Ray Gravell named as Welsh Idol

Ray Gravell has been named as the nation’s favourite Welsh person in the Welsh Idol contest organised by the National Assembly for Wales.

Rugby legend Ray Gravell, took 21% percent of the 6,500 votes cast, beating singer Katherine Jenkins and boxer Joe Calzaghe into second and third place with 15% and 13% of the vote respectively.   

Others on the shortlist of ten people included singers Tom Jones and Bryn Terfel, sportsmen Ryan Giggs and James Hook, the former Blue Peter presenter and Strictly Come Dancing star Gethin Jones, Welsh law-maker Hywel Dda and St David himself.

The Assembly launched the quest to find the nation’s favourite Welsh person on January 31, during February, visitors to the Senedd were asked to nominate their favourite Welsh person and a shortlist of ten was announced on St David’s Day.

Visitors to the Senedd, the Urdd and Llangollen Eisteddfodau and the Royal Welsh show took part in voting as well as those who voted online on the Assembly’s website. Schoolchildren visiting the Assembly on educational visits used the activity to learn about voting and the democratic process as part of their learning programmes.

Announcing the result, the Assembly’s Presiding Officer Lord Dafydd Elis- Thomas said: “The shortlist included historical figures, princes, singers and sportsmen, all of whom we as a nation are immensely proud, but it is fitting that Ray who was perhaps one of the proudest Welshmen, or certainly the one who displayed his love for his country the most has been named as the nation’s favourite Welsh person.”