BGT semi-final success 'overwhelming' for farmers choir

Getting through to the final of Britain's Got talent was "very overwhelming", said a member of a choir made up of farmers from across the UK.

The Hawkstone Farmers' Choir was initially founded by Jeremy Clarkson as part of an advertising campaign for his Cotswolds-based brewing firm and has since used its platform to help raise awareness around mental health in farming.

The choir won the public vote in Saturday's semi-final, singing Pompeii by Bastille, and will perform in the final alongside golden buzzer winner Celestial and teenager Rafferty Coope, from Hampshire.

Choir member James Florey, from Northmoor in Oxfordshire, said the reaction to their performance was "incredibly emotional".

The judges praised the group's performance, with Amanda Holden describing the song choice as "beautiful".

"This choir, I know, has given you solace and joy and comfort and friendship, and all of that has created the most amazing music," she added.

Fellow judge KSI said: "I felt every single word that you guys sang... that was one of the best choir acts I've ever heard in my life."

"You are one of the favourites to win," said Simon Cowell.

Fourth-generation farmer Florey told the BBC the judges' comments were "lovely to hear".

"We were just so grateful that they believe in us and support our cause."

He said the choir has had a "massive impact" on the farmers who are part of it and hopes they can pass that on to others.

"We've all come together and shared some of our own experiences and some of our own challenges personally.

"It's had such a positive impact on all of our own mental health."

Performing at the semi-finals was the "most surreal experience", he said, adding: "We kind of already feel like we've won, just from being there.

"Getting there has been massive but if we can go with that one step further and have even the chance of winning it, then that's brilliant."

Ben Chick, a farmer based in Sixpenny Handley, Dorset, said performing on Saturday "was the most exhilarating experience".

He said waiting to find out if they had got through to the final was tense.

"It really does mean the world to us," he said. "There were people in such a tears, including me."

Abbie Condon, a farmer from Witney, Oxfordshire, said: "I was having a bit of a rough time this time last year when the choir all started.

"It's just given me this shining light to look at the whole time.

"There's always something on the cards for the choir to be doing and that's just really picked me up."

Clarkson, who lives in Oxfordshire, posted a video of him and Kaleb Cooper celebrating with a crowd at Farm Fest in Warwickshire on his Instagram.

The choir began last year after dozens of farmers were selected following a casting call from Hawkstone for people who wanted to take part in the brewery's latest tongue-in-cheek advertising campaign.

The adverts were banned from being aired on television due to their explicit language but were popular online.

The final of ITV's Britain's Got Talent will air on 30 May at 19:00 BST.