Military Wives win 'Single of the Year' 03.10.12
19The wives and girlfriends of British military personnel - and their choirmaster, Gareth Malone - have won the single of the year award at The Classic BRIT Awards.
'Wherever You Are' by The Military Wives' was last year's Christmas Number One and last night it beat Nessun Dorma and other classic tracks to take the prize voted for by the public.
Britain's favourite choir master Gareth Malone described it as "the candle on the icing of a very large cake"
The group helped to round off the evening at last night's glitzy ceremony at London's Royal Albert Hall by performing another hit, the Diamond Jubilee anthem Sing. They were accompanied by the song's composers, Take That star Gary Barlow and Andrew Lloyd Webber who both played grand pianos.
Choirmaster Gareth Malone said: "It was very humble beginnings. It is about these women finding a voice and tonight is a great celebration of that."
Members of the choir, made up of the wives and girlfriends of military personnel, rubbed shoulders with the likes of Sir Anthony Hopkins at the event.
Guests at the event - officially called The Classic BRIT Awards 2012 with MasterCard - were to include the Duchess of Cornwall but she had to pull out due to a middle ear infection and sinusitis.
The event - to be broadcast on ITV1 on Sunday at 10.15pm - was hosted by Myleene Klass.
Some footage: Decca Records