Italian? Didn't realise that Gethin speaks so many languages

Random and slightly OT - which 2? Most curious, being a musician myself

Have to agree, love the sound of Welsh. Watched ITT with a non-SCD fan this evening, when she saw Gethin and found out he was a native speaker of Welsh her eyes popped out of her head. "Tall, dark, handsome and Welsh" was her sum-up!

Grade 8 violin and grade 6 piano, according to wiki.

Fair play to him - I play both of them and they're among the instruments I find the hardest out of all I play/dabble with! *is suitably impressed*

(not that one instrument is especially more difficult than another, but both violin and piano require a lot of coordination and I find them both so hard, it isn't an easy combination to be good at!)

No, I meant that to many, Italian is sexy, but to me, Gethin speaking his native tongue is more sexy! You knew that!

Sarah, I first read of this info on the microsoft SCD site.

Piano for sure, the other one violin I think, from memory. Grade 8 is no joke, not sure on which instrument. If you google Gethin you ought to get the full story on this versatile young gent, seemingly adored by the delectable Camilla.

Think you are right - Google brings up quite a few pages which agree G8 violin/G6 piano.

As someone sho (just about) managed grade 6 many years ago and then plateau'd into infinity, I have to salute him - G8 will forever remain beyond me on the fiddle I think!

I blitzed through G8 piano with distinction, charging at it with the rapidity and blinkered intensity of a teenager. In the process my practising drove the family crazy and angry despite our detached house. As I have not carried on a musical career since, I rather regret the trouble I caused.

Any way, to come back to SCD. We are going to have a singer from the theatre (Joseph himself), we have already had Andreas Bocelli and Kathryn Jenkins, and the Birmingham Royal Ballet. It appears that by accident more than by design SCD is acting like a herald for an arts revival. I like the idea of bringing new things to the people, something medieval and renaissance about it.

Alright, Glyndebourne and Eistedfod to be showcased by SCD next.

Consider me impressed, I had lessons for 3 years as a child and have been learning for 3-4 as an adult, and my teacher has at the moment given up trying to get me to learn G5 pieces as I struggle terribly!!


Yes


Excellent idea!!!

I wouldn't assume from what we do know of previous votes that John or Letitia are getting big votes. The votes seem to have little to do with the dancing or the improvement stories.

You also have to ask who the judges would throw Penny out for and theres probably only two or three possibles.

Though bad things do happen randomly on SCD so caution may be wise.

Yes, he plays the piano to Grade 6 and the violin to Grade 8!

I shall go and put in my votes now. I think Ian and Penny make the most lovely couple and love watching them dance. It definitely is too early for them to go. I am slightly bemused by the 1 or 2 people who think the judges overmark them. I guess we all see different things.
I am sorry that I won't be able to watch them dancing tonight.

I'm one of those people who think they've been overmarked. I can't see them blowing me away with the salsa but then the show is full of surprises. I'm hoping that Kenny or Kate will be in the bottom two and the judges will save whoever is with them

Kate has never suffered the indignity of being in the bottom two, hers is the quietest army but the most determined.

Bonnie Prince Kenny has raised the blue flag with white diagonals. Down from every hill, fording every stream, celts are now pouring towards SCD.

Nine armies have broken camp and are on the march. The bugle sounds - will you leave Penny undefended like Gabby?

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.

Penny would only be in danger if she was there with Kelly , Alesha or maybe Matt, something I don't think will happen.

Alesha and Matt are very popular and Kelly didn't come in the bottom two although she was in the 'dangerous' middle zone so I guess they will be safe.:yawn:

With anyone else in the bottom two she will be saved by the judges so I don't understand why she should be in danger.:sleep:

I totally agree with the last poster.

Penny is so popular with the judges. Where is the danger?
They are going on about her beautiful legs.
Sorry i am not that crazy about Penny

In the quickstep Penny scored 33, in the foxtrot 35.

Alas in the jive she scored a lowly 25, same as Dominic, and 2 below John's 27. With the salsa similar to the jive, if Penny finds herself in a dance-off against John (the other quiet candidate), then she will be performing her least-suited dance against John's best-suited dance. Len with two votes has always favoured John.

Don't worry all four judges will choose Penny above John.
No matter how they dance on the evening.

I think that's a bit a pity because it makes it more boring , but I guess your girl will be fine.
Unless Kelly suddenly appears in the bottom two, what probably won't happen.

There is something very bizarre happening this week, where everyone thinks their favourite is at particular risk. Everyone seems so jumpy.

Mistermind, Penny would have to sit on the floor singing la - la, then do cape work in the salsa, and then insult Len's family for Len to choose John over Penny. Possibly not even then. Seriously.

When I said Penny was overrated, I didn't mean that I wanted her to go home yet. But the judges have them in boxes - box 1, Alesha, Kelly and Penny; box 2 - Matt, Letitia, John, Gethin; box 3 - Kate and Kenny. You could see it last week, when the judges made a point of saying 3 people had improved: Gethin, Letitia and Matt. Gethin and Letitia fair enough, but Matt had the best dance the week before and a very high jive. How was his paso an improvement on that? Personally I think Matt is dancing better than Penny and arguably Kelly (and not because I'm a fan, my heart belongs to Geth). But the judges will not see past their initial impressions and it drives me a bit nuts. Not Penny's fault, obviously.

Am I allowed to say I am not keen on Penny in here shame because I think Ian is fantastic...but I will not be voting for them.

I thinks this is a very fair analysis. But I think maybe this week Matt will be in Box 1 - the worry is who is going to be eliminated and placed into box 2 or even 3.

Maybe that's why everyone is obsessing. Will it be my favourite eliminated from box 1? Will my favourite be the one eliminated from Box 2? Can my favourite get into Box 2 from Box 3?

Gosh I love SCD

footygirl ---- Eat a lot of haggis in England don't ya! It ain't all us up here keeping Kenny in.

We're a country of 5 million people -- no way are we all voting for Kenny, especially as most people, in the West at least, seem to watch that other entertainment program, the X-Factor. Flower of Scotland or not, I'll not be voting for Kenny but will be voting for Ian and Penny.

Yes, everyone seems a bit

From what I saw of the training, Alesha's salsa looked more like a..... (what was that half-salsa half-street dance called they used to do in SDF?). Arlene made it plain she found it a bit too disco and lacking in smoothness.

Even the best dancers have a poor week by their own standards...if the judges mark her down she might struggle to get enough votes to stay out of the bottom two, and depending who she's in there with....

(Not that I am wishing any of the above on her but it could happen).

I know, everyone seems nervous this week.
I think we could have another "shocker" in the bottom 2 but i think they'll be there with either Kenny or Kate so wont leave....