TV presenters Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Steph McGovern enlisted the help of staff at Gordale Garden and Home Centre, Burton, South Wirral, for the new BBC One series Easy Ways to Live Well (8pm Wednesday), which focuses on looking for new ways to improve people’s overall health, by examining diet, fitness and mental health and wellbeing.

Episode two of the series documented the journey of two groups of Gordale staff, each embarking on alternative and unorthodox strategies, to evaluate what health improvements might be discovered.  

Steph’s group was challenged with unlocking the healing power of group singing. The Gordale singers sang together every day, for 15 minutes, over a 3-month period, whilst Hugh’s group was required to take a placebo pill twice a day for the duration of the trial.

At the end of the group experiments, it was revealed that a significant number from each group had experienced improved physical health and needed to take less painkillers to relieve their aches and pains. The experience was also excellent for team morale.

Said Karen, Gordale’s horticulturalist and singer, “I could not believe it. I have suffered from severe pain in my foot for some time, with no sign of improvement or healing. Yet by the end of our singing regime, the pain had completely gone. Amazing!”

The programme is available for catch-up on BBC iPlayer.

Image: Group shot of Gordale staff with TV presenters, Steph McGovern and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.