First it was naked women on calendars. Now, according to the BBC, it's an attempt to storm the charts. The Women's Institute (WI) is clearly as keen as ever to thrown off its fusty, jam making image and good for them I say!
The latest scheme, designed as a celebration of the institution's 95th anniversary, has seen Universal Records conducting X-factor style auditions across the UK, eventually selecting a quintet called The Harmonies.
But don't worry, if you're concerned that all of this is too much pandering to the demands of modern culture, you'll be glad to hear that the rousing anthem chosen for the group to record is to be Jersualem, famously sung at the start of WI meetings.
In all seriousness, I think there is a real tendency for people to be dismissive of the WI and I can't help but wonder if this is something to do with their status as an all female group. Surely anything they can do to make themselves more visible and relevant has got to be a good thing?
