Doctor Thomas Moors has understood the power of the voice since he was part of a boys' choir in Belgium. He took that knowledge with him into his career and now specialises in ears, nose and throat. And now he has done what some thought impossible - formed a choir for people in the UK who have had their voice boxes surgically removed, mostly because of throat cancer, through an operation called a laryngectomy.

We also hear the stories of Shout at Cancer choir members Sara Bowden-Evans and Ian Bradshaw, and we meet award-winning American filmmaker Bill Brummel, who has also had a laryngectomy, and has made a documentary about the choir called Can you hear my voice?

This programme was originally broadcast in March 2020.

Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com

Presenter: Mariana Des Forges
Producer: Deiniol Buxton and Thomas Harding Assinder

Picture: The Shout at Cancer choir
Credit: Bill Brummel Productions

Doctor Thomas Moors has understood the power of the voice since he was part of a boys' choir in Belgium. He took that knowledge with him into his career and now specialises in ears, nose and throat. And now he has done what some thought impossible - formed a choir for people in the UK who have had their voice boxes surgically removed, mostly because of throat cancer, through an operation called a laryngectomy. We also hear the stories of Shout at Cancer choir members Sara Bowden-Evans and Ian Bradshaw, and we meet award-winning American filmmaker Bill Brummel, who has also had a laryngectomy, and has made a documentary about the choir called Can you hear my voice? This programme was originally broadcast in March 2020. Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com Presenter: Mariana Des Forges Producer: Deiniol Buxton and Thomas Harding Assinder Picture: The Shout at Cancer choir Credit: Bill Brummel Productions

The choir without vocal cords

<p>Lives Less Ordinary is a podcast from the BBC World Service that brings you the most incredible true stories from around the world. Step into someone else’s life and expect the unexpected. 
 
Each episode a guest shares their most dramatic, moving, personal story. Listen for unbelievable twists, mysteries uncovered, and inspiring journeys - spanning the entire human experience. 
 
Our guests come from every corner of the globe: from Burundi to Beverly Hills, New Zealand to North Korea, Rajasthan to Rio. And their stories can be about anything: tales of survival, humour, resilience and intrigue. From the mind-blowing account of the Japanese man trapped in his own reality TV show, to the Swedish women rescued from lions by a tin of spam. It’s life’s wild side, in stereo. </p><p>Lives Less Ordinary is brought to you by the team behind Outlook, the home of true life storytelling on BBC World Service radio for nearly 60 years.
 
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Lives Less Ordinary is a podcast from the BBC World Service that brings you the most incredible true stories from around the world. Step into someone else’s life and expect the unexpected. Each episode a guest shares their most dramatic, moving, personal story. Listen for unbelievable twists, mysteries uncovered, and inspiring journeys - spanning the entire human experience. Our guests come from every corner of the globe: from Burundi to Beverly Hills, New Zealand to North Korea, Rajasthan to Rio. And their stories can be about anything: tales of survival, humour, resilience and intrigue. From the mind-blowing account of the Japanese man trapped in his own reality TV show, to the Swedish women rescued from lions by a tin of spam. It’s life’s wild side, in stereo. Lives Less Ordinary is brought to you by the team behind Outlook, the home of true life storytelling on BBC World Service radio for nearly 60 years. Got a story to tell? Send an email to liveslessordinary@bbc.co.uk or message us via WhatsApp: 0044 330 678 2784 You can read our privacy notice here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5YD3hBqmw26B8WMHt6GkQxG/lives-less-ordinary-privacy-notice

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