STEETON men have lent their rich bass and baritone voices to a new film set in Yorkshire.

Members of Steeton Male Voice Choir will perform as a ‘Greek chorus’ between scenes of the movie Ilkley.

They were recently filmed singing short sequences intended to link together the main scenes acted by stars like Derek Jacobi, Anna Maxwell Martin, and Roger Allam from TV crime drama Endeavour.

Choir publicity officer David Barraclough said the singers were invited to take part by film director Harry Michell and producer Helen Simmons

He said: “Ilkley is a black comedy about two hapless evangelical brothers tasked with murdering a heretic booked for the Ilkley Literature Festival.

“Little did we realise that we would end up welcoming Derek Jacobi, one of the country’s most pre-eminent actors, to our ranks.”

The film was shot in various Yorkshire locations including Otley, Allerton Park, Knaresborough, and of course Ilkley.

Mr Barraclough said: “Steeton Male Voice Choir are no strangers to the silver screen having provided several extras for the blockbuster film The King’s Speech in which Derek Jacobi played the Archbishop of Canterbury.

“Naturally when the call came from the production company requiring 15 to 20 choristers to appear in the film we jumped at the opportunity.

“The volunteer choir members were pivotal in the film and provided the vital links between scenes.

“As a result, we have added some fabulous traditional folk tunes to our repertoire such as Tom Bowling, Keel Row and the Lincolnshire Poacher.

“The ‘film stars’ from the choir had a very enjoyable experience. When the film is released next year the choir are hoping to be able to sing at the premiere screening or a private showing.”

Steeton Male Voice Choir, which started out in 1908, has just begun its first full season under recently-appointed musical director Cathy Sweet.

The choir will be All Saints Church in Skipton on April 7 with the Clerk Community Choir from Musselburgh, and Steeton Methodist Church on April 21 with Silsden’s Cobbydale Singers.

Visit malevoicechoirs.net for further information.