The celebrity learners have now completed all their challenges - and come to the end of their year of learning Welsh. The fourth and final task involved them doing what they are famous for - but this time in Welsh. Rhod warmed up the audience for the Jonathan show with a Welsh language stand-up routine and Di took a role in the S4C drama Rownd a Rownd.
Di in character on the Rownd a Rownd set
Lowri has presented a TV feature about fashion for the magazine programme Wedi 3 and Colin took part in a studio interview for Yr Wythnos. To see their progress throughout the twelve months, click on video clipson the Big Welsh Challenge homepage. You can also get an insight into how the celebrities coped with their challenges in their diary entries. Click on celebrity team to find out what they really thought and to see extra photos and video clips.
Iolo comes to the Western Mail offices to present Lowri's final challenge
For their third challenge the team turned detective when they were called on to ask incisive questions and gather information to solve a murder mystery.
The characters react to news that there has been a murder
The celebrities met at Tredegar House in Newport where they attended a meeting of the Historical Society of the village of Gonildeb. The late arrival of the chairman prompted a search - his body was found in a pool of blood with the murder weapon - an axe.
The team had help from other Welsh learners as they questioned the suspects to obtain enough evidence to find the murderer. Although none came to the right conclusion, they had a good day.
Lowri questions PC Bert Side
"I really enjoyed it," said Lowri. "My helpers were fantastically helpful. It's amazing how much you can understand by the way people say things."
Di also said she enjoyed the experience, but she was annoyed with herself for not solving the crime. "Dw i'n siomedig iawn (I'm very disappointed). I knew who the murderer was but my helpers, who were marvellous, both thought it was someone else. I should have gone with my instincts," she said.
Sadly we are now down to four learners after Simon's decision to pull out of The Big Welsh Challenge following the sudden death of his friend and mentor Ray. Simon had met Ray in September to prepare for his third challenge but decided he did not want to go ahead.
"It's not that I want to stop learning Welsh," he said. "I'll continue with that - above all else, that's what Grav would have wanted. Grav was definitely a beacon and losing him has made me want to do it more. But to bring somebody else in (as a Big Welsh Challenge mentor) two thirds of the way through just wouldn't have the same appeal."
Ray presents Simon with his third challenge
Eight months into The Big Welsh Challenge, the production team found the perfect venue and occasion for the learners to perform their first challenge - they took to the stage at the 大象传媒 Children in Need appeal to sing Sosban Fach. They were first given the task early this year, but there was a last minute surprise for them: just hours ahead of the performance they were told they would be singing to a party remix of the traditional song.
Singing Sosban Fach at Children in Need
Despite some jibes from Rhod Gilbert during rehearsals about the singing voices of some of his fellow learners, when the celebrities took to the stage they were given a warm reception.
"I absolutely loved it," said Simon. "I know I sounded dreadful but no worse than anyone else. I love singing - if I could sing that's what I would do. I just wish Ray could have been there to see it - he'd have loved it."
The performance was not entirely without incident though, as Lowri had taken drastic steps in an effort to remember her words.
"I'm so glad it's over," she said. "I'd written the words on the back of my hand but Rhod spotted my ruse!"
The five learners have now completed two of their four tasks. They had the chance to try out their dance calling skills in their second challenge when they were invited to take to the stage at the Gw欧l Ifan festival in Cardiff in June.
Despite a certain amount of nerves, they all succeeded in guiding the crowd through the steps to a well-known dance. "It went very well," said Di. "I couldn't remember the words but they knew what I meant."
Lowri, who had been busy doing some last-minute backstage revision, was also pleasantly surprised. "Once I got through having to explain the whole dance - the long version of the Welsh, which was tricky - the short version wasn't too bad," she said. "It was actually good fun and they're really nice people."
The dancers too appreciated the newcomers. "It was an extremely successful evening," said Goronwy Jones, an experienced dance caller. "Everyone enjoyed it and the celebrities all did very well. It was obvious some had had more time to practise than others: Colin Charvis really had it down to a tee. And Rhod Gilbert was very entertaining. Some of them could take it up professionally!" he added.
Rhod calls the dance steps
Spurred on by the pressure to succeed in their performances, some have taken the opportunity to take Welsh lessons between challenges - either with audio or online courses or with a tutor. But busy schedules can often get in the way. Lowri has her hands full with her new baby, Ariel. Rhod has been up to the Edinburgh festival and Colin says preparation for the World Cup meant his Welsh book spent several weeks on the sideboard, but being away from home meant he could get in some practice with his Welsh-speaking team mates.
All the learners .d support and encouragement from their mentors. Rhod has even travelled to Nashville in Tennessee so he could benefit from Cerys's expertise. The pair opened the second challenge live on Radio Wales.
The learners all have their own personal reasons for taking up The Big Welsh Challenge. Di, who comes from Port Talbot, believes it is an important part of her culture. Lowri has childhood memories of her father speaking Welsh in the house. "I feel there's a gap in my knowledge and in my identity. My father was from Flintshire and I feel very Welsh even though I was brought up in London," she says.
