0:00:03 > 0:00:05Afternoon, everyone, Leah here, with today's top
0:00:05 > 0:00:07stories on Newsround.
0:00:07 > 0:00:11We've also got some of this coming up too...
0:00:11 > 0:00:14The countdown for Brit astronaut Tim Peake begins.
0:00:14 > 0:00:19And skipping all the way into the record books.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29The Strictly semifinal takes place tonight.
0:00:29 > 0:00:32So we sent Ricky to the ballroom to chat with all the stars battling
0:00:33 > 0:00:34it out win the famous Glitterball Trophy.
0:00:34 > 0:00:37Take a look.
0:00:42 > 0:00:45Georgie, I know you were in the dance-off last week.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48How did that feel, to finally have that spotlight shining on you?
0:00:48 > 0:00:51Oh, it wasn't nice at all.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54But just had to come back this week and try harder.
0:00:54 > 0:00:54Been a bit poorly...
0:00:54 > 0:00:56A little bit?
0:00:56 > 0:00:57A little bit, yeah.
0:00:57 > 0:00:58I've had pharyngitis.
0:00:58 > 0:00:59What is that?!
0:00:59 > 0:01:00I don't even know.
0:01:00 > 0:01:01Some sort of horrible illness.
0:01:01 > 0:01:04It's a bit like tonsillitis but your whole pharynx,
0:01:04 > 0:01:08so I've been a bit poorly.
0:01:10 > 0:01:12Did you think you'd get to this point?
0:01:12 > 0:01:13Absolutely not.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16When I look back to week one and the absolute mess
0:01:16 > 0:01:17I did on stage...
0:01:17 > 0:01:19That was just your hair.
0:01:19 > 0:01:21Ooh, you got me!
0:01:21 > 0:01:23Yes, that got sorted.
0:01:23 > 0:01:24And then my footwork got sorted.
0:01:24 > 0:01:26I can't believe how well it's gone.
0:01:26 > 0:01:29It has gone amazingly.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32I was thinking, you guys are missing a bit of a trick here.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34Coronation Street is probably the most famous theme tune,
0:01:34 > 0:01:37or the most famous piece of music in the world.
0:01:37 > 0:01:38Why haven't you danced to it yet?
0:01:38 > 0:01:40And how would you dance to it?
0:01:40 > 0:01:41I've got it on my phone.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44Would you give us a little bit of a routine to Corrie?
0:01:44 > 0:01:48He has no idea what it is.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51Have you ever heard the Coronation Street theme tune?
0:01:51 > 0:01:52Can I play it to you?
0:01:52 > 0:01:54CORONATION STREET THEME TUNE PLAYS
0:01:54 > 0:01:57Oh, this is really nice.
0:01:57 > 0:01:59What do they think of Mum being on Strictly Come Dancing?
0:01:59 > 0:02:02They both dance, so especially my 15-year-old, who loves dancing,
0:02:02 > 0:02:04she's in heaven because she's old enough to come along
0:02:04 > 0:02:08to the studio, so she's been along, and she just wants to get as close
0:02:08 > 0:02:10as possible to the professionals and watch what they're doing
0:02:10 > 0:02:12and look at their feet and she gets very technical.
0:02:12 > 0:02:15And then she drills me at home in the kitchen.
0:02:15 > 0:02:16Does she?
0:02:16 > 0:02:17She does, yes.
0:02:17 > 0:02:18More than Anton?
0:02:18 > 0:02:20Much more than Anton!
0:02:20 > 0:02:22Being the youngest on the show, you've done so well.
0:02:22 > 0:02:28So, congratulations to you both and good luck.
0:02:28 > 0:02:30People in New Zealand have been voting to decide
0:02:30 > 0:02:32on a possible new flag.
0:02:32 > 0:02:34They picked this design.
0:02:34 > 0:02:36It'll now go up against the current flag in another vote
0:02:36 > 0:02:39in March next year.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42There's not long to go now until British astronaut Tim Peake
0:02:42 > 0:02:43blasts off into space.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46He's got just three days to go, so we're counting down with some top
0:02:46 > 0:02:48facts about the UK's number one spaceman.
0:02:48 > 0:02:53Here's number three.
0:02:53 > 0:03:03Five, four, three.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06Tim gets the big three songs to listen to just before launch.
0:03:06 > 0:03:12Three!
