SCHOOLCHILDREN are preparing for their TV debut after being hand-picked to kick off a musical revolution.

Youngsters at St Teresa’s Catholic Primary School, in Elsenham Crescent, Basildon, will star in a new Channel 4 series, being aired for the first time this evening.

It sees classical pianist James Rhodes – dubbed the musical Jamie Oliver – battle to get children up and down the country learning instruments.

He launched his mission at St Teresa’s back in April, where he spent five weeks transforming 22 Year 5 pupils into a fully functional classical band.

Tonight’s launch will see him begin rounding up clarinets, flutes, trumpets and trombones for the youngsters, and gearing them up to perform Beethoven.

Mr Rhodes, 39, who first leant to play piano 25 years ago, was shocked to discover the school had no cash in its education budget to teach music.

St Teresa’s is now on the road to recovery, after being placed in special measures two years ago because of concerns about inadequate teaching and poor leadership.

Mr Rhodes, who battled depression and drug addiction before finding fame, previously praised the pupils for being “extremely well behaved” and showing “great respect.”

Future episodes of Don’t Stop the Music will see him take his musical protest to the heart of Westminster to call for a change in music education.

Mr Rhodes said: “Up and down the UK thousands of kids are missing out on music. I believe this is one problem we can solve, so I’ve got a simple idea to get unused instruments into the hands of kids who really need them.

“I want to give every child a chance to learn an instrument.”

Talented music teacher Sarah Goldsmith, from Northwick Park Primary School, in Canvey, will also get her chance to shine on our TV screens, after being drafted in to help give St Teresa’s a boost.

Scenes for the programme, which is being produced by Jamie Oliver’s production company Fresh One, were also filmed in the Echo officers in Chester Hall Lane, Basildon.

Our own chief feature writer Tom King agreed to learn the piccolo to do his bit for the mission.

Pop star Labrinth even made an appearance in Basildon to show his support, putting on a special concert at the Festival Leisure Park.