Episode 24 Strictly - It Takes Two

Hello. It is Thursday. Welcome to It Takes Two, squashed into the

sofa this evening. Kimberley and Pasha are here! APPLAUSE They

always brighten the show when they come in. It could be something to

do with Robin's tan - one coat or two? Lisa and Robin are here!

APPLAUSE We will have a look at what our couples are wearing this

weekend. Queen of the judges, Darcey Bussell, is on the show.

APPLAUSE OK. Fifth positions and Live from Television Centre, this

is Strictly: It Takes Two. Please welcome your host, Zoe Ball.

APPLAUSE Hello and welcome to It Takes Two. Saturday's live show is

days away and our couples are frantically practising their

shimmies and chasses. I will be chatting to Kimberley and Pasha.

But before that, let's look at how some of our couples are getting on

in the training room. This week we are doing the foxtrot. It is a

beautiful dance, but it's certainly a bit of a brain - it's taking me

time to get it into my head. It is extremely difficult. There are a

lot of things that he needs to think about, especially timing.

way! He wants to go quick-quick, I want him to go slow. No. I am

putting more content than I would usually put in. This will be a

disaster! There is so much to remember. There are times when you

are so annoyed with yourself and you think... The frustration comes

out. One, two - argh! If he keeps his cool, then it will be a

brilliant night. This week, we are dancing salsa. It's great fun and I

really feel so much freer with it and enjoying it. It is much more

social, much more happy. I think salsa will suit Fern. Artem's

really pleased. Good. Very nice. seem to be able to get it. I'm so

happy. That was it. I can do it! Skirtography we have exhausted so

we are going for bumography! It is a joyful dance and we can smile!

think the salsa could be her dance. This week, we are dancing the

Viennese waltz. It is very elegant. It is very beautiful. We need to

make sure that we make it smooth and floating. Still stepping on

Pasha's feet quite a lot! Nice(!) It's got a lot of potential. Your

left leg is fine. Let's work on your right! The Viennese waltz is a

technical dance sm it is about- turns and -- dance. It is about

turns and pivots. We know what the steps are and where we are supposed

to be. But we are making mistakes because I don't know what I'm doing.

Yeah? Not sure. I'm praying I can step it up on the ballroom as well

as the Latin. Please welcome Kimberley and Pasta - I mean Pasha!

APPLAUSE Are you hungry? Always! That is the way uh-huh, uh-huh, Len

likes it! So good, so good, because Len has been tough on you with all

your choreography and your steps and stuff. He was a very pleased

Len on Saturday night. I was really happy that Len was happy. And I was

a little bit nervous about going towards the judges' table. Yeah, I

went for it. I enjoyed it. That was the key. You really went for it?

Yes. When you see a dancer doing that, you really enjoy it? Do you

watch it back? Sometimes I do. Maybe once and then I'm like I

can't watch it again. Move on. Pasha, you got a nine, you must be

pleased with your girl? Absolutely. The first nineer. The firs of many.

I hope -- the first of many? I hope so. It was a surprise. You did all

that. Yeah. LAUGHTER I tried. LAUGHTER You did. How is the knee,

by the way? You had a tough week last week? My knee is getting much

better. We know what is going on with it now so we can control it,

which is so much better. Like we are dancing for 15 minutes and

sitting for five and icing. Or peas, or whatever... We are in control of

the knee now, which is good. imagine that does help(!) We think,

though, our It Takes Two voles who work very hard may have discovered

why you really hurt your knee, OK? Our lovely Pasha might have been a

little rough with you. # Dance the kung fu... #

Kick, kick. Yeah. # You sway to your left... #

Releasing the energy. One, two, three... Argh! LAUGHTER I like that

kick. Your kicks are so high. This week, the Viennese waltz. Tell me

about it. How is it? I actually love the dance. I love the song

that we are dancing to, the choreography is amazing. It's

starting to come together. It is quite tricky. I do find the

ballroom a lot more difficult, so I have to really focus this week and

try and hold it together. Ian Waite was complimenting you on your Eros

yesterday, that is where you go back and then forward? Yes. Very,

very good. How were the spins? Have you counted how many spins you have

to do? There's a lot of spins! The worst part is that when I spin away

from Pasha and have to come back and I am look boom! She was

attempting to elbow me a couple of times. I dodged it.

choreography is arms up and then out. There will be more than

bruised knees! You are dancing to this music.

