Episode 31 Strictly - It Takes Two

Hello. It's Monday. Welcome to It Takes Two. Wasn't it a wondrous

Wembley weekend? It was marvellous. After seven weeks of glorious

entertainment, sadly, he has salsaed his way out of the

competition. Richard and Erin are here!

APPLAUSE They put the ooo into the American

smooth this weekend. It's Michael and Natalie.

APPLAUSE And despite the sense of occasion

this weekend, his ten paddle remains mothballed. Craig Revel

Live from Television Centre, this is Strictly It Takes Two. Welcome

your host, Zoe Ball. APPLAUSE

Hello and welcome to It Takes Two. So our celebrities danced through

the decades, wowing both the judges and the 6,000-strong audience. In

case you missed any of it. Here are the headlines: Good evening, here

is the news. Finally it happened, Denise and James blew the judges

away with their charleston to receive the first, second and third

ten of the series. Craig called it Strictly's best ever charleston

Strictly's best ever charleston then gave it a nine.

That is the best charleston I've ever seen on Strictly. Go, go girl.

Only the show with the Car Wash Lisa and Robin unveiled their

surprise for Wembley. Yes, Lisa can Absolutely amazing wh. You dropped

into the splits darling, I thought I was going to have a coronary.

She might get a Dickie hip after. That was it a bird, a plane,

viewers finally got to see Victoria's big entrance. Sadly, it

wasn't quite enough to impress the It mains me to say so, but the bike

didn't quite make it all the way to Spain.

And finally, in a huge space like Wembley, you'd think it would be

easy to sneak in a nap, isn't that right hobbin and Pasha? Some people

He's going to be so angry. He's big Robin's angry. They were the

Strictly headlines. And now, even more gossip from Wembley. Here's

all the action from behind-the- # It's all so quiet

# It's all so still # It's Wembley. I'm excited and I

can't wait. The minute you get through the door, you're just

buzzing. There's no comparison between here and the studio. Nice

that the judges are further away, Just a little skirt, you know, we

didn't want to go over the top or middle of Wembley and to start the

routine these gorgeous hunks lift me into the sky. My life is

complete. I think we are ready to embrace

Wembley Arena. It's going to be ridiculous tonight. I can just

imagine, the screaming fans. There's a rumour that I'm going to

close the show at Wembley Arena. I never thought I'd say that. Lad

from Sheffield closing the show, New York, New York, Frank Sinatra,

three big lifts - what possibly can go wrong? It's crazy back here.

Everybody's running around and I cannot wait to go out there with

everybody and perform tonight. Costume and hair and make up,

everything is so important here. Because it's so big everything on

us needs to be bigger, brighter, grander. Look, fluro, huge hair. We

love it. I honestly didn't believe I was

going to make it to Wembley pwhi started the programme. I thought I

would be first or second off. I'm really glad to have made it to the

halfway point. Tomorrow you'll be pinching yourself, to wake away and

take in the atmosphere of tonight is just going to be mind blowing.

Last year, I didn't make it. This year I have, so... This is my first

Wembley, so it's very, very special. I'm very much looking forward to

the show tonight. 6,000 adoring fans loving the show, hopefully

everyone will dance brilliantly. We want to see some 10s today. Bring

it on. Good luck guys. I just walked into the arena for the first

time about to dot group dance. The crowd are going crazy. When the

arena is empty, it doesn't look as big. Now it's filled with people,

it's daunting. Makes me feel like I can't mess up at all. It does not

Now it sounds loud. We're all worried we won't be able to hear

the music in our dances because the noise. It could go horribly wrong.

Everybody in the Wembley show is just -- has just got better and bet

ir -- better. We have to say goodbye to Richard and Erin. I hate

seeing people go. Richard is such the entertainer. I think just

technically he's missing big elements from the technique, where

everybody else has upped that and he hasn't. I love him as a

performer. He's fabulous to watch. It's tough.

Unfortunately it was a case of wham, Bam thank you ma'am last night as

their Strictly dream came to an end. Welcome Richard and Erin!

APPLAUSE Darlings, darlings, first of all,

VPL, are you all right? I've kept myself tidy. You're fine. Those

slacks were incredible, they were incredible. They didn't do us any

favours did they? Commiserations to Dickie A and Erin B. How are you

feeling today after the exit last night? Like Geri Halliwell when she

left the Spice Girls. I thought I will have to tape certain phrases

on my phone because I can't cross the road without you. You've become

like a married couple. You do. Six to eight hours a day at least and

it's been the best part of three months. It has. It was like tumble

weed through the livingroom this morning and that was just Daybreak.

Cheeky! You said that, not me. You have had great success with the

dances. You've survived two dance- offs. What was different last

night? The couple we danced against night? The couple we danced against

was better. I think we knew, unless they did something terribly wrong

that we were going to go. You knew at that point. I'm very proud of

Richard because he made Wembley, seven weeks. We were in the very

first dance-off, which you survived. It was the most extraordinary

feeling being out. There it was unbelievable to. Leave under the

biggest glitter canon known to man was a dream come true for me.

was fantastic. In our household, we were -- rewound you pushing her

onto the crash mat about four times because it was so funny.

