Strictly Speaking

In tonight’s episode Charlie Perry, 24, a commerce/law student from Armidale tackles a confronting social issue with insight and humour. Brendan Morant, 25, an antiques dealer and student, practices by talking over the top of the radio and takes on the art of public speaking. Rebecca Macintosh, 40, a performance artist and mother to twin daughters speaks about a very personal experience. The winner progresses to the finals and the chance to take the title of Australia's best speaker.

In this episode of Strictly Speaking, Stephanie Cooper, 21, a young mum from Adelaide, speaks on matters close to her heart. While Daniel Hobley, 23, the sports obsessed country boy from WA, brings a touch of the larrikin to his speeches. The final speaker is Dana Maray, 49, a tour director of Sydney, who has battled personal hurdles which have inspired her to follow her dream to become a professional public speaker.

Sibling rivalry takes centre stage on Strictly Speaking tonight as a talkative Year 12 student battles it out with his law student brother and a mining manager with a love of volcanoes. Joe Ware, a seventeen year old Year 12 student from Sydney says he just loves to talk and his passion for speech making has won him some prestigious school speaking awards. His brother, Nat, 21, an economics/law student and accomplished debater also steps up to stand and deliver along with Jenny Neumann, 35, a mining manager from Queensland, who loves to tour the world's volcanoes.

A Perth school teacher with a passion for social issues, a bank teller who loves to hold the floor and an indigenous facilitator take centre stage on Strictly Speaking. Alicia Nowak, 28, is a school teacher who says her toughest audience can be her secondary students. Matthew Robertson, 21, a bank teller from Geelong, was a keen debater and public speaker at school. Mark Yettica-Paulson, 38, a father of two, is an indigenous relations facilitator who would like to see Australians embrace their diversity.

Tonight on Strictly Speaking a law student with a passion for politics, a disability worker who never writes down her speeches and a chef to the stars serve up some discourse on Strictly Speaking. Joe Rafalowicz, 21, from Adelaide, is a seasoned debater who has addressed UN youth forums and would like to see public speaking regarded as a sport. Up next is Sue Harrod, 51, from Dubbo, NSW. Sue took up public speaking later in life and has won many local speaking contests but never writes down her speeches. Josh Hampton, 42, of Adelaide, has travelled the world as a chef and once cooked for composer Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber. His favourite subject is food – whether serving it or speaking about it.

A creative writing student from Sydney with a love of vampires, a blind social worker from Armidale with an inspiring story and a mother and public servant from Western Australian take to the Strictly Speaking stage. Lonie Pizarro, 19, a law and creative writing student from Sydney loves the thrill of being all alone on the speaking stage. Lisa Maxwell, 48, of Western Australia, muses on the dilemmas of ageing. While Steve Widders, 54, of Armidale, NSW, who lost his sight twenty years ago, tells a very personal story.

A Sunshine coast surfer with an ambition to be Prime Minister, a Melbourne school teacher and mother of four and an Iraqi refugee who enjoys cricket stand and deliver on Strictly Speaking. Taylor Bunnag, 18, went to the same high school as Kevin Rudd and Wayne Swann and followed in their footsteps as a keen debater in his high school years. Mary Jane Boughen is a busy mother of four and full time teacher who also teaches debating. And finally it’s Sam Almaliki, a 21 year old law student. Sam is an Iraqi refugee who spent eight months in Villawood detention centre with his family on their arrival to Australia.

Tonight a 64 year old electrician, a 23 year old public servant and a young school teacher from remote Far North Queensland take centre stage on Strictly Speaking. The series’ oldest competitor Bill Stuth, an electrician from NSW, took up public speaking 12 years ago for the thrill of it. A Vietnam veteran, Bill practices his speeches by talking to the microwave oven. Toby Halligan, a 23 year old public servant from Victoria is a former school debating champion who combines humour with social issues. Krystal Cathcart, 22, a school teacher from the remote Queensland town of Quilpie travelled 1500 kilometres to take part in series. Krystal took up public speaking at school to overcome shyness.

A Melbourne university student with a love of archery and music, a fast talking law student with a passion for social justice and a professional spruiker and marketing consultant take centre stage on Strictly Speaking. Joel Doutch, 20, plays in a band, loves archery and golf but social justice is his preferred topic for public speaking. Perth law student Rosie Sitorus, 21, has spoken at World Youth forums and has a passion for singing and the law. Steve Wisbey, 38, is a marketing consultant and professional spruiker which hones his public speaking skills.

In the first of three finals, a Melbourne law student with a love of archery, a tour guide who turns adversity into possibility and the talkative school boy with a gift of the gab take centre stage in the first final of Strictly Speaking. Joel Doutch, 20, plays in a band, loves archery and golf but social justice is his preferred topic for public speaking. Dana Maray, 49, a tour director, of Sydney has battled personal hurdles which inspired her to speak publicly. Joe Ware, a seventeen year old Year 12 student from Sydney says he just loves to talk and his passion for speech making has won him some prestigious school speaking awards.

In the second final, an Adelaide law student with a passion for social justice and a good argument, a Melbourne family man who would like Australia to embrace its diversity and a public servant who tries his hand at stand-up meet in the third final of Strictly Speaking. Joe Rafalowicz, 21, from Adelaide, is a seasoned debater who has addressed UN youth forums and would like to see public speaking regarded as a sport. Mark Yettica-Paulson, 38, father of two is an indigenous relations facilitator who believes Australia should fall in love with its diversity. Toby Halligan, a 23 year old public servant from Victoria, dabbles in stand up and uses humour to tackle big issues.

In the third final of the series, a university student from the bush who enjoys the art of persuasion; a social worker who lost his sight as an adult and a Sunshine Coast uni student with a love of politics compete for the last place in the grand final of Strictly Speaking. Charlie Perry, 24, a commerce/law student from Armidale takes on social and often taboo issues with insight and humour. Steve Widders, 54, an Aboriginal liaison officer, also hails from Armidale, NSW. Steve lost his sight 20 years ago and took up public speaking to tell his message of hope. Taylor Bunnag, 18, went to the same high school as Kevin Rudd and Wayne Swann and followed in their footsteps as a keen debater in his high school years.

Tonight the best three speakers of the Strictly Speaking series meet in the grand final as they attempt to talk their way to the title of Australia’s best speaker. Charlie Perry, 23, a commerce/arts student from Armidale, in country NSW, has impressed with his skill for tackling important issues with wit and charm. Mark Yettica-Paulson, 38, an indigenous facilitator has progressed through the series with his persuasive plain speaking style while the youngest competitor in the series, Year 12 student Joe Ware has impressed the judges with the maturity and eloquence of his speeches. All three have proven to be masters of the impromptu round so the contest promises to be tight as the grand finalists fight fear and nerves to take out the title and a trip to London. For the first time in the series, the speakers have been given the same topic for their two minute speech. How they interpret the topic could be the key to their success. And in another twist, host Andrew Hansen gives the speakers the same impromptu topic on which they must dazzle the judges with their discourse for sixty seconds. All four judges join in grand final fever as Jean Kittson, Leigh Sales, Father Bob Maguire and Michael Gurr deliberate and decide on the winner. Will grand final’ nerves get the better of the speakers and who will give the winning speech? Will the judges decision come down to the wire – the impromptu round?