year of forming.

Chris Slatter from Mickleton Wood Farm in Warwickshire said farming could be "a lonely profession" and "coming together as a choir has been great" as he enjoyed having the chance to "get out and meet new people".

He was selected from hundreds of farmers to be a member of the Hawkstone Farmers Choir, which was initially formed to promote beers produced by Jeremy Clarkson.

If the choir wins Britain's Got Talent he said they planned to donate a large proportion of their winnings to mental health charities that supported farmers.

Slatter said he joined the choir after seeing an advert asking for farmers to take part in an advertising campaign.

He said he had done "a bit of backing singing in local bands" and played trumpet too, but his musical experience had been based on funk and rhythm and blues and he had not been part of a choir before.

After being selected and led through rehearsals, the choir performed in a handful of commercials, promoting Jeremy Clarkson's beer.

They met the broadcaster and Slatter said: "He's a great guy, he's exactly what he is on the telly. He's a gent."

Slatter's family has farmed at Mickleton for three generations and said "a lot of the jobs you do you are on your own".

"One of the worst part of farming is often left to make decisions on your own."

It was partly for that reason that the choir decided they wanted to support mental health charities that helped farmers.

He said farming was an especially volatile business at the moment and a "wrong decision can make or break you".

While everyone's situation was different, the choir had given him a chance to chat to other people "in a similar boat," he said.

The decision to audition for Britain's Got Talent was taken by the choir "because we got on so well and we thought we sounded so good together," Slatter said.

His family had been in the audience to watch him and he said the choir had loved the response of the crowd.

"In the course of a year we've gone from just being on the farm to singing with a lovely group of like-minded farmers, to then be on Britain's Got Talent, it's just immense, a fantastic feeling," he said.

Asked what is next, he said: "I think we're open to anything."

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