It was like smack, goodbye. You did all your own stunts. I do. It's

Merv lus. The banana hammocks, we loved. That Canary yellow is not a

colour I can wear. They wore it for you. You have been one of

Strictly's great love affairs. we? I think so, always smooching

and cuddling. I have loved it. will you miss about boy wonder?

Richard is probably the most tactile men I've ever met ever.

Anton is tactile, but you top the lot. He's warm, friendly, bubbly.

He made me smile every day. Of course, I'm going to miss. That

Kiss me. Go on. Where were we? won't believe it. Richard Arnold,

this is your Strictly story. The dancer you'll share your gossip

with is Erin Boag. I love Erin. She is terrific. Turn your blinking

hips. Against all odds she may have turned me into a ballroom dancer.

I'm a dancer. He has a great character and I hope that shows.

Your foot work was the best of any waltz I've seen. It's a dream come

true to be out there on the Strictly dance floor. I thought I'd

be Saimo Chahaling all my life. But apparently I've just been mincing.

I'm going to need another one. Those Saimo Chahal walks darling

really do -- cha-cha-cha walks belong in a drag show. The dance-

off finished, that was really good. You can do this. The thing is for

us is to move on. There is so much that can go wrong. It won't go

wrong. You can do this. I didn't mind it actually. Nimble foot work,

well done. When you see people take to the floor and do it, you think I

wish. Erin's given me the chance to do that? He's like a kid in the

candy store. It's a pleasure to be in the studio with him. I love her.

She's wonderful. You great big, butch bull fighter. You come out

and give it some. That's what you've got to do. This week, I'm

dancing the foxtrot. I am nervous about this one. This is hard. Erin

has decided I have to hoik my trousers up to see my feet. There's

no hiding. Heel, toe, toe, toe - I went blank. I won't lie to you,

it was terrifying. I was numb. was like a puppet, when you cut the

strings. Oh, God I don't know what I'm doing. You've heard about this

happening to people before. You never imagine it will happen to you.

I never dreamed for one second that I would ever get to this point in

the competition where Wembley was actually a possibility. If I can

just nail this charleston... really enjoyed it, really did.

Your best dance to date. Come on Wembley. I'm buzzing that I'm going

to Wembley. It doesn't get any bigger than this. The minute we

hear the crowd roar, I'm sure it will all come together. It will,

won't it? Plenty of wham, Bam thank you ma'am. It was a proper party.

The technique was sketchy, but then the fun factor compensated for. It

Judges, it's decision time. Nicki and Karin. Nicki and Karin. Nicki

and Karin. We've been through so much together and you held my hand

throughout the whole time. God bless you, I shall miss you very

much. You have been an salute star. I couldn't have asked for a nicer

partner to dance with. I want to say thank you and I love you lots.

APPLAUSE Glitter tissue. Have you got a

favourite moment? He's gone. It's been amazing. It really has. You've

given me such courage. It's been extraordinary. I've loved every

minute of it. Who would you like to see win out of all your buddies?

never want to see either of them again.

LAUGHTER It's so difficult to call. I mean,

the fact that we made a sharp and dignified exit at just the right

time means you have eight extremely talented couples in the competition

now. I will be at home popping a cork on my 43rd year in show

business and I will watch to see who is in the final two. It's

difficult to call. It's so close. We have loved getting to know you.

You've been amazing. You waltz in with such style, it's only fair

that you exit with such style as well. Welcome Jonathan.

Off you go, Richard Arnold and Erin Boag! I love you.

CHEERING Bless him. He's so gorgeous. Right.

Put him down. Soon Craig will be here. First another true or false

puzler from Bruno. It is Strictly Hallowed, you Strictly experts, I

am here to test your knowledge -- a hello. Bruce is in the Guinness

Book of Records for leading the world's longest conger, is it true

or false? -- conga. From one Strictly legend to another. Please

welcome Craig Revel Horwood! My goodness! I was hideously out of

time. With all of you later. Hello, Hanson, did you enjoy Saturday?

enjoyed it, at the atmosphere was electric, thousands of screaming

people, it was brilliant. Are you sad to see Richard and Erin

go? For morale, he has been so blind, and the best sportsmen. And

he enjoyed it. Let's talk about Nicky and Karen.

Back to a six from you again, yet you voted to save them. Why did

they deserve to stay? Because of the energy, and the content, there

were a lot of steps. I could not give a higher score because of

technique because it was meant to be the Jive, not Locum role. But it

is not -- but it is in a rock and roll style, but rock and roll goes

more into swing. It was meant to be the Jive and you do expect it

pointed foot and a retraction. said there was no retraction in his

kicks. Denise and James, E said this was the best ever Charleston.

