Singing farmer says choir's BGT win 'so surreal'

A farmer who sings in the choir which won Britain's Got Talent described the victory as "so surreal".

Ben Brooke, who farms near March in Cambridgeshire, auditioned to join the Hawkstone Farmers' Choir, formed by TV celebrity Jeremy Clarkson, last May.

A fourth-generation farmer, Brooke, originally from West Bilney, in Norfolk, said the group, made up of farmers from across the UK, wanted to raise awareness of the mental health issues affecting many working in agriculture.

"I actually feel like I'm in a dream," he said, after being crowned a Britain's Got Talent winner along with the other 33 members.

Brooke, 35, said being in the choir had given him "extra support" in his job, which could be "very lonely and isolating".

After the win, the choir celebrated at a pub in London, where they were joined by Clarkson and one of the ITV talent show's judges, Amanda Holden.

"It's been a bit of a whirlwind," said Brooke.

"I was saying to my wife earlier that actually, I'm quite looking forward to coming home.

"It's all well and good, but you know, the thing that I actually love is farming, not that I don't love singing."

Brooke had been unsure about joining the choir.

He had felt out of his comfort zone in the rehearsals, having only ever "sung to my daughter".

It was his wife who replied to an advert for singers for a farmers' choir. Brooke was chosen and given a baritone-bass role.

"The fact that we have been given the opportunity to portray our message on a wider scale has meant everything to us from the start," said Brooke.

"But to win it has been absolutely unbelievable.

"The support that we've had, like [from] Jeremy Clarkson. I'll forever be grateful for everything that he's done for us, because he put us together at the end of the day."

Brooke said the choir hoped to record its winning original song, and would perform it before King Charles III at the Royal Variety Performance.

During Saturday's final, judge Simon Cowell had questioned the choir's decision to perform an original song, titled This Is Home, but said it had "paid off".

Cowell called the performance "absolutely stunning", "heartfelt" and "joyous".

Holden was moved to tears.

The choir will also receive a £250,000 cash prize.

Brooke said the members were all hoping to capitalise on their success and do more for people struggling with their mental health.

The choir had received messages from all over the world, including from people who are struggling.

Brooke said the members would be having mental health training so they would be "more equipped to deal with these conversations".

He added that "you feel a pressure to reply to these people because you care, but you obviously want to be replying to them in the right way".

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