I think Gareth Malone is a complete hero. Watching this programme has also been giving me a worrying desire to join a choir...

Me Caroline!!! I have been a fan of Gareth Malone's ever since he did the first one. I mentioned him on this thread, but no one else seems to be watching it in WF.

http://www.writewords.org.uk/groups/102_296928.asp

What I love about him is his complete lack of snobbery and how he will not pander to the lowest common denominator - getting them to sing in Latin was an inspiration. He's such a babe, too!

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No one, not even Gareth, would want me in their choir.

I love the way he is just utterly himself and seems to be accepted by all kinds of people. I also loved the one in the school. Best thing on telly at the moment, I say.

Don't think he is a babe though...have very strong desire to ruffle up his neat hair.

[Must go and read that other thread now!]

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Agree with you on Outnumbered too!

I agree, Caroline - it's great to see someone who's equally capable directing a group of kids as he is working with hard as nails blokes from the wrong side of the tracks...

But what was the big deal about learning to sing in Latin? I mean, it's no more difficult than English. German, on the other hand...now that would have been entertainment!

I was born and raised on that council estate, and some of my relatives still live there.
And yes, it is/was as rough as it looks.

It's a mindset, isn't it though. you think you can't read Latin, so you can't.

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Personally, i'd say German was much easier as it's phonetic.

Hm...sung German diction is notoriously difficult, though. And I'm not sure I'd fancy my chances trying to explain, for instance, an esszett or an umlaut - neither of which you'll find in Latin (which is, surely, the ultimate phonetic language?)

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I had to laugh at the little girl who whinged "We're not Latin, we're English!" I wonder how long it will take her to realise there's a rather fundamental connection...?

What will we do without lovely Gareth? sniff

He's on again next week, revisiting the boys' school. Isn't it great he decided to stay on with the choir? How noble! Did you get all lump-throaty? I did. At least half a dozen times.

Aah, am so happy to hear he'll be back next week. I definitely got throat lumpy. When the widowed chap came on I almost had to bite the sofa to stop myself from sobbing.

Gareth for PM, I say.

Me too, Caroline!!

Gareth was in the Observer mag yesterday. He is MARRIED! I was quite surprised as was sure he was gay...

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...and to a woman, I should have said,

Course he's not gay. Why did you think that? Cos he sings? Or is it his hair?

Oh dear, I feel a little reprimanded!
It was just his manner and a certain precise neatness about him. I was convinced.
I'm going to shut up now before I get myself into trouble!

That's silly. I sing and have hair. But I'm not gay. Anyway, silliness aside, yes, it was great to even see the Gareth repeat about the boy's school. Wonder if they will repeat the very first series, the one where he went into a rough school in Northolt?