On Friday 16 November, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre will play an important part in BBC Children In Need’s 2018 Appeal show, where a choir of 225 children will perform in unison with choirs across the country.

At the Grand Theatre, BBC West Midlands will be joined by choirmaster, Ruth Roberts who will lead a choir of 225 children, from six schools including: The Royal School in Blakenhall, Trinity Church of England Primary School in Heath Town, St Michaels Catholic Primary School in Merry Hill, St Andrews Primary School in Whitmore Reans, Lanesfield Primary School in Lanesfield and Albrighton Primary School in Albrighton. Schools have already started their rehearsals ready for their live performance during the Appeal show, which will feature harmonies.

Choirmaster, Ruth Roberts said; “I am super excited about this year’s CiN song. It’s so well known that the children will definitely sing their hearts out and everybody will be singing along at home too. I always enjoy meeting and working with the singers. They are always make the extra effort to create a great sound and of course I get to say hello to everyone’s favourite bear – Pudsey during the day.”

BBC Children in Need currently funds 159 projects across the West Midlands with funding of more than £9million hard at work across the county. Supporting the charity this year would help fund even more projects like Solihull Carers Centre which receives a grant of more than £100,000, delivered over three years, to provide support to young carers through the provision of peer mentoring and befrienders. The project aims to reduce the isolation felt by the young carers, as well as improve their emotional wellbeing and hopes for the future.

The choirs will sing in unison from eight other UK locations including: Lincoln Theatre in Lincolnshire, Story House in Chester, Tate in St Ives and Elstree Studios in London, Ulster Folk and Transport Museum just outside of Belfast, Pacific Quay in Glasgow, Broadcasting House in Cardiff, King Edward VI School in Southampton.

The Children’s Choir is regarded as one of the highlights of the annual Appeal Show. Last year the choir sang a jazz rendition of ‘Over the Rainbow’, in previous years they’ve sung Miley Cyrus’ ‘The Climb’ and Simon and Garfunkel’s 1970s ballad ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water.’

Producer & Programme Manager at the Grand Theatre, Tim Colegate said; “We’re delighted that BBC West Midlands are bringing Children in Need to Wolverhampton this year. At the Grand, we’re fortunate to host many spectacular productions but this event is an extra special addition to our programme. Many famous names have graced our stage in times gone by but not many quite measure up to the one and only Pudsey Bear! Alongside Pudsey will be the 225-strong children’s choir and a great number of local fundraisers too. To say that we’re excited to support this wonderful charity this year is an understatement.”

This year’s BBC Children in Need Appeal show on Friday 16 November will see an all-star presenter line up including Tess Daly, Graham Norton, Mel Giedroyc, Ade Adepitan, Rochelle and Marvin Humes and Rob Beckett host a night of entertainment for the whole family. This year they will once again be joined by a number of school choirs from nine different locations around the UK, who will join together to sing ‘A Million Dreams’, from the musical The Greatest Showman.

BBC Children in Need will return to screens on Friday 16 November on BBC One. The official fundraising pack is available for download from bbc.co.uk/Pudsey and is packed with ideas to help the public with their fundraising efforts, plus lots of exclusive content from the charity’s celebrity friends.