Gareth Malone reveals the DRAMATIC twist behind Pitch Battle: 'There's nothing like it'
The BBC's new Saturday night programme begins this weekend, with choir master Gareth, 41, and American singer Kelis, 37, at the helm. They joined by a whole host of superstar guest judges on rotation: Will Young, Seal, Joe Jonas, Bebe Rexha and Chaka Khan. Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, Gareth said that Pitch Battle is unlike previous popular talent shows such as Britain's Got Talent because of its dramatic format. With 30 choirs competing in total, each heat will see the groups go head-to-head in a series of riff-offs, before the last two standing go up against each other to win a place in the live final.
BBC Pitch Battle judges Gareth Malone and Kelis
BBC 30 choirs will compete in the dramatic new talent show
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At this point, the acts will have to perform a song from the archive of their guest judge, before the panel deliberates and the guest judge stands up, indicating the victor by joining the winning team on stage. "The riff-offs are great but the real power moment is when the guest judges walk," Gareth enthused. "We get to decide who we prefer and then the guest judge reveals it by walking towards them. It's brilliant." Gareth recalled the spine-tingling moment when Seal was acting as the guest judge, with the final two hopefuls taking to the stage to sing his hit Kiss From A Rose. "He joined in on the high note and sang with the choir - honestly, it was just amazing. There's nothing like it," he insisted.
BBC Pitch Battle will have a rotation of superstar guest judges
BBC Acts face off against each other to make it to the live final