Pop to classical singer Fiona Jessica Wilson topped download charts with her Communion-scene song on BBC TV’s Broken drama starring Sean Bean and Anna Friel.
Professional singer - and Ipswich Community Radio presenter - Fiona Jessica Wilson has seen her popularity soar thanks to the emotional BBC Television drama Broken - starring Sean Bean and Anna Friel.
The six part series, starring Sean Bean as a troubled Catholic priest, and written by Jimmy McGovern, has just concluded, and is still available via I-player.
In episode 2 of the drama there is a lengthy scene, within the church, of cast members taking the Communion and the haunting melody accompanying it is Fiona singing Paradism, which is from her album In Paradism with Ben Robins, and composed by him.
Paradism shot to the top of the iTunes vocal download charts and is still featuring there today, at No 6.
Fiona, who sings all around the world with a show stretching from Popera to Classics and Songs from the Shows, lives in Ipswich with husband Adrian.
She is also the editor and presenter of Get Classical with FJ on Monday evenings on Ipswich Community Radiom and she writes a column for the Grapevine music magazine.
She said: “It has been an absolute whirlwind. It all very exciting. It has been in the charts for six weeks.
“To be up there the Top Ten charts with all those famous singers, like Tom Jones and Nat King Cole is amazing.
“We contacted by the BBC and the production company to ask whether they could include it, but you don’t know how much they might include.
“Then when it went out they were inundated with calls asking what the music was.
“I describe it as ethereal and it was originally composed to be used as a funeral theme. It was commissioned from Ben by his uncle.
“I feature it in my shows on the cruise ships and it goes down very well.
“It is ten years-old now and then it won a Classic FM composers competition.
“People have always said it would be good for a film or television programme,
“Broken is a very powerful production and it fits in well with it.”
This was not the first time she had music featured in a TV drama, she said.
“When I was 19 I sang Ave Maria and it was featured in the US TV drama The West Wing, in an episode called Crackpots.
“This has all been amazing.
“it just goes to show you never know what is round the corner.
“Here I am, in the charts, and it is my 45th birthday next week!”
Broken is now moving on to Australian television, she added, which should be a further boost for her music.
You can hear Paradism, and see a clip from Broken, on Fiona’s website: www.fionajessicawilson.co.uk
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