SINGING teacher Gareth Malone is visiting Oxford to talk about his latest book and may even conduct members of the Blackbird Leys Choir.

Mr Malone, who shot to fame for his appearances on the BBC2 reality TV show The Choir, is coming to the Holywell Music Room to give a talk about his latest book, Music for the People: The Pleasures and Pitfalls of Classical Music.

The talk, which is being organised by Waterstone’s in Broad Street, takes place at the historic venue in Holywell Street on May 25.

Mr Malone, 35, who won Bafta awards for his TV shows in 2007 and 2009, said he was looking forward to returning to Oxford, the city where he got married.

He said: “I got married at the Town Hall in 2008 and one of my first dates with my wife Becky was at the Holywell music room.

“I would be delighted to meet members of the Blackbird Leys choir if they do come along.

“We actually started making our programmes before the one about the Blackbird Leys choir.

“We filmed for nine months and there was a three-month edit and within that period the other programme came along.

“I remember being slightly dismayed at the time, but it is great to hear that the choir is still singing.”

Mr Malone said his book was quite anecdotal and featured lots of stories about his efforts to introduce young people to music.

He added: “I am now working on a new TV series about a choir formed for military families in Devon when the troops are away and that could go out at Christmas time.”

Charlie Hayes, events manager for Waterstone’s in Oxford, said: “We are delighted that Gareth Malone is coming to give a talk at the music rooms.

“Members of the Blackbird Leys choir will be invited along and there could well be some singing on the night.”

Blackbird Leys Choir launched in 2006 for a Channel Five TV show and celebrated its fifth anniversary in January.

It now has 20 members and meets every Wednesday at 6.30pm at Blackbird Leys leisure centre. Jeremy Renals, 48, chairman of the Blackbird Leys Choir, said members’ ages ranged from 20 to 70.

He added: “We are going to rehearse some pieces to perform on the night and look forward to working with Gareth.

“He is an inspirational figure who has tapped into the fact that choral music can be very uplifting and is alive and flourishing.

“We would love to perform on the night and if Gareth wants to work with us then we would be very happy to do so. We have lots of altos and quite a few tenors but we could do with a few more sopranos and bass singers.”

For tickets costing £5 contact Waterstone’s on 01865 790212. Music for the People is published by Harper Collins price £20.

For more information about Blackbird Leys Choir visit blackbirdleyschoir.org