Singing hospital staff were thrust into the national spotlight this week after an appearance on Gareth Malone’s latest show.

The Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust Choir starred in Tuesday night’s south east episode of The Choir: Best in Britain, on BBC Two.

Although they fell short of the national heats it may not be the last time we see them with rehearsals continuing ahead of an ambitious bid to record this year’s Christmas No 1.

Driven by the success of their Lewisham and Greenwich counterparts last year, who beat Canadian star Justin Bieber to the top of the charts, the trust has employed the help of acclaimed jazz artist Shane Hampsheir.

The 28-year-old has been compared to Michael Buble and will lead the 40-strong choir in a rendition of his own song, By Your Side. It will soon be available to download on iTunes, Amazon and Spotify, as well as to buy on CD, and proceeds will go towards the trust’s cancer care charity.

His step-mum Leslieann Osborn, who leads the choir, said they recorded it at Ebbsfleet Studios on Monday night. She said: “It was amazing, even I was shocked at how great it sounded.

“We are hoping to have the single ready for download by early next week with hard copies a week or so after.”

Although the priority is raising plenty of cash for the trust’s cancer fighting fund, Ms Osborn cannot help but dream of matching Lewisham and Greenwich’s chart-topping track.

“I think it’s got a really good chance because it’s an original song and it’s not just a Christmas song,” she said.

You can watch the choir's TV appearance on BBC iPlayer.