Hear Our Voice went through to the final of the show through the public vote
A Britain’s Got Talent star has reflected on hitting ‘rock bottom’ after reaching the final of ITV programme in the latest semi-final.
Sunday night’s fourth semi-final of the popular show saw choir Hear Our Voice win the public vote and Alesha Dixon award her golden buzzer to singer Joseph Charm.Made up of 39 people who were impacted by the Post Office scandal, the group includes people who were affected by the controversy that saw postmasters sent to prison.Between 1999 and 2015, 236 postmasters were sent to prison over Fujitsu software displaying shortfalls incorrectly reported on their accounts.
Many people lost their homes and jobs as a result of the scandal, with the Court of Appeal overturning dozens of wrongful convictions in 2021 following years of campaigning.
Appearing on Good Morning Britain on Monday (May 19), Jess Kaur told presenters Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley she was ‘not going to cry’.
Jess’ charges were dropped in 2009, with her wrongly accused of stealing £11,000 from the West Midlands branch she operated.
“I was at rock bottom, I ended up in a mental hospital. Tried to commit suicide two or three times. I’m putting it all behind me, we’re here today to say thank you to Sir Alan Bates. It’s because of him we’re all sitting here today and we formed this choir…
“We got the public vote and want to thank everyone who picked up a phone and voted for us. We’re still in a bit of shock.”
She added later in the interview: “Since the choir came about I boxed that part off. I don't have to wake up and think about that part anymore. It’s still ongoing and nowhere near closure yet.
“The choir and the bond we’ve got, you can wake up and think about something else.”
Choir leader Mark Wildblood noted in the interview that ‘there’s a lot of people who have been waiting decades to get some closure’.
He explained: “Just bureaucracy going on and on. It’s like a torture for some people. Which is why we’re doing this, we want to find an outlet for joy.”
The only current serving postmaster in the choir, Chris Attridge, admitted that he ‘feels like a bit of a gatecrasher’ in spite of the group welcoming him with open arms."The fact I’m still working, I love working and my job. I haven’t been affected like them. I’ve had shortages, but they've all been dealt with and are behind me. I’d like to thank Mark for letting me be part of this group, we’re one big happy family,” he said.