# I believe... # Christina Perri from The Twilight

Saga: Breaking Dawn. You are a bit of a mix of Edward and Jacob, I

think. I never heard that before! OK. Take it. I will take it. I will

try anything! Some pasta? For two? Girls Aloud, would you ever dance

to one of your own records? I would love to dance to one of our records.

I don't know if it will happen. The Promise would be good. Love Machine

would be a good quickstep. We have done that already. Maybe someone

else could do it. It may happen. Is the Viennese waltz a tough dance to

learn for the girls? It is not that tough as far as steps. Judges

expect a lot and we are trying to... Step it up. Yeah. That is where all

the difficulty lays. What is the toughest thing for you this week?

If one thing goes wrong, I will lose the whole dance! Start again.

He's been trying to tell me how to just carry on. Also this weekend,

you are battling for a place at Wembley. You have played there

three times. How much do you want to be there for Strictly? I would

love to go to Wembley. It is amazing. It is such a nice arena.

Yeah, fingers crossed. Good luck this weekend. Kimberley and Pasha.

Thank you. Thank you. APPLAUSE Now, I'm sure you know the difference

between a novelty Christmas sock and a verruca sock. Can you guess

which of our professionals are Dainty feet - Vincent perhaps? Back

to the training rooms for more updates on our couples. This week,

I will be dancing the quickstep. I have been looking forward to this

one. It will be a lot of fun. Quickstep is a dance that suits

Victoria. She seems really happy to be doing it. I'm definitely happy

to be back holding on to Brendan! He is my stabilisers. Step, hop,

side to side... I have done it wrong! You had done it right.

have to try every single teaching method you can. A lot of this

process is emlaigs. I want to show her what she is supposed to look

like and hope she will copy me. Sometimes I will look like a girl!

The waltz is a very elegant dance, so you have to really glide across

the dancefloor. There's a lot of lunging and having to be powerful

through the lunge. The knee is a bit sore. Tell me if you need to

rest. It's fine. You have to use your feet correctly. There are some

heel leads and toe leads. Flavia keeps telling me about posture and

head left. Keep the head left. Achieve the Big Top line, both

dancers have to look away from each other. Every week is a tough week.

There is not an easy week on Strictly. Good with the head, but

your body has to move forward. can't do that! Loads of pressure

this week. I'm doing the tango. I'm dancing with the God - Vincent.

is a special dance. Can you make it sharper? You have to look strong

and full of passion and drama. It is about telling a story. Bella,

how you do? Vincent has been trying to bring out my jealous side.

going to call Rachel Stevens. you call her! The tango is so fast.

By the end of it, Vincent is knackered. It is tough. I need a

pair of lungs. I thought he was supposed to be the professional?

Too much passion! This week, we are dancing the paso doble. It's been a

difficult start because James is injured. So Ian has come in to help

me out. You have a nice tight bum. To watch Denise dance with another

man, I'm a bit jealous. Two's company, three's a crowd. I have

tried to have as much input into her paso doble as possible. It is

hard for me to be sitting down when all I want to do is get up and

dance with her. I like the choreography. The dance is good. It

is a bit aggressive which will come easily when I'm dancing with James!

By hook or by crook, I will be dancing on Saturday night.

Fingers crossed for James. Please welcome now a lady who has brought

some much-needed girlie glamour to The Three Stooges on the judging

panel, Darcey Bussell! # Baby, you light up... #

Come on! Shimmy! Oh! APPLAUSE Gorgeous. How are you? Come on,

that's what we need. Craig does spins. The bum move you didn't need.

We needed it! That can stay. Six weeks in, have you settled in?

enjoying myself a lot more. And the boys don't have to tell me what to

do all the time now. Who is the naughtiest up there? Obviously,

Bruno. He can't help himself. I have been encouraged to be naughty

with him. He is always reaching across to touch me. We are liking

the naughty side of Darcey Bussell! Last week, in the results show, you

were saying you didn't think Richard and Erin or Colin and

Kristina should have been in the bottom two. I wasn't thinking of

anybody specific. I think Richard had an unfortunate performance.

But he shined when he did it. There wasn't anybody specific I would

have put in the dance-off. I was really sad to see Colin and Richard

there. It didn't feel right. I was feeling sentimental about the boys.

This is what happens. More boys going than girls. We don't want the

boys to go. When you give critique, you seem to give very positive

comments for the dancers to improve? Yes. Who would you say has

taken on board? So many have taken on board. I suppose the major

transformation is Michael. I don't know, he seems to have gained that

confidence so maybe enhancing confidence into somebody has

changed him. It works. Natalie is doing wonders. I think he just

loves her to bits. He will do anything she says. He is back in

the Latin this weekend. I know. am hoping he gets this one. A great

question - she really likes your positive criticism. She asks how

much do you draw on your experience as a dancer? It is all from my

experience. All my coaches would have given me all positive,

constructive criticism. That is where it comes from. That is why

you want to improve and come back. That is how I have learnt. I do, I

pass everything from what I have learnt. People are liking it a lot.

