Latest news with #HearOurVoice
Daily Mirror
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Post Office choir founder says 'therapuetic' BGT stint was 'life changing'
Mark Wildblood, the founder of Hear Our Voice - the choir made up of people impacted by the Post Office scandal - says the initiative has been 'therapeutic' after a battle with depression. Hear Our Voice, the choir made up of people affected by the Post Office scandal which placed seventh in the recent series of Britain's Got Talent, are releasing a new charity single alongside band Will & The People. The single, Falling Down, is a rendition of the song they performed in their audition for Britain's Got Talent. And choir founder Mark Wildblood says the initiative has been 'life changing' for him, admitting the talent show stint has made a significant impact on his mental health. 'I personally have found it very therapeutic,' said Mark. 'I was on antidepressants prescribed by my doctor for a long long time and I spoke to them very early this year and I said, 'Look [the choir] is really starting to make me feel good and I wouldn't mind trying to go without [the antidepressants]. "So, at the recommendation of doctors I was told it's ok to give it a go and I haven't been back on them since,' he says of the choir's impact. Continuing that it has given him 'purpose' following dark days, Mark shared, 'It's not difficult to get caught up in dwelling on all of the negatives. So, to be surrounded by the same people that you talk to about it every day and that are seeing the positives as well, I think we've done a really really positive thing and a lot of that is thanks to BGT.' While Mark says the choir has meant he's managed to let go of 'anger' he was holding onto against the post office, he confirms that the 'concern' remains. 'My concern for the procedure is not eliminated. We still have to make sure that we get closure and closure can only come with compensation.' Mark was a sub-postmaster at Upton Post Office before he was suspended from the role as one of the thousands of people impacted by the Post Office scandal. The scandal saw the wrongful prosecution of sub-postmasters and postmistresses by the Post Office, who accused them of theft, fraud, and false accounting due to faulty data from the Horizon IT system used by the company. He founded the choir in May 2024, inviting others impacted by the scandal to take part and raise money for the cause, alongside awareness. As the former tour manager for Will and the People, Mark then enlisted lead singer Will Rendle to get involved as he fronted the act on Britain's Got Talent. And detailing how the choir has become a family dynamic, Mark said, 'W e always say to each other that we have become family now. The choir is spread out throughout the country and so BGT has given us the opportunity to actually meet five times in a very short space of time and be together.' Many of the victims are still awaiting compensation from the Post Office, with Mark admitting that despite the success of their campaigning and the recent TV series; Mr Bates vs The Post Office, there's still a long way to go. It comes as Simon Recaldin, a Post Office boss who has been backing compensation for the scandal victims, has left his position in the company. Simon is thought to have opted for voluntary redundancy, a move which comes amid the increased pressure on the company to pay victims. Previously, the government announced that those who have had convictions overturned are eligible for £600,000, with hundreds still waiting for the compensation. 'Scandals like these have a commonality where the bureaucracy of closure takes so long that many people pass away by the time that the situations are resolved - I just hope that we don't get into that situation,' says Mark of those yet to be paid. 'We've already lost a lot of people in the Post Office scandal and we can't afford to lose more without getting a speed up, so I would say to those in power, please change the system. It'll be better for everyone all round and cost a lot less money if they just do it now as it should be,' pleaded Mark. With fellow choir member Maria Lockwood joking that the unit would be keen to front the Glastonbury stage this summer, Mark says he isn't opposed to the idea. "We wouldn't say no to anything where we had the opportunity to get together in person again and Glastonbury would be amazing, that would be phenomenal." Falling Down, the single by Hear Our Voice choir and Will and The People, is available on all platforms from tomorrow, 10 June. 100% of profits after costs from the single are going to the Horizon Scandal Fund and Lost Chances—two organisations supporting victims and their families.
