'Strictly' team commissioned for 'Choir Wars'

BBC One has commissioned a choir talent competition for Saturday nights from the team behind Strictly Come Dancing.

Choir Wars was commissioned by entertainment commissioning controller Elaine Bedell and Roly Keating, controller of BBC Two and acting controller of BBC One.

Bedell said: "This will be the biggest singing talent show, with the greatest number of contestants, ever mounted on television. BBC Entertainment has a proven track record on Saturday nights as the home of pure family entertainment but the scale and ambition of Choir Wars is a whole new exciting ball game."

The programme will conduct a nationwide search for choirs that is being billed as "the biggest talent search ever seen on British television". The BBC said today: "Gospel, barbershop, classical, pop, a cappella, folk or rock – any group can enter the fray but it's personality, passion, power and performance that they'll need to make the Choir Wars cut."

In a format similar to that used on Strictly and Any Dream Will Do, a judging panel will be on hand to offer expert opinion before the phone lines are opened up for a viewer vote.

The winner of Choir Wars will be invited to take part in the final of Radio 3's Choir of the Year.