Pride of Scotland

Armando Iannucci’s success at the Emmy Awards (your report, 22 September) is surely indicative of something worth celebrating in Scottish life. One only has to think about the number of influential Italian Scots to realise how much impact they have and have had on our cultural life.

In the area of visual art one thinks of Richard Demarco, Eduardo Paolozzi and Jack Vettriano. The latter may be criticised by many, but he certainly knows how to be a success.

If we turn to music, we have the incomparable Sharleen Spiteri and Paolo Nutini, not to forget Nicola Benedetti, who stole the show at my daughter’s graduation in Dundee where she was a contemporary of those being awarded their degrees.

Add to that Peter Capaldi, Daniela Nardini and Tom Conti in acting, and there is a strong argument that there is something rather go-ahead about the Italian brought up in a Scots setting, whether with a mixture of Scottish blood or not.

They make good ice cream too.

Andrew HN Gray

Edinburgh