A dressage rider and livery yard owner from Bristol was part of a choir who wowed the judges on ITV1 talent show Britain’s Got Talent on Saturday night (21 March).
Chloe (Flo) Dawes runs Nupdown Equestrian near Thornbury alongside her mother Ali, who is also a member of the Hawkstone Farmers Choir, and competes at Small Tour level in dressage.
The Hawkstone Farmers Choir received a golden buzzer from judge Amanda Holden for their rendition of Elbow’s One Day Like This at their audition which took place at Birmingham Hippodrome last October. This means they have automatically qualified for the live semi-finals in May.
The rural singing group was founded by Jeremy Clarkson through his Hawkstone brewery with the aim of bringing together people from across the UK farming community who share a connection to agriculture and a love of singing.
Facebook post
In May 2025, a simple advert appeared on farming Facebook groups seeking “strong singers who are farmers or farm workers for a lager advert”. Over 500 farmers from across the UK applied, many recording their auditions on tractors or in barns between chores.
About 40 farmers and those directly connected with farming were chosen, representing the industry – from farmers of arable and dairy to sheep and cattle, a seed merchant, entomologist, farm secretary, educationalist and farm assurance inspector.
The group’s first meeting was at Jeremy Clarkson’s pub, The Farmer’s Dog, to record playful promotional jingles which have since appeared on social media.
The one-off idea of a farmers choir quickly evolved into a choir dedicated to championing British agriculture.
‘Surreal’
“It’s been surreal. Being part of the Hawkstone Farmers Choir is something I’m incredibly proud of – it’s about celebrating rural life in all its forms. For me, that includes the equestrian world and the wider rural economy, which I care deeply about,” said Flo.
“There’s a huge amount of pride in where we come from and what we do. The choir has given us a platform to show that – and hopefully shine a light on the importance of rural communities.”
As well as competing at Small Tour, Flo has also won at Premier League level with horses she has produced herself.
Flo’s grandfather Nigel Dawes built a well-known agricultural feed merchant business in Olveston near Bristol while her father Chris Dawes is also an agricultural feed merchant.
Should the Hawkstone Farmers Choir go on to win the competition and the £250,000 first prize, they intend to make a significant donation to a rural mental health charity, highlighting an issue that continues to impact farming and countryside communities. The winner is also offered the chance to perform at the Royal Variety Performance.
Britain’s Got Talent continues Saturdays at 6.45pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
Top two images © BGT, bottom image © ESP Photographic.
