A group of musical farmers including 10 from Wales have shared their joy at receiving a golden buzzer on Britain’s Got Talent on Saturday. Hawkstone Farmers’ Choir, made up of farmers from across the UK, sailed straight through to the live semi finals following their rendition of One Day Like This by Elbow.

In the 32-strong collective is Eirion William Davies, a fourth generation farmer from Llanelli, Aled Wyn Davies, who farms in the Cambrian Mountains, Meidrim farm manager Owain Fisher, Pendine farmer Joe Shewry, Hugh Thomas from Moylegrove, Rosie Jones, a former West End performer now farming in mid Wales, Presteigne farmer Will Rogers, and Aled Griffiths, who has recently been appointed chairman of the 2027 National Eisteddfod.

The choir delivered a stirring performance at the Birmingham Hippodrome in the show which aired on Saturday night with their emotionally charged rendition bringing the audience to its feet and visibly moving the judging panel led by Amanda Holden alongside guest judge Stacey Solomon, Alesha Dixon and KSI.

Llanbrynmair hill farmer Aled, who manages 1,800 sheep in the Cambrian Mountains and whose singing career has spanned 47 countries, described the BGT moment as “surreal”. He said he missed the moment the golden buzzer was pressed as the group were embracing each other in jubilant celebration.

Hugh, who at 74 is the choir’s oldest member, joined after surviving a near-fatal battle with sepsis in 2025. He described the group as a “new lease of life”.

Rosie said the group has helped her rediscover confidence and belonging, and Will said he hoped their performances will showcase the resilience and passion of Britain’s farming community.

For some the experience marked a dramatic step outside their comfort zone, including Owain, who milks 240 cows daily in the small village of Meidrim in Carmarthenshire.

He said he’d never sung publicly before auditioning but was selected as the opening soloist. He described the moment he stepped onto the stage as “life-changing” and “a big leap from dairy farming”.

Eirion, who manages a 650 acre mixed enterprise in Llanelli, said the “electric” atmosphere of the performance offered a rare release from the mounting pressures facing the agricultural sector – including volatile milk prices and rising costs.

Pendine farmer Joe Shewry, who rears more than 200 calves, traced her musical journey back to her equestrian days and said singing was once a technique to calm both rider and horse.

Fellow Welsh member Aled Griffiths, an NFU group secretary and sheep farmer, balances industry leadership with rural enterprise and has recently been appointed chairman of the 2027 National Eisteddfod.

Originally formed through a search for “strong singers who are farmers” as part of a project linked to Jeremy Clarkson’s Hawkstone brand, the choir has evolved into something more significant.

The group says its mission is to raise awareness of mental health and suicide prevention in an industry often marked by isolation and relentless pressure. “If we can highlight the mental strain our farmers are under, then it can only be a good thing,” Joe added.