Nottingham actor Vicky McClure will be back on our screens on Monday, October 10, 2022. But she will not be in cult cop show Line of Duty, instead she will be back with The Dementia Choir.
It's been four years since the Wollaton-born star formed her choir of people living with dementia. The disease is close to the actress's heart, having previously spoken of witnessing dementia first-hand after caring for her grandmother "Nona" Iris, who died in 2015.
The two-part series begins on Monday, October 10, and catches up with old members Mick and Julie and new members Kev and Leslie. Keen to see the changes that have taken place in the care of patients, Vicky soon discovers that "nothing has really changed; there is a lack of support and help available to those being diagnosed". There are also growing care issues, and music therapy is not available for most people living with the condition.
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As well as being an ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Society, Vicky is an advocate of the power of music to change the lives of those living with the condition. In 2019, the choir performed in front of 2,000 people at Nottingham’s Royal Concert Hall.
According to the BBC synopsis for the new show, McClure once again turns to her choir for help in raising awareness of these issues. It states: "Together, they decide they are going to do what they do best and sing to get their message across by recording and releasing their own single – a very special song that has been gifted to them by a local Nottingham band".
Walking in the footsteps of music legends The Beatles, they make musical history when they become the first dementia choir to record at the legendary Abbey Road Studios.
Nottingham developer, Arran Bailey of ALB Group, has also shown his support for the choir to the tune of £20,000. The donation came about after the MD was impressed with the support the choir gave family friend, Kevin Cuthbert. Kevin, 69, grew up in The Meadows and was diagnosed with dementia in November last year.
The retired Rolls-Royce and Royal Ordnance Factory worker has attended Our Dementia Choir sessions since January and his friends say it has made a vast difference to his wellbeing. As the choir does not receive any funding from government, medical or research bodies - members raise money through their own fundraising, donations, bids and performances.
Arran said: “Our Dementia Choir is doing amazing work with people suffering from dementia. My mum went to watch them singing with Tom Grennan at Splendour Festival recently and got talking to them and they mentioned that they struggle for funding. She told me the dementia choir needed £20,000 to survive the year which is also why I wanted to step in and help with this amount."
Choir secretary Karen Bonser says finding funding is “a constant struggle that is not getting easier”. She added: "Currently the budget for running the choir exceeds £35,000 per year".
Arran added: “I think the choir is a fantastic Nottingham cause and after being invited to one of their rehearsals I was blown away and so happy I could help. My grandparents, Ernie and Joyce, both suffered from dementia towards the end, which makes this charity even more close to my heart."
Vicky McClure added: “‘We are so grateful to ALB for their extremely generous donation to Our Dementia Choir. Thank you so much! Your donation will go such a long way to supporting our choir members and their families and carers.”
Our Dementia Choir with Vicky McClure begins on BBC One at 9pm on Monday October 10.
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