Skip to content

Motor neurone disease: The man losing his voice, but singing an opera

Paul Jameson was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) three years ago, and is quickly losing his voice.

But with the help of professional baritone, Roderick 'Roddy' Williams, he's performing his own opera, called Paul's Aria.

This video was filmed before lockdown.

6 January 2021

Motor neurone disease

Explore More

The Burrow family

Rob Burrow's family visit namesake MND centre

Carla and Taya

'Baby opera was engaging and enjoyable'

A crowd watches a brass band play on the lawn of a hospice in Wiltshire.

Royal Marine musicians play for bandmate 'one last time'

Lindsay Burrow

Lindsey Burrow: Rob made the world a better place

Shirts and flowers left outside Headingley Stadium

Drone footage shows Burrow tributes at Headingley

Rob Burrow

'Don’t waste a moment' - Rob Burrow's final message

Denise Leigh

'Overwhelming' support for Britain's Got Talent duo

Stoke & Staffordshire

Veteran Harold Jones

100-year-old walks in Captain Tom's footsteps

Birmingham & Black Country

Prince William meeting Rob Burrow

William awards Burrow and Sinfield CBEs

Leeds & West Yorkshire

Kevin Sinfield hugging a person

Watch: Moment Kevin Sinfield finishes challenge

Leeds & West Yorkshire

Rugby league star Kevin Sinfield

Kevin Sinfield starts new ultra-marathon challenge

Leeds & West Yorkshire

Helen and Baba

The world's first Pidgin opera power-couple

Luke Robson holding a sign

Man runs 5km every day after mum's MND diagnosis

Gloucestershire

Male soprano Samuel Mariño

Meet opera's rare male soprano

Entertainment & Arts

Liam Blaney uses a wheelchair after being diagnosed with the disease

'It didn't matter that my legs didn't work'

Kevin Sinfield carries Rob Burrow

Sinfield describes carrying Burrow over finish line

Rob Burrow carried over line

Rob Burrow carried over marathon finish by Sinfield

Brian Murphy sitting in hospital

'Every day I’m here is a day I’m not at home'

Rob Burrow with Rishi Sunak inside Number 10

Rob Burrow receives PM's ‘Points of Light’ award

Jason Bowen

'MND diagnosis was devastating for my kids'

A snowy tree in Llanuwchllyn, Gwynedd

Watch: Snowy scenes as cold snap hits UK

Several weather warnings have been issued as the first snow of the season hit parts of the UK.

A group of schoolchildren in purple jumpers singing Happy Birthday to King Charles

Children sing Happy Birthday to the King

The monarch smiled as the group of youngsters sang to him with their teachers during a visit for a food poverty project.

A composite image of June Spencer as a young and older woman

Watch: June Spencer recounts her lifetime on The Archers

The radio star, who played Peggy Woolley in The Archers, has died aged 105.

Antonio Banderas looking at a Blue Peter badge next to Olivia Colman who is excitedly putting her badge on. A sign in the background reads Paddington in Peru

Watch: Colman's Blue Peter badge delight baffles co-star

The Oscar-winning actress appeared overwhelmed with joy when presenter Shini Muthukrishnan awarded her the badge.

Prince William playing rugby with school children in Cape Town

Prince William plays rugby with children in Cape Town

The Prince of Wales is on a trip in South Africa promoting his Earthshot environmental prize.

a woman looking at an off-screen interviewer. Her gaze is direct and she is wearing a black top and plum-coloured lipstick

'Little girls were threatened in the most depraved way'

Catherine Kierans from the PPS explains how Alexander McCartney abused young girls online.

King Charles standing at a podium

King: 'It is vital that we understand our history'

King Charles says says "the most painful aspects of our past continue to resonate" in a speech to Commonwealth leaders.

A still from the bodycam footage showing the moments before Chris Kaba was shot

Bodycam video shows moments before Chris Kaba shooting

Police release bodycam footage showing moments before Chris Kaba is shot.

Scorpion

'Our flatmate found a scorpion in her Shein parcel'

A university student had a shock when she found a live scorpion in a clothing parcel from fast fashion firm Shein.

Princess of Wales

Kate in Southport for surprise first public visit since chemo

The Princess of Wales arrives in Southport for her first official engagement since finishing cancer treatment.

Learner motorbike rider uses phone while overtaking

Watch: Dangerous driving caught on camera

More people are being prosecuted for dangerous driving thanks to a huge increase in footage submitted to police by the public.

King Charles dancing

'He's got the moves' - King tries Samoan dance

The King and Queen met guests representing the Commonwealth at a St James's Palace reception.

Prince William and David Beckham pose in front of a helicopter

'East End boy' Beckham helps with Prince William fundraiser

Beckham says he was "excited and proud" to help raise money for the London Air Ambulance service.

Prince Harry smiles at WellChild Awards

Prince Harry arrives in London for charity awards

Prince Harry poses for photographs as he visits London for the WellChild Awards ceremony.

Harrison in the water, the sun is shining on the water and there is a boat behind him

Teenager swims Bristol Channel before rugby game

Harrison, 15, swam "non-stop" for several hours, then played rugby the next morning.

Huw Edwards outside court

Watch: Silent Huw Edwards arrives at court

The former BBC News presenter has arrived at Westminster Magistrates’ Court filmed by TV cameras, photographers and watched by journalists.

Gary Lineker, Joe Hart and Danny Murphy sit in the Match of the Day studio, with a backdrop of the Royal Albert Hall

Match of the day or Last Night of the Proms? Well, it's both!

To mark the 60th anniversary of Match of the Day, the football pundits had a go at some Proms commentary.

King Charles grins as three rugby players wearing black New Zealand t-shirts give him hug

Watch: King surprised by 'very healing' hug with rugby players

King Charles laughed after accepting the surprise offer from a player on New Zealand's women's team.

Emily Maitlis

Emily Maitlis reflects on impact of Prince Andrew interview

The 2019 interview, widely viewed as a "car-crash", saw the prince talk candidly to Maitlis about his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Dionne Barrett

'Absolutely sickening': Mum reacts to early release of son's killer

Dionne Barrett said it is 'absolutely sickening' that a man jailed for her son's manslaughter will be released.