ITV’s popular show Cold Feet Choir is currently featuring the Wrexham Community Choir Musical Director.

Carol Donaldson, co-founder and Musical Director of Wrexham Community Choir has been appearing in the show, as the character Jenny, played by Fay Ripley joins a choir for cancer patients.

The group is in fact a real choir, led by Mrs. Donaldson at Christies’ Hospital in Manchester for people affected by cancer.

Mrs. Donaldson, who attended Grove Park School and Yale College in Wrexham, explained how this has opportunity came about for her, and has talked about how much she enjoyed the filming process.

“It all started about a year ago when the series creator and the director of Cold Feet came along to my Christie Hospital Choir session. I welcomed them like any other new choir member and although they insisted, they would not be joining in, and were only coming to observe, I did my usual thing of getting them involved.

“After not long, they were singing their hearts out and were very visibly moved by the end of the session. "

“We recorded and filmed over 4 days at the end of May 2018 during the heat wave, the crew and cast treated us beautifully but every time we sang, they would all cry.

“Fay Ripley who plays Jenny, joins the choir, so we spent most of our time with her. She was absolutely lovely, a very warm genuine person and so talented! She’s also a great singer.

“She loved being part of our choir and has been quoted saying ‘I loved the choir experience on Cold Feet so much. Filming it was such a lovely and uniting experience’

"There was no acting involved on my part – I just did what I always do. I’m so pleased the programme has handled the issue of cancer so sensitively - they really did their research and worked closely with Christie's Hospital.

“They could have created a shiny TV choir rather than use a real ‘cancer choir’ like mine and I’m especially thrilled that millions of viewers will see how uniting and uplifting being in a choir is and how singing together is great for body, mind and spirit.”

Mrs. Donaldson has led community choirs for almost 20 years and is also an accomplished composer, singing workshop leader and Musical Director for theatre, radio and television.

She believes leading community singing should be accessible to all and that everyone has a voice but are often inhibited about using it.

“Singing in harmony together boosts the immune system and endorphins, de-stresses, and creates joy, connection, community and harmony.

“In my work with choirs, I introduce accessible songs, old and new, from all around the world with 3 or 4 part harmonies - where everyone, from unsure beginners to seasoned singers create a wonderful group sound and feel a sense of wellbeing and togetherness”