Nottingham's Vicky McClure reunites with members of Our Dementia Choir, which she helped to form four years ago in a new series for BBC One. The two-part documentary series examines issues surrounding the dementia care system and sees Vicky make history at Abbey Road.
The documentary re-introduces familiar faces from the first series, including Mick Bonser, who was diagnosed with dementia in 2018 at just 51 years old.
"People will notice a massive change in Mick," McClure said and added that the follow-up will be "quite difficult to watch for some people". The release of the documentary's second series comes just months after Our Dementia Choir performed a set at Splendour Festival in Wollaton Park, alongside Brit Award nominee Tom Grennan.
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Series two of Our Dementia Choir Sings Again begins on BBC One, 9pm, October 10. Part two will be shown a week later.
Why did Vicky McClure start Our Dementia Choir?
The actress was inspired to form the choir after caring for her grandmother Iris and seeing impact music had on her care. Though she slowly watched her grandmother deteriorate over years of battling the disease, McClure never forgot how music helped Iris.
Speaking to the Radio Times on the choir's aim, Vicky was passionate about what they can achieve but bemoaned lack of funding.
"I wish I could find a cure, but I can't, so my mission is to create noise for people living with dementia. Dementia choirs are not only cost-effective, but they are also scientifically proven to help."
"People are being diagnosed so much younger because of lifestyle or simply because people are more aware and get an early diagnosis – although it's very hard to diagnose and often people are told they are depressed. The fact is that dementia is the UK's biggest killer. That's not bulls**t. That's a fact. And do you know why? There's no cure. It's almost a forgotten disease."
On caring for those with the disease, Vicky said it is "really frustrating because there's still so little funding for people with dementia".
Abbey Road single
Our Dementia Choir became the first of its kind to record a single at the famous Abbey Road Studios. The choir's single What's Your Story? launched at the same time as a report called the Power of Music, which looked at how music could improve the nation's health and wellbeing.
Talking to the BBC, Vicky said: "I couldn't be prouder of every single person who makes Our Dementia Choir what it is."
"Being able to record a song that gives voice to people living with dementia at the most famous recording studio in the world is an extraordinary achievement, and it's made even more incredible when you think that the recording was made with people living with dementia."
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