How impressed are you at the standard this year? I am really

surprised. I wasn't expecting it to be that good. You have such variety

of different personalities, but they all seem to be coming out of

their shell and being performers. Technique will always be difficult.

And you can see when some people find it easier and harder. But

generally they are performing for us. They are having a great time.

It is so exciting. There doesn't seem to be a clear winner? Not at

all. Do you have a favourite performance so far? My most

favourite is Lisa and her cha-cha. She is here tonight! I really

didn't know you were going to be here tonight. This... What was so

great about this? The choreography is brilliant. Robin did an amazing

thing. She had so much energy, so much rhythm, the musicality. This

was so early on. And she was like give it to me, I want more! That

was so exciting to watch. Well done to both of them. The score you have

given the most is six. You have given 19 sixes. What do we need

from the contestants for you to get those scores higher? We haven't had

a ten this year so far? It will be a while before we get a ten. It has

to be the music, the choreography, the technique, the performance

value, the telling the story, we could go on and on! Yeah. I'm a bit

hard on the scoring, but I think it is an encouragement to get a better

score. If you give them too big a score straightaway, there is

nothing to work for. I would prefer - the musicality is quite important

and the choreography. OK. Quick question to finish with. Who do you

think would win if Bruno, Len and Craig were competing? I love that

question! Thank you. Bruno is very competitive. Just having my little

experience of dancing with them, I think Bruno would want to outshine

all of them. It is funny, Craig would get quite nervous. He is

quite a perfectionist. I think he winds himself up. Len, I don't know,

I think he's done it all. Seen it and done it. We need to make this

happen. Can we make it happen? I judge them? You can judge them.

It will be great. Thank you very much. Lovely. Pleasure. APPLAUSE

Earlier on, we asked you if you could guess which one of our

dancers was boogying in their socks. Take a look and see if you got it

Those toes belonged to Ola. Earlier on, I popped down to the costume

department to have a look at the weekend's outfits.

Time to talk to Vicky Gill. APPLAUSE Hello, darling. Amazing

again last week. So this week we have five ballroom dances. Do you

have a preference, ballroom or Latin and if so, why? I don't. I

enjoy pulling the concepts together from the music, to production's

wishes, to what the celebrities are aiming for. Often, it is the

enthusiasm of building it up rather than the dance style. Also lots

talking about the Strictly body that you get when you do the job.

It is brilliant! Who has changed the most? Lisa has changed the most.

She entered the show, I don't think she cared, but she has gone down

two dress sizes. Brilliant. She looks stunning. Yes. Always great

fun as well. I think Fern, she wanted us to cut her skirt much

higher so... Come on! You see, this is what happens. A lot more flesh

on the boys. Is Artem wearing a top? Let's not talk about that! How

much input do the celebrities have into the design? At the beginning,

we try to involve them a lot. We are generaling up on what their

dislikes -- genning up on what their dislikes are. We try to make

sure that we answer their brief. This week, Denise is doing the paso

doble. Hopefully, with James. Maybe with Ian Waite. She is dancing to

Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes. Tell me about her frock.

He dress looks quite modern. This happened at the beginning of the

week. We will include more black lace. We will make it more

traditional. Big split up the centre front. She will separate

this in the routine. Use that as the cape? Yes. Love it. The back

will probably be cut out more and we may plunge the front. I see the

sketches, they have arms, by the weekend, they have gone. She looks

so gorgeous. Dani is doing a tango. Let's have a look at her dress.

Again, a bit more modern. That is not right. Dani is a bubbly little

girl. Black doesn't seem right, even though tango often requires it.

'50s style working good on her. it because she is little? Yes. We

don't want the dress to empower her. Also with tango, that is quite

short? Yes. She is confident. She can cope with the footwork, so...

She doesn't need to hide her feet. It will be up here soon! I must say

good afternoon to Gemma Edwards. Her Mum tweeted me. This is her

favourite part. She likes to guess the mystery dress. Reveal the

mystery dress. Oh! Look at that. Give us a clue? I can never tell

you much. This is a fun character on and off the floor. I hope you

guessed. Good luck. Thank you. APPLAUSE Thank you. Back to the

training room. I am thrilled to do the Charleston.