I liked the amount of steps and the difficult ones they included. A

birdie, when you're on has come up like this. Before it goes with the

flat foot so it is not taken on the toe. -- for foot. The reason I did

not give it 10 was it was at little bit slick and that sounds strange

but in the Charleston, you need a limp wrist and it estrange to do it

with a straight one. But you gave Chris a 10 and you say this is

better. He it is all comparative, that year he won, the dancing was

not up to much. Cheeky! But you gave him a tenner. In the end! He

did by me a pint. Kimberley and Pasha, you look at this. You said

they were challenging events that crossed the music. The rhythm has

to cross the music, they are not always in time it. You or do A1 and

two, at you have cross-rhythms and then you go quick, quick, quick

slow. She was brilliant and I love her dancing, she is fantastic.

it keep her out of the bottom? hope so, but you have to thank the

public for that. Louis and Flavia and the American Smooth. The other

judges weren't blown away, but you called it "refreshing." What did

you enjoy about it? Normally, we see Fred and Ginger, and we expect

that. But he puts in things that he is good at and I do not mind that,

and the music was not Fred and Ginger. She was right to break it

up a bit and go for a quickstep. did not want you to feel left out,

so we are escorting you out with Jonathan again. Finally, it comes

out! On Saturday night, Michael and

Natalie delivered the big finale to the big night. I'll be chatting to

them in a moment, but first, here's a reminder of their American Smooth.

Amazing, brilliant performance. thought the whole thing was a

proper production and justified being the last dance of the evening,

well done! A fitting finale for a fantastic night! From the dance

gutters to that, fantastic. Nine. Craigan gave me a two and now he

has given me a nine, that is incredible -- the Craig. I have not

had that feeling since 2005, when we won the Ashes.

Please welcome Michael and Natalie. It was one of those moments, those

magic moments. Will Saturday be a night you'll always remember?

played cricket at Lord's forgot an ovation, but that matched it. To

get a standing ovation at Wembley, to finish the show with Frank

Sinatra, it does not get better. When did you know you were going to

be the finale? The night before. I could not believe a at! The finish

it -- to finish the show, it was incredible. He she sent me a text

saying we were finishing the show - - she sent me. It actually gave me

a lot of confidence. To know they trusted me to finish the show, we

must have been doing something right in rehearsals, so it gave me

a lot of confidence. You must have been thrilled with your first nine,

we will forget Bruno with his eight! I went to bed with Craig one

week and got a good score. literally! You have to be nice to

them. We have had so many amazing messages and many viewers want you

to go to the final. This message says, win, win, win for the

underdog in all of us! Is the final next? Every time you go to the

studio for the next dance, it is it clear and piece of paper and you

have to work hard and hope you produce a good dance by Saturday, I

am not thinking about the finals. am thinking about the Argentine

tango, and to play -- and to try and entertain. I love it and would

love to last a few weeks. Darcey likened Michael to Fred Astaire.

Did you ever think he'd be able to dance so well? We were channelling

Fred Astaire all week! The almost! He has the capability of being

incredible. I have always trusted you and had at faith in you.

thought I would be like Freddie Flintoff! I know you can do it.

Whatever you do in the training room, don't stop! Just.! What is

wrong with that? When she tells me to stop, it reminds me of my coach

told me -- he used to shout at me when I got things wrong. I do not

know how many times I have to tell him to stop! Stop... What are you

on about? So stop it! Stop! Do you get embarrassed when you see that?

I'd do! But it is working at. So this week, the Argentine tango, are

you loving it? Stock! -- stop! I have loved every dance and this is

a new challenge, very emotional, a lot of movement with the legs and

three more left. I have not dropped you yet. Is you are becoming the

left King. We were saying, please don't proper! I was not nervous on

Saturday night. I was living the Wembley experience and I looked at

the face and I could tell she was nervous for the first time.

Terrified! What were you nervous about? Something to do with that!

So much effort goes into Wembley, thousands of people are trying to

mate that -- of trying to make that moment perfect for us, make-up,

costumes, the production is incredible and I did not want to

let anybody down. You did not, you are amazing! 6,000 people came to

watch as in Wembley and it was the most incredible feeling that the

world, the highlight of my career - - and watch us. Good luck this week.

I imagine it will be glorious. How many are left? We are only allowed

three, but I much -- but I might have put in more. Michael and

Natalie or! They love you! Earlier, Bruno set us another fiendishly

difficult teaser, but was it Strictly True or Strictly Baloney?

I asked you, Bruce is in the Guinness Book of Records for

leading the longest conger. -- conga. He is actually in the

Guinness Book records for having the longest a showbusiness career

of any male entertainer. Joined the next time for another Strictly True

or Strictly Baloney?. With me, at the one and only Bruno, just for

you. -- the one and only. Craig is back, did you know that.

thought that would have been true. We did half of our celebs earlier,

time for the rest. We've just chatted with them, let's start with

Michael and Natalie. What a transformation. It was thrilling

and it was pure showbusiness. Exactly what you would expect to

see on a West End stage or Broadway, it was just wