BGT final farmers 'blown away' by support

Two Herefordshire farmers who will perform in Saturday's Britain's Got Talent final said they were "blown away" by the support and believe their message of talking about mental health has "transcended the agricultural industry".

Andy Owens from Marden and Will Rogers from Presteigne are members of The Hawkstone Farmers' Choir - a collective put together by TV farmer Jeremy Clarkson.

They wowed the judges in last Saturday's semi-final, singing Bastille's Pompeii, and are hoping to go for gold later.

"If we can just get people opening up to each other, we can change a few lives, we will have done a brilliant job," Rogers said.

The choir was initially started as part of an advertising campaign for Clarkson's Cotswolds-based brewing firm, and has since used its platform to help raise awareness about mental health in farming.

Speaking to BBC Hereford and Worcester, Rogers said rehearsals for the final were going well.

"We've had a good few run throughs yesterday. It's coming together. We're really excited. It's sounding great," he said.

"I think there's pre-excitement nerves, but nerves in a good way," Owen added.

"We're just excited and really excited to get on that stage and have another bite at that cherry."

Rogers said the message from the choir was to get people talking about mental health and "have those conversations".

Owen said they were "totally, totally blown away by the words of support".

"Especially from the farming industry, because that's the industry and the profession we work in," he said.

"Even the messages that have come from beyond the community have been immensely touching and it's amazing to know from that semi-final performance last Saturday that almost our message, our story, has kind of transcended the agricultural industry."

Roger said they had a good connection with the song they planned to sing in the final.

"If we can get across in the way that we know we really can, and people get behind it, I think it's going to be a belter," he added.

He said the whole experience had been surreal and like a whirlwind.

"It's gone from one thing to another. We can't believe the traction that this has gathered."

The choir will perform in the final alongside golden buzzer winner Celestial and teenager Rafferty Coope, from Hampshire.

The final of ITV's Britain's Got Talent will be broadcast at 19:00 BST.

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