In this musical drama, the harmony of a long-standing marriage is threatened by professional rivalry and a devastating secret.
Esther Caddick (Sarah Lancashire) is the devoted conductor of the local Bridgeford Community Choir, a role she has inherited from her late mother. Her life appears stable until her husband, Michael (Neil Pearson), a vicar, announces he is leaving her for the choir’s glamorous new soprano, Layla (Sarah Alexander). To compound the betrayal, Michael uses his influence to form a rival choir, poaching many of Esther’s best singers. Left with a depleted and demoralised group, Esther must rebuild her personal and professional life. The serial follows the escalating rivalry between the two choirs as they prepare for a regional competition, a contest that becomes a battleground for Esther and Michael’s unresolved emotional conflicts.
Created by Debbie Horsfield, this drama grafts the mechanics of a domestic soap opera onto a framework of choral arrangements of popular music. The narrative is constructed around the central rivalry, with each episode’s emotional beats culminating in a musical set piece. These performances, featuring songs from artists like The Killers and Blur, function as a direct expression of the characters’ inner turmoil and aspirations. The series is a determinedly optimistic piece of television, built on the familiar foundations of community spirit and the underdog narrative. Its primary appeal rests on the committed central performance of Sarah Lancashire as the wronged but resilient choirmaster.
Broadcast: BBC One, 6 Episodes, Tuesdays, 31 March – 5 May 2009
Created by: Debbie Horsfield
Directors: Coky Giedroyc, Francesca Joseph, Catherine Morshead
Executive Producers: Debbie Horsfield, Anne Mensah, Matthew Read
Producer: Lachlan MacKinnon
Main Cast: Sarah Lancashire (Esther Caddick), Neil Pearson (Michael Caddick), Sarah Alexander (Layla), Richard Fleeshman (Kyle Caddick), Bryan Dick (Jake), Joe Armstrong (Clint), Kiruna Stamell (Sita), Annette Badland (Grace)
