Choral singing will hit primetime TV soon in what BBC One is calling the ‘biggest talent search ever seen on British television'.

Choir Wars will pitch a variety of ensembles – ‘from gospel and barbershop to classical, folk and rock' – against each other. They will be judged on ‘personality, passion, power and performance' by an expert panel.

Each week a different choir will be evicted by viewers, eventually leaving one group who will compete in the BBC Four-broadcast final of Radio 3's Choir of the Year competition, which runs in parallel.

Choir of the Year rules allow ensembles of between eight and 100 people, though Choir Wars is considering opening entry up to groups of any size.

The series – from the team behind hit talent shows Strictly Come Dancing and Any Dream Will Do – is likely to premiere in autumn 2008.

The BBC reports that there are over 25,000 registered choirs in the UK with at least 500,000 members.