0:03:12 > 0:03:14Thanks, guys, we'll have another fact for you tomorrow.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17Do head over to the Newsround website to find out what Tim Peake
0:03:17 > 0:03:19is doing before launch day.
0:03:19 > 0:03:21It may still be six months until a ball is kicked,
0:03:21 > 0:03:24but the draw for Euro 2016 takes place at a ceremony
0:03:24 > 0:03:25in Paris tonight.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28England, Wales and Northern Ireland will all find out who they will be
0:03:28 > 0:03:29playing.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32It's the first time in 58 years Wales have been at the Euros,
0:03:32 > 0:03:34and the first time ever for Northern Ireland.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36Republic of Ireland also qualified for the tournament that kicks off
0:03:36 > 0:03:38in June next year.
0:03:38 > 0:03:41The world's most expensive player, Gareth Bale, believes Wales can
0:03:41 > 0:03:44compete with the best.
0:03:44 > 0:03:46We're not going up there to make the numbers,
0:03:46 > 0:03:49we're going to do a serious job to try to win the tournament,
0:03:49 > 0:03:53and if you don't go there to win there's no real point in going.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56Manchester City player Yaya Toure has been voted the BBC's
0:03:56 > 0:03:59African Footballer of the Year.
0:03:59 > 0:04:01The midfielder has won the award for the second time.
0:04:01 > 0:04:05He said he was very pleased.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08Now, you might think skipping is just something to do at playtime,
0:04:08 > 0:04:10but in China it's a big, big deal.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13This boy set two world records at the first World Rope Skipping
0:04:13 > 0:04:15Championships.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18The key to being good apparently is keeping your upper body stable
0:04:18 > 0:04:21and swinging as fast as you can.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23Over 250 students from nine countries took part
0:04:23 > 0:04:25in the competition.
0:04:25 > 0:04:29Now that's fast!
0:04:29 > 0:04:32The world's best surfers have been showing off their skills at a big
0:04:32 > 0:04:34competition in Hawaii, in the North Pacific Ocean.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37Bad weather had delayed the start but eventually the clouds cleared
0:04:37 > 0:04:39and conditions were perfect for the surfers and waiting crowds
0:04:39 > 0:04:41on the beach.
0:04:41 > 0:04:46The overall winner will be decided next week.
0:04:46 > 0:04:48Now, fancy waiting 70 years for your pressies from Santa?
0:04:48 > 0:04:49No?
0:04:49 > 0:04:50Me neither!
0:04:50 > 0:04:53Well, a man in London has been reunited with the list he wrote
0:04:53 > 0:04:56to Father Christmas 70 years ago, after it was found stuck up
0:04:56 > 0:04:58a chimney by some builders.
0:04:58 > 0:04:59They managed to track David down.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03He's now 78 years old, and, best of all, they gave him the gifts
0:05:03 > 0:05:05he asked for all that time ago.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08Some toy soldiers, chalk and a silk tie!
0:05:08 > 0:05:10Look, David.
0:05:10 > 0:05:11Merry Christmas!
0:05:11 > 0:05:13Oh!
0:05:13 > 0:05:14That's lovely!
0:05:14 > 0:05:15What we've tried to get you...
0:05:15 > 0:05:18The three wise men - or rather, four - have tried to get
0:05:18 > 0:05:20you what you asked for for Christmas.
0:05:20 > 0:05:21How sweet!
0:05:21 > 0:05:22Aw!
0:05:22 > 0:05:23How lovely, how lovely!
0:05:23 > 0:05:24Thank you very, very much.
0:05:24 > 0:05:25My grandchildren, they were amazed.
0:05:25 > 0:05:28Of course they don't do notes to Father Christmas,
0:05:28 > 0:05:30they send him an email!
0:05:30 > 0:05:32OK, we all love a Christmas jumper, don't we?
0:05:32 > 0:05:33Check this out.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36In Bristol in the South West of England, they got as many people
0:05:36 > 0:05:38as possible together to wear their Christmas jumpers.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41It was a world record attempt and a chance to raise money
0:05:41 > 0:05:43for charity too.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46Happy Christmas!
0:05:46 > 0:05:48That's all from me.
0:05:48 > 0:05:50Newsround's back tomorrow morning, but all our best stories
0:05:50 > 0:05:53are on our website, so check that out.
0:05:53 > 0:05:59And I'll see you soon - bye!