This is one of the sweeter stories we’ve run in weeks. Jodie Whittaker, currently cast as The Doctor in the BBC’s globally beloved Doctor Who television series, was one of several British actors chosen to record tracks for 2019’s charity album Children in Need: Got it Covered. As she’s been an avid fan of Coldplay since she was 14 (she’s 37 now), she selected the Coldplay song Yellow as her track to cover.
We have two videos for you today. The first is from the BBC’s Children in Need: Got It Covered documentary. In it, Jodie sings Yellow as a tribute to her nephew Harry, who passed away in 2014 at the tender age of three years, from complications of Down’s Syndrome. If that bed track she’s singing to sounds really solid, it’s because Coldplay lead guitarist Jonny Buckland and drummer Will Champion are there to give it that authentic Coldplay sound.
And now that you’ve enjoyed the surprisingly clean, sweet rendition of the song as performed by Jodie Whittaker, have a look at the behind-the-scenes video of Buckland and Champion coming to the BBC rehearsal studio to surprise Jodie. Her reaction is breathtaking, and charming, because she is as much of a blibbering fan girl as any of us would be in the same situation.
In particular, around time index 02:48, watch her face as she’s in the recording booth waiting for the authentic, actual Coldplay musicians drop the beat at the end of her first verse. This is just magical, and you can feel her sense of wonder and amazement that she’s actually there, singing with the real Coldplay, and they’re there to support her. It’s a joyful moment that just wells up inside you and might even make you cry a little in sympathy for her joy at this peak experience.
Jodie Whittaker is but one of the stars on the album. Others include Helena Bonham Carter, Tim Broadbent, Olivia Colman CBA, Shaun Dooley, Luke Evans, Suranne Jones, Adrien Lester OBE, Himesh Patel, and David Tennant. Each star has handpicked a song significant to them for the album.
Recorded at the legendary Rak and Abbey Road Studios in London, they each received expert guidance from Brit and Mercury award-winning record producers and songwriters, Guy Chambers and Jonathan Quarmby. The results range from pleasant to amazing, and the entire album is worth at least a listen, if not your charitable support.
You can get your own copy of the album now on Amazon. Proceeds go to the BBC’s Children in Need charity organization.
Children in Need: Got it Covered | BBC #BBC #BBCChildreninNeed #BBCTrailers
-30-