BBC News
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Hear Our Voice: How choir helps Post Office scandal victims
A singer in a choir made up of victims of the Post Office scandal and their families has described it as the "most joyful" experience which has seen their confidence grow since having their wrongful convictions Brentnall, from Roch, Pembrokeshire, was among hundreds of sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses prosecuted after its Horizon computer system incorrectly recorded financial said they previously had met only at "horrible events like public inquiries or court dates" in the years it took to clear their names, so some decided to start the choir, Hear Our charity single will help colleagues and their children with many still seeking compensation. A Post Office spokesperson said it "apologised unreservedly" to the victims of the Horizon IT scandal and was focused on paying redress as quickly as Brentnall said: "It's been absolutely fantastic to get to know this group of people even better and do something so positive together. "It's given people something to focus on, and you can certainly see in the group, people have really grown in confidence, not just happiness," he told BBC Radio Wales' Breakfast."It was, it still is, the most joyful thing that I've ever done." The choir reached the finals of ITV show Britain's Got Talent last weekend which Mr Brentnall described as a "fantastic" and "crazy" experience which was "terrifying for everybody"."Everybody stood up and applauded us which was amazing," he added. Mr Brentnall explained the Horizon scandal had not yet been resolved with him and other former postmasters and mistresses trying to settle compensation claims."My claim, and everybody's claim, is not plucked out of thin air - it's put together by forensic accountants and people much cleverer than I am."You submit it and the Post Office and their legal team go through it and come back with a cost minimised claim."Then you have to rewrite it, resubmit, and it's a fight to get to somewhere that's acceptable where, if there was a will, they could just pay everybody's claims tomorrow."
Daily Mirror
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Britain's Got Talent's voting figures exposed following Harry Moulding's win
Britain's Got Talent 2025 came to an end over the weekend, with Blackpool-based magician Harry Moulding announced as the winner Britain's Got Talent 2025's voting figures have been revealed following magician Harry Moulding's win over the weekend. The Blackpool-based magician took to the stage earlier that night and impressed the panel of judges, including Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon, Amanda Holden and Bruno Tonioli, by correctly guessing which cards they had chosen out of a pack, while jumping out of a plane. Reacting to his win on Saturday, Harry collapsed to the ground and screamed in excitement. He later told hosts Ant and Dec: "I can't believe what is going on. Thank you, thank you everyone so so much. I genuinely feel like everyone has been behind me. This has been the most incredible journey." Harry won this year's competition by a huge percentage after beating 10 other finalists. Dance act Binita, eight, came in third place while The Blackouts narrowly missed out on winning by coming in second place. The magician won with 27.1% of the votes, with second place act, The Blackouts, receiving 15.1% of the votes. Binita got 13.2% while Olly Pearson received 10.4%. Joseph Charm came out with 9.3% and Jasmine Rice got 9.1%. Hear Our Voice received 7%, Vinnie McKee 4.7%, Han & Fran 3.6%, Ping Pong Pang 3.1%, and Stacey Leadbeatter came out with 2.8% of the votes. Some BGT fans have expressed their disappointment at one act not being crowned the 2025 winner. Taking to social media, some viewers were certain dance group Blackouts were going to be awarded the top prize. One said: "Robbed!!! Should have won!" Another added: "They should have won was the best act by far." Someone else commented: "They should have won." The Blackouts were happy with second place as they said after the announcement: "Thank you so much, we feel so grateful for this journey. Thank you so much and congratulations. Well deserved." Meanwhile, some fans branded Harry's win as "unfair" as he appeared to have longer on stage than some other acts. It is standard for acts to have a two minute slot to show their very best routine. However, some viewers thought magician Harry and comedian Joseph Charm had longer than that. One said: "Not an undeserving winner but they need to look at levelling out the segment times next year so that all contestants have a fair chance."
BBC News
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Crick sub-postmaster performs in Britain's Got Talent final
A postmaster who sings with a choir of people affected by the Post Office scandal said he was "50% gutted and 50% grateful" after failing to win the final of Britain's Got Attridge, who runs a branch in Crick, Northamptonshire, took to the stage with 40 other singers in the Hear Our Voice rendition of Gigantic by Wills and the People saw them finish seventh while magician Harry Moulding took first Attridge said he was "grateful for being given the chance" to perform on the show. The choir was set up for victims of the Post Office scandal and their than 900 postmasters were prosecuted for stealing because of incorrect information from the Horizon computer choir was favourite to win going into the final and the village of Crick had given their support to Hear Our Voice with posters and bunting on was even a rumour that a concert in Crick church was paused on the night so the audience could vote for the choir. Mr Attridge said the final result left the choir "50% gutted and 50% grateful" and added: "If you'd have said to me when I joined the choir that we were going to be going on Britain's Got Talent as finalists and as favourites, who would have thought that?"We've got to be grateful for the support, grateful for being able to get our message out there". Mr Attridge was the only serving sub-postmaster in the choir and said: "At times, I felt like a bit of an imposter [in the choir]."It's been so horrific and so terrible what they've been through."I'm one of them and they've accepted me which is great, but I haven't had the problems they have and the problems I did have have all been sorted."He added that he was "overwhelmed by the support" from the village of Crick said the world had not "heard the last" of Hear Our Voice. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Scottish Sun
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Britain's Got Talent 2025 voting percentages revealed as Harry Moulding wins by a landslide
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BRITAIN'S Got Talent 2025 voting percentages have been revealed, and Harry Moulding won by a landslide. Revealing the results backwards live on stage, Ant and Dec declared magician Harry Moulding as the winning performance. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 6 Britain's Got Talent 2025 voting percentages have been revealed, and Harry Moulding won by a landslide Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 6 As part of his routine, he jumped out of a plane and completed a skydive Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 6 The BGT final took place this weekend Credit: Shutterstock Editorial After beating 10 other finalists to take home the victory, Harry bagged himself £250,000 and a spot on the bill at the Royal Variety Performance. As part of his routine, he jumped out of a plane and completed a skydive while correctly guessing the cards of the judges, who were left mystified. And it would turn out that Harry won by an impressive lead, as the voting percentages were revealed. Harry won with 27.1% of the vote, which was a significant lead on the Blackouts behind him, with 15.1%. Then in third place was Binita with 13.2%, followed by Olly Pearson with 10.4%, Joseph Charm with 9.3% and Jasmine Rice with 9.1%. Hear Our Voice had 7%, Vinnie McKee 4.7%, Han & Fran 3.6%, Ping Pong Pang 3.1%, and finally Stacey Leadbeatter with 2.8%. The magician, who has been part of the illustrious Magic Circle since he was a youth, left Ranvir Singh gobsmacked today, as he wowed her with an "absolutely ridiculous" card trick live on-air. Good Morning Britain anchor Ranvir, 47, was standing in for regular host Lorraine Kelly, 65, and told how Harry was a "good old Northerner, a Lancashire lad," before she added: "You always had my vote." As his interview wrapped, he pulled out a pack of cards to challenge Ranvir. Ranvir Singh left gobsmacked as BGT winner Harry Moulding wows her with 'absolutely ridiculous' card trick on Lorraine He asked her to pull a card from the pack and show the camera, where she revealed it was the 10 of clubs. Harry didn't look at the card but asked her: "All good, are you happy? "Just say stop in it goes," before she inserted it back into the pack which he shuffled slowly, at Ranvir's request. To her shock he then pulled out the 10 of clubs and confessed: "No, most magicians wouldn't show you the moment this happens but I will. BGT FINAL 2025 VOTING PERCENTAGES Britain's Got Talent 2025 voting percentages have been revealed, and Harry Moulding won by a landslide. Harry Moulding -21.7% The Blackouts - 15.1% Binita -13.2% Olly Pearson - 10.4% Joseph Charm - 9.3% Jasmine Rice - 9.1% Hear Our Voice - 7.0% Vinnie McKee - 4.7% Han & Fran - 3.6% Ping Pong Pang - 3.1% Stacey Leadbeatter - 2.8% "If you watch that 10, we will bring it really close, I'm going to let you do this. "Can you push it in [the pack] yourself?" After a click of his fingers, Harry said "look at me," and Ranvir let out an audible gasp. The ITV favourite said: "What did you just do there?" as he replied: "It jumped all the way here." She could then be seen clapping as she said: "That is absolutely ridiculous well done." 6 Harry won with 27.1% of the vote, which was a significant lead on the Blackouts behind him, with 15.1% 6 Binita was in third place with 13.2% Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
