Yes, thanks very much!

Do you know if there are any videos like that of the Nancy School process? I'd quite like to rewatch them...

Kwayedza is my fave, was so happy when he got thru on Saturday!!

Also gotta support the local boy Gareth, really hope he gets thru!!

Love Gwion aswell, so cute

I'm afraid I can only find highlights of them on youtube:

Episode 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpUjZ...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2QRW...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDVaH...eature=related

Episode 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSJCyWYYEac
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppJzF...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppJzF...eature=related

He sounded like a young Michael Jackson......he will be good

At long last I've got around to posting what I think about the Olivers! I reguarly come into this thread but never post lol
The Olivers are my favorite part of IDA and I just wish they'd been given more screen time as opposed to the Nacies especially now that the Nancies are dwindling in numbers. There is no reason not to and it would highlight the boys characters.
Here is what I think of each Oliver, firstly the four semi finalists so far:

Gwion - This kid is ADORABLE. He is the most obvious Oliver, linking to Mark Lester's 1968 Oliver. His Welsh accent, though beutiful, won't help him become Oliver because as people said Oliver is not Welsh. He just has a lovely smile and looks younger than 11, more like 9.

Chester - This guy is really good. I thought Pie Jesu, though beutiful didn't really show him off that well. He is definetly an Oliver and a possible star for the future. He'll defo have the girls after him in a few years lol

Arthur - I was so surprised that Arthur got chosen given that in Electricity he sounded like his voice has broken. I also thought on some of the high notes in Whole New World, he struggled. I think when his voice is ready he'll be really good, he needs to work on his stage presence a bit more, relax a bit.

Kwayedza - He definetly has the best voice for Oliver but not the look. I'm not going into skin colour or anytihng but I can't see him as Oliver. His vocal however was stunning in I'll Be There.

And the rest:

Alexandar - He won my heart in the audition stages prior to the live shows but has since faded into the background. He looks a lot like Jonny and it's easy to get these two confused. From what I can remember he has a good voice but other boys take over from him on stage.

Gareth - I have really warmed to Gareth a lot in the last two weeks. I loved his little wink to the camera during the Whenever I Feel Affriad. I also feel that he worked really hard to act during the performance and loved him also in the VT before. I think he's got a good voice too, please let him make the Final 8!

Jordan - He's very hard to miss on stage isn't he! Besides Kway, he is the most noticible Oliver and does act/sing to the max! I think he's got a very good voice and should make the Top 8 but is more of an Artful Dodger than Oliver.

Harry - He's certainly the best actor of the lot when you see the live performances........

Sorry about that, laptop was on low power, didn't want to lose what I'd written....

Harry - Defo best actor, you can see his facial movements, he is so expressive, he's got a fantastic voice from what I can tell. Top 8 hopefully.

Jonny - On a video sharing website, lots of young girls have posted how much they like Jonny. I think he's got a good voice but needs to stand out a bit more. Looks a lot like Alexander. I think he's sweet.

Sam - I make no references to his look-alike, I thought he was very good last Saturday. Very engetic and enthusiastic.

Joseph - He joins in with the group songs as best he can/

Laurence - I haven't seen enough of him to form an opnion unfortunetly. I think he's got a nice voice.

There you go, thats my opinion. I've been postive, not negative, they're all trying their very hardest.

It's nice to hear your thoughts SimbaY2K+4 - there aren't many people who like the Olivers on this forum! I personally find them much more interesting than the Nancys who are rather boring at the moment. I wish they show more of them - maybe give them two songs per week, split them up into two groups of 6 so that they'll each get a longer solo line? I thought it a bit pointless them singing in pairs last week because we couldn't tell their individual strengths.

I agree that Alex and Jonny look similar - at the beginning I couldn't tell them apart. That's why I think CM will only put through one or the other. At the moment I'm leaning towards Alex actually, although Jonny was my initial favourite, because he's younger (Jonny's 13 and his voice will break soon), his vocals are stronger and he looks more like an Oliver to me (Jonny looks more like a Billy Elliot). I agree that he appears more reserved/shy whatever on stage though and that's why he doesn't stand out as much.

Gwion is like cuteness personified - but I think the majority of his charisma comes from his Welsh accent. If the producers make him get rid of it I think he'd be a lot more ordinary. Chester I really really like and can't find any faults with him at all; easily the strongest/most suited out of the four chosen. I was a bit bewildered by Arthur's choice but he is good for his age. Kwayedza I've mentioned before - he sounds too grown-up already and sounds more like an R&B singer than musical theatre! That kid is seriously good, though. I *loved* "I'll be there".

It seems a lot people have warmed to Gareth recently - I thought he was really really good in "I whistle a happy tune" and in the VT he comes across as a really down-to-earth kind of lad, not at all posh. Plus he's Irish - I'm a sucker for Irish accents! I hope he goes through. I also really liked Harry last weekend; his acting is top notch and he appears really confident on stage. I'm also warming to Laurence. The VT clip of him singing (about 4 words, admittedly) really made me notice him and he's got an Oliver look too. I think he's got more to give! He's got the worst colour scarf though - beige?? (actually, the scarf colours are crap. Why on earth give three Olivers red scarves??)