Look at your face. I love the Charleston. It is by far the dance

so far that fits my character. and-up! Richard is the Charleston.

He is bubbly and alive and he is full of fun and character. I love

the Charleston. I love the Charleston. It is the first time I

have done a dance where I can lift Erin. And if I drop her, I know she

will do it with a flourish! pull up! If he forgets his routine,

I could be splattered all over the floor. I'm dancing salsa this week.

It is a fun dance. The most difficult thing about salsa is to

make it look easy. There's so much going on. Don't fall into it.

all about the timing. Keeping rhythm, keeping time. I could have

a good week. Almost. If the timing is wrong, it is game over, simple.

You do have to lead the girl. Your hands have to be in the right place.

You have to be manoeuvring her around. I'm dancing the dance with

my eyes closed. You are the boss. I don't know what you are doing.

Natalie wants the salsa King in me. I am looking forward to Saturday

night. This week, we are dancing the foxtrot. This is a happy

foxtrot. With smiles and canes and fun, fun, fun. But very technically

correct. Toe, toe, toe... It is footwork all the way. Never does

that foot come off the floor. is what I have been doing. I don't

care if it takes 100 hours. I will have Lisa having amazing footwork.

Footwork. Go into a heel turn, Len will be watching this. I can feel

him watching. Turn... I want the judges to go, "Your feet were in

the right place at the right time at the right speed." Cool.

Please welcome the gorgeous Lisa and Robin. APPLAUSE It was only

your second ballroom dance last weekend. Did you love it? I loved

it. I really did. We worked really hard. It was really great. Just

obviously to do something different and to do that... I love that bit.

What are they called, the flip- flips? I call them earring bashers!

Perfect! Vicky Gill, she was talking about how you dropped a

couple of dress sizes. With you loving your new Strictly body?

weight is falling off me. They are toned! They are toning. It is mad.

I'm constantly like pulling my trousers up. Like the other day, he

had to put a hair bobble around my leggings. They kept falling down.

love that. Have you had the same? Yeah, my jeans are falling down...

Shall we check? They are still there. Robin, you have yet to match

your score from the cha-cha-cha. Will this weekend be the weekend?

This week, with the song, the dance, the happiness, the fun aspect to

this dance, I think we could be on to a winner. You don't know what is

going to happen on Saturday night. So far so good. You never know. I

hope that they notice this week that I have really tried. The steps,

and I have thrown myself into it. I'm doing the giraffe neck, you

know. And all that. I hope they notice it. I have tried this week.

We will talk about that in a moment. The judges have talked about your

footwork. Ian was talking about - heel leads, release the toes.

Did you see that? I did. I do get it. And I have worked hard on it.

lot. A lot. It's been quite painful at times this week. We have...

whom? Both of us! LAUGHTER Excellent. We also talked about

Lisa's affections, swaying perhaps to Artem. Have a look at this.

Robin does have to sort out personal parts of his pruning

regime. Oh my God! I'm not vain. I just like to pluck a few bits here

and there. This room makes you look pastey. Where am I going to get a

spray tan? It is about learning the dance. Look at me today, I'm having

an overgrown day. My beard used to... Still on the beard! Your

vanity of the week... Will I wake up looking like this every day?

What you see on Saturday night is not how I wake up in the morning.

APPLAUSE Brilliant. We are only being silly. You know we love you.

He is the vainest person in the world! Underlined! Let's hear the

music you are dancing to. # This will be

# This will be... # Sometimes it comes together, the

foxtrot, the music, you have got hats and canes. This will be a good

one. I can feel it? I hope so. I have fallen in love with ballroom.

I really hope we get it right this week. How are the hats and the

canes? They are good to help with your neck. When your hat is sturdy,

you can keep your neck out as well! Sounds like a Hardyism! Anthony

Cotton is a good mate of yours. He's been down to watch you. How

are your friends and family finding the whole experience of watching

you? They can't believe it. They genuinely are loving everything

that is happening within the show. People are coming up to me Dad

going, "Your daughter is playing a blinder!" It is wonderful.

Obviously, Anthony Cotton is a great friend. He likes the sequins

more than me! If the truth be known. Would he do the show? He would love

to do the show. He is a fantastic dancer! Is he? We will keep that

between you and me. Maybe get bit of commission. Good luck on

Saturday. Thank you. Lisa and Robin. APPLAUSE I want a hat! That is it

for today. Thanks to all my guests. Join me here tomorrow. I will be

chatting to Dani, Vincent, Nicky and Karen, plus a Friday Panel not