Glee Club (TV series)

Lore & Background

The first series of Glee Club aired between 14 and 18 March 2011, with three heats, a semi-final and a final. The glee clubs performed songs in different categories, and the winner was Soulmates. The second series aired between 12 and 23 March 2012, featuring eight heats with a three-round format including ensemble performances, solo vocals, and a survival song; The Real Deal won. The third series aired between 4 and 15 March 2013, reducing heats to five and rounds to two, with guest judges Dionne Bromfield, Stacey Solomon, and Joe McElderry appearing in auditions; Resonate won. The fourth series aired between 10 and 21 March 2014, with guest judges Bromfield, Kerry Ellis, and Erin Boag; Musicality won.

Reader's Guide

The show was filmed at BBC Scotland studios, with initial auditions in Glasgow, Manchester, London, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, and Newcastle before vocal coach John Modi. The top 24 glee clubs were selected by Modi. In the heats, judges scored on vocal ability, creativity, and performance, with the top five ranked groups advancing to live semifinals regardless of heat wins. Heat winners received medals. The semifinals and finals included a phone vote for viewers, with judges scoring as a tiebreak. The show's format evolved: series 1–2 had a total score out of 270 (90 per round), while series 3 onward used 240 points (120 per round). Promotional clips for Sport/Comic Relief were shown between segments. The series served as a charity-driven platform for amateur glee clubs, raising awareness for Sport Relief and Comic Relief causes.

Did You Know?

• The first series was won by Soulmates, the second by The Real Deal, the third by Resonate, and the fourth by Musicality.
• Judges for the first two series were Carrie Grant, David Grant, and Sisco Gomez.
• In series 3 onward, the total score available was 240 points, down from 270 in earlier series.
• Naomi Wilkinson presented judges' auditions for series 3 and served as backstage presenter for studio shows.