I'm afraid I've not taken to Jordan at all, and I don't think Oliver is right for him. He's a bit too.... manic - Oliver needs to be a bit more vulnerable and have a kind of dark, sensitive side (or maybe just generally being a bit of a wuss ) and I think Jordan's more suited to a Dodger-type character. Similarly, Sam just doesn't scream "Oliver" to me though he's very good. And Joseph is.... just Joseph.

Ideally I want Alex, Jonny, Harry and Gareth/Laurence through, with Chester + 2 of them winning the role!

Either way, I think ALL of them have talent, not the least for having the guts to perform to millions of people behind a TV and respect them all for that. Sometimes they give the Nancys a run for their money! When I was 11 I think I spent the whole day playing the Sims.

They are all gorgeous
but if I had to choose it would be Chester, Gareth or Sam
Just because the public don't vote for them (right, in my opinion) does not stop them being a popular part of the show for me
They usually bring a tear to my eye when they perform

Definitely Jonny

love Chester Harry and Gwion as well

I adore gwion.

Odds for becoming one of the 3 olivers:

Gareth 1/2
Jonny 5/9
Gwion 7/8
Harry 11/12
Jordan 1/1
Joseph 1/1
Kwayedza 24/23
Laurence 21/17
Sam 21/17
Chester 15/11
Arthur 6/4
Alexander 12/5

Seems quite strange in my opinion, I though Chester would be favourite. I reckon the three should be Chester, Harry, Alexander/Gwion and I also like Laurence

Sorry, I don't really understand how the betting thing works - are the ones at the top thought to be the most likely to get the job?

Yeah the ones at the top are more likely to win. It tells you how much money you would get back if you put a bet of a certain amount of money on them to win.

For example:
Gareth (1/2) - if you put £2, on you would a £1 back plus the £2 you put on so £3 in total so not very much

For Alexander (12/5), if you put £5 pounds on, you get your £12 winnings back plus your £5 so £17 in total.

Hope that makes sense.

I don't think the odds are much of an indication. I think I'm right in saying that if a person is getting lots of bets for them to win, the odds will be cut. So Gareth, Jonny and Gwion are getting the most bets, meaning the betting public think they're most likely to win? Assuming that's right it still won't make a blind bit of difference because ALW, Cameron and "the panel" will make the decision. It's not based on a public vote, and even for competitions where the public do get a say, the bookies can be wrong (e.g. Rhydian in X Factor).

I don't agree with the order they've got anyway, I would have Chester much higher up and Jonny and Joseph much lower. Meh. Doesn't matter what I think either. Whoever ALW and Cameron think are best will get the roles.

And the odds are hardly varied, especially when compared to the Nancys. This is just to catch mugs out on something we have no control over.

Oh yes, I hadn't noticed how close they were! The bookies don't have a clue who's going to win!

- Or just call me Matt lol that nickname I invented about four years ago when I first joined DS. I completly forgot I had ever joined and only 'observed' the forums. Its only within the last few weeks I remembered I'd joined

I love all your opinions Ashrell and I agree it taks so much guts to get on stage. I was on stage once and had a minor speaking part, I have a stammer too, I was sooo nervours. I have a lot of respect for these kids.

The odds are surprising to but the bookies don't have a clue who's going to win. I like Gareths position tho

I want Gareth to get through on Sat, he's so down to Earth and has a massive backing from his home county. Aparently the NSPCC is after him to be in their campaign.

I think the Olivers are amazing, when they sing their group songs, it's beautiful they are so talented.

I'm really glad Chester and Kwayedza? got through, thought their voices were brilliant. I'm not too fussed on Gwion though he is cute but his welsh accent is too strong when he sings and Oliver is meant to be a Londoner.

I'd really like to see Jordan and Harry get through.

So go onto Betfair or whoever else is offering prices on the Olivers, and back Chester, Harry, Alexander Gwion Laurence
or whoever else you fancy, and beat those nasty bookies.

Its not worth betting on because it is out of our hands. Its only down to The Lord and CM to choose. It could be any three of them. That's why all the odds are so close together. Its the bookies trying to make money on something very difficult to predict.

So is the FA Cup final out of our hands. So is the Grand National. But it doesnt stop millions having a flutter on them.

Also, even if it was a phone vote, youre only making say 3 or 4 calls out of a million or so........I wouldnt call that in your hands.

Whatever it is, whether Snow at Xmas, 2000 Guineas, Oliver, if you have an edge, take advantage of it. If you think one of the Olivers is nailed on for selection by ALW, then back him.......even better if the bookies dont rate him as the odds will be better.

I watched back the opening 'Consider Yourself' from last Saturday's show. Gwion was fantastic

What made him any better than any of the other iyo? Just interested!

I don't really get Gwion. He's cute, but there's something about him that doesn't quite click with me. My favourite by far is Chester, followed by Alexander and Harry. I've recently started to rate Laurence and Gareth too, and I hope those four go through to the semi final.