Laughter and tears, and a big thumbs up, were the first reactions of reality television stars watching a sneak preview of their show.

The first episode of The Singing Estate - which turned 40 strangers from Blackbird Leys and Greater Leys into a classical choir that performed at the Royal Albert Hall in London - is to broadcast on Five.

Ellie Churchlow, 26, and Paul Powell, 40, from Greater Leys loved the show after seeing the first two episodes of the four-part series.

Miss Churchlow, who has sung with bands since she was a teenager, and now also looks after their six-month-old son Lyndan, said: "The programme is brilliant. I'm really impressed so far it's hilarious."

Watching the many hopefuls being put through their paces, Mr Powell and Miss Churchlow could not help but laugh at some of the unorthodox singing styles, and even cried, when they saw their friends go through the gruelling audition process.

But when Mr Powell, a door security supervisor, spotted himself on screen for the first time getting tearful when he hears he has secured a place he was not entirely happy.

"They had to show that one!", he groaned.

However, he was happy not to hog the limelight, and said the programme had focused on a few characters.

He said: "Colin is funny, they're going to feature him. The cameras loved him, and he loved the camera."

Both thought the producers had used a bit of 'spin', such as filming people getting tetchy when tired.

Miss Churchill added, after viewing a rehearsal: "They made us go out of tune and made some people go faster.

"They have obviously tweaked it to make it sound a lot worse than it was, but I think that's quite understandable because they need to make it sound like that so when the Albert Hall happens it will be a more dramatic change. I loved it."

The Singing Estate is on Five at 8pm on Sunday.