A singing group brought to prominence by Jeremy Clarkson is celebrating after progressing further in Britain’s Got Talent.
The ensemble, known as the Hawkstone Farmers Choir, achieved a remarkable Golden Buzzer during their audition, which was broadcast on Saturday evening. This distinction propels the 32-member outfit directly to the live semi-final stage.
The prestigious accolade followed their rendition of the Elbow song One Day Like This at the Birmingham Hippodrome, where they performed before an audience of 1,500 spectators.
Hugh Thomas, who comes from Pembrokeshire, said the moment required him to verify it was actually occurring for a person from his background. He noted that appearing on television had never crossed his mind, and emphasised the opportunity to highlight agriculture, farming and rural communities.
Ellie Maguire, representing Dorset, expressed disbelief at their presence and the overwhelming emotion when the golden buzzer was activated, recalling her inability to hold back tears and feeling truly acknowledged.
Among the members are two individuals from west Oxfordshire.
Abbie Condon, aged 42, works as a red tractor operations manager and has spent ten years ensuring British food meets safety and traceability standards while being produced responsibly. Residing close to Mr Clarkson’s establishment, The Farmer’s Dog, Ms Condon previously conducted audits of Clarkson’s farm and joined the choir as a constructive activity during a difficult period.
James Florey, based in Northmoor, represents the fourth generation of his family to farm at Churchills Farm, overseeing 500 acres adjacent to the River Thames. His agricultural work centres on cattle and sheep production alongside environmental conservation, and he actively promotes connecting young people to farming through educational visits to school farms.
The ensemble was established in May 2025 following an enigmatic online advertisement calling for strong singers who work in agriculture for a project associated with Jeremy Clarkson’s Hawkstone brand. Initial activities involved recording jingles at The Farmer’s Dog in Burford before their purpose expanded to raising awareness and funding for mental health issues and suicide prevention within farming communities.
Katryna Shell from Northumberland observed that the group comprises individuals of different ages, singing abilities and locations, united by their agricultural backgrounds in an unprecedented experience.
The champion of this nineteenth series will receive £250,000 along with a coveted position at the Royal Variety Performance. Members have indicated their intention to make a substantial contribution to mental health organisations supporting the farming sector should they claim victory.