A very special Christmas concert featuring people from East Lancashire is to be aired in BBC2 later this month.

Blackburn Sings Christmas with Gareth Malone will be broadcast on December 23, and sees the choirmaster heading to the town - an area of the country that has been hit hardest by Covid-19.

The concert will celebrate the hard work of NHS staff and will showcase the community spirit, which is alive and well in Blackburn.

Viewers can expect to see some familiar faces from around the town, including Carole Davis, landlady of the Clifton Arms, who will help Gareth to lead a special singalong in the town centre.

During filming, Gareth even paid a visit to the Clifton Arms, where he stayed for a pint and a natter with locals.

Mrs Davis said: "What a fantastic day and what a magical time was had with the Clifton family and the BBC film crew and the lovely Gareth Malone.

"He even got me to sing a duo with him. We got lots of filming done and he asked me to join the singers for the Blackburn light switch on."

Lancashire Telegraph:

The show also focuses on Royal Blackburn Hospital, where Gareth gets to meet singer, Stephen Bayliss, who found himself in need of work when all music venues closed due to lockdown, and decided to take a job as a porter at the hospital.

Through his singing, Mr Bayliss, from Preston, found he was able to bring a little bit of joy to patients at Royal Blackburn.

A spokesperson for the East Lancashire Hospitals Trust said: "We're delighted to be part of Blackburn Sings Christmas with Gareth Malone which will air on BBC Two on 23 December at 8pm.

"In this seasonal special, Gareth Malone heads to Blackburn to meet our ELHT family, our patients and the local community to create a concert that celebrates the work of our NHS staff and the community spirit of the town.

"A huge thanks to everyone who was involved and we can't wait to watch it with you all - you may need tissues at the ready."

Gareth has been spotted around the town over the last few months, and even stayed to switch on Blackburn's Christmas lights on November 27.

During the show, Gareth also meets Tanviha, who found herself in hospital with Covid while she was eight months pregnant.

Tanviha gave birth via caesarean before being placed into an induced coma, but thankfully made a full recovery, with her story being reflected in a family song at the concert.

A spokesperson for the BBC2 show said: "Gareth uncovers a range of moving stories about how the town has pulled together through the pandemic.

"The final concert is an emotional thank you to the local hospital, an uplifting celebration of community and a chance to bring some festive joy to the nation."

The show will be broadcast on Thursday December 23 at 8pm on BBC2.