Our round-up of the funny, fascinating and unusual stories this fortnight
Cool Wales
Worldwide, English remained the most popular language to learn last year, according to language learning app Duolingo. But closer to home, Welsh government officials are thrilled that more than three million people are now learning to speak Welsh via the app. The figure follows large increases in the last two years of 38 percent and 26 percent.
“It is no surprise that Welsh learner numbers on Duolingo are skyrocketing,” says Manon Cadwaladr, chair of the national body that promotes interpreting and translation in Welsh. “Welsh is cool. It’s a beautiful language, rich in meaning, musical and lyrical.”
With an endless list of stars hailing from the valleys, who can argue? Think Dame Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones, Sir Anthony Hopkins and Richard Burton, for starters…
Treasure hunt
If you’re wondering what to do to while away these dark winter nights, it could be time for an early spring clean.
The current season of BBC One’s The Repair Shop ended on January 10, but the team is already on the lookout for participants for the Christmas Special 2024.
• If you’ve got a special treasure connected with an amazing memory or a story that’s linked with Christmas and you’d love them to restore it, visit bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/take-part/the-repair-shop for more information
LISTEN WITH CAMILLA
Best of luck to Queen Camilla who launched a new podcast to share her passion for a good page turner last month.
It’s the latest addition to her successful online charity book club The Queen’s Reading Room, launched three years ago to promote a love of literature.
Already, the weekly podcast has an impressive line-up of authors including Sir Ian Rankin and Dame Joanna Lumley, talking about their favourite titles.
Tuning in to chirpy emotions
Scientists say new research shows that people can tell if chickens are chirpy or frustrated from their calls.
Audio recordings of hens were played to nearly 200 volunteers and 69 per cent managed to tell the difference between birds that were happy about an imminent treat and those that were annoyed because no such reward was forthcoming for them.
They believe that listening to the birds could help breeders improve the welfare of their flocks.
Not so posh privilege?
Expect to hear more again soon from Princess Diana’s brother, Charles Spencer, who’s the latest aristocrat
