Jeremy Clarkson’s Hawkstone Farmers’ Choir releases record and plan to give funds to a mental health charity after wowing BGT judges and fans with emotional performance
Hawkstone Farmers’ Choir moved fans, judges and even Jeremy Clarkson to tears during their emotional Britain’s Got Talent performance last week.
The group bagged a golden buzzer from Amanda Holden, earning a place in the semi-finals.
And now the choir have released a record and plan to give the money to mental health charity Shout.
It has been released in the run-up to Mental Health Awareness Week in May, with the choir kindly giving all profits from their vinyl directly to Shout in support of Farmers mental wellbeing.
The choir, which is now run by farmers Simon Gwilliam and Lizzy Dean, was originally set up by the former Top Gear presenter after searching for singing agricultural workers to appear in an advert for his Hawkstone beer range.
The record is called The Banned One after a Hawkstone advert was banned for ‘not complying’ with broadcasting standards.
Victoria Hornby, chief executive of Shout, said: ‘The Hawkstone Farmers’ Choir has given an incredible voice to the mental health challenges faced by so many in the agricultural community.
‘We are immensely grateful to be the charity partner for this project. The funds raised from this vinyl will be vital, enabling us to train more volunteers and be there for anyone in the farming community who is struggling to cope. It will save lives.’
The Banned One is now available to buy on Hawkstone website for £7.50.
Jeremy got emotional as he broke his silence on the farming choir he helped to set up that auditioned for Britain’s Got Talent.
The Clarkson’s Farm star took to Instagram to reveal he’d tuned in to watch the choir perform on the ITV competition programme – and watched on as they were given the Golden Buzzer and sent through to the live shows.
The group sang a choral rendition of Elbow’s One Day Like This for judges Amanda, KSI, Alesha Dixon and Simon Cowell on the show on Saturday night.
Jeremy, 65, told his fans he was ‘so happy’ as he heaped praised on the ‘fantastic’ choir, which is made up of farmers from around the UK.
Speaking to his fans on social media, Jeremy explained: ‘I watched Britain’s Got Talent tonight for the first time because the Hawkstone choir were on.
‘They were just fantastic. These guys are all farmers and they work incredibly hard for really incredibly small rewards and to see them all on that stage with all that love in the room made my heart sing.’
Holding back his emotions, he admitted of watching the audition: ‘I actually welled up, and thank you Amanda Holden for pressing that Golden Buzzer.
‘It shows that I think people quite like farmers, and they were very, very good so well done, all of you. I’m a very happy man tonight because the choir is fab. That’s it.’
Fans flooded the comments section of Jeremy’s Instagram video to offer up their thoughts on the choir, as well as messages of support to the TV presenter for setting up the group in the first place.
Over the weekend, the Hawkstone choir were given the Golden Buzzer after their audition on the ITV show, sending them straight through to the live show round.
Tears flowed across the panel and among the audience — and in a moment that sealed their fate, Amanda, 55, reached for the coveted Golden Buzzer, sending the choir straight through to the live semi-finals.
The group of 32 farmers and agricultural workers from around the country were initially brought together by Jeremy and have been performing together since 2024.
Amanda said: ‘As you started, I completely welled up. I felt so much power. I love the whole community. I love how you’ve all got together and work your a**es off.
‘You work so hard every single day. You absolutely smashed it and I can’t wait to see what you do in the semi-finals. Congratulations.’
Guest judge Stacey Solomon added: ‘I don’t think anyone will understand the power of a choir unless they’ve been in a choir.
‘It’s such an incredible space to release and just letting it go. I’m so grateful that I got to experience that in real life, so thank you and congrats.’
