Home with Gareth Malone

We chat to Gareth Malone, whose favourite hobbies are singing – and would happily sing ‘Yesterday’ everyday – and unwinds by ice skating!

Q. How long have you been singing for and how did you get into it?
“I’ve been singing since I was a toddler and my mother sang to me. I joined a school choir at the age of seven and have sung ever since.”

Q. What led to you present The Choir?
“I ran a local community choir at St Luke’s near the Barbican, which was one of the outreach projects run by the LSO (London Symphony Orchestra). Ana de Moraes, then at Twenty Twenty TV, was looking for a choirmaster for a new BBC series. She called Amy Armstrong at the LSO who fortunately recommended me. Luckily due to the success of the first series, it was immediately commissioned for another series and has continued.”

Q. Do you think people’s view on choir singing has changed? “Having something on BBC2 gives people the chance to see what’s going on which might otherwise be considered as quite niche, such as singing or baking.”

Q. How was it being a judge on Pitch Battle?
“Really fun. I’m not afraid of telling people what I think and I loved working with Kelis.”

Q. How do you do to relax?
“I play jazz piano and ice skate.”

Q. Any plans for the rest of the year?
“Very excited about more tour dates and filming for BBC.”

Q. If you were only ever allowing to sing just one song for the rest of your days, what would it be?
“Yesterday by The Beatles.”

Visit www.garethmalone.com