From the traditional to the bizarre … Shetland’s got talent

Last night’s Shetland’s Got Talent was an extravaganza of entertainment which combined a fund-raiser for cancer research, variety concert and competition.

Ten acts from the traditional to the bizarre were performed in front of the judges and a packed house at Mareel, where the event was held for the first time.

Winners were Yell lasses Lauren Johnson 16, and Megan Nisbet, 13, who wowed judges Davy Gardner, Jillian Isbister and Malcolm Younger with their rendition of Madison Violet’s Darling. Their harmonising, coupled with Megan’s guitar-playing, clearly wowed the 300-strong audience too, who voted for them by means of placing money in buckets.

Shetland Gymnastics Club took second place with their dazzling athletic display to a Revellers’ number, and third was singing act Lisa and the Johnsons.

The bi-annual event is principally a fund-raiser for Cancer Research UK, organised by the Relay for Life team, and more than £5,000 was raised last night.

It is always a sell-out and the audience loved every minute of last night’s show, ably compered by  Bryan Peterson and Jonny Polson, who provided lots of pantomime humour.

The quality of the 10 acts made for some difficult choices for the judges. They whittled them down to three, eliminating two of the most hilarious, Gwylim Gibbons’ ventriloquist act and the piano-player “who had been in the pub all day”, with the final selection being made by the audience.