Amy's a winner in any language

May 12 2006 By Andy Coleman, Birmingham Mail

SINGER/SONGWRITER Amy Wadge had to release a single in Welsh after pledging to do so on a Big Brother-style TV programme.

The 30-year-old Bristol-born performer was taking part in Love For Language, a Welsh TV show which featured celebrities learning to speak Welsh in just ten days.

"We lived together and were followed around by cameras," reveals Amy, who plays Birmingham's Glee Club tonight to promote her second album No Sudden Moves.

"It was very intense but I learnt to speak the language and made some lasting friendships along the way.

"The other participants included Ruth Madoc, Janet Street Porter, Tanni Grey-Thompson and Steve Strange and we still stay in touch with each other.

"Having the cameras around 24 hours a day was not as bad as I expected because we could choose whether or not to go into the space where they were located. It was more of an educational programme than Big Brother."

During the show Amy promised to release a Welsh language single.

The dual-language track USA? We'll Wait And See/USA? oes angen mwy subsequently reached number nine in the Welsh charts last year.

"I'd now like to release something in Welsh every year. I'm still taking Welsh lessons and it will keep me focused," said Amy.

Amy's language endeavours are helped by the fact that she lives in Llandaff, Cardiff, and is married to actor Alun ap Brinley whose first language is Welsh.

"I moved to Wales 13 years ago and it's amazing how many people now speak Welsh where I live. I'm one of only about four people in my street who's not fluent."

Amy Wadge plays the Glee Club, Arcadian Centre, Birmingham, tonight. Tickets are available by calling 0870 241 5093.