The Alzheimer's Choir

Episode image for The Alzheimer's Choir

Episode 8 of 8, Wonderland, Series 2

Duration: 40 minutes

Documentary film about love, time and the astonishing ability of music to return people who were thought lost.

Ted's wife Hilda doesn't know who he is any more - she no longer has the ability to recognise even those closest to her. Ted, a devoted husband of 50 years, calls her his 'lovely little stranger'. There's one thing she has not forgotten - the tune to Que Sera, Sera.

Ted and Hilda are members of Singing for the Brain, a group of singers in Bristol made up of Alzheimer's sufferers and their spouses. As the group bursts into song, an extraordinary thing happens. People who may not even recognise their own partner find the words of a song learnt half a century earlier, and suddenly - just for length of time it takes to sing a few verses - it is impossible to tell who is the Alzheimer's patient and who is the carer.

Last on

Wed 23 Dec 2009 02:45 BBC One except HD

See all previous episodes for Wonderland

More episodes

View more episodes
  • Photo: Tony and Valerie Gibbons

    Photo: Tony and Valerie Gibbons

    Tony and Valerie Gibbons are members of Singing for the Brain.

  • Photo: Frances and Will Lane

    Photo: Frances and Will Lane

    Frances Lane and her husband Will, who suffers from Alzheimer's, are part of Bristol based singing group.

  • Photo: Ted and Hilda Parker

    Photo: Ted and Hilda Parker

    Ted Parker and his wife Hilda, who he refers to as his 'lovely little stranger'.

  • BBC Headroom

    BBC Headroom

    Find out more about Alzheimer's at BBC Headroom's Wellbeing Guide on Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia.

    BBC Headroom: Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia

Credits

Director
Joseph Bullman
Producer
Joseph Bullman

Broadcasts

BBC © 2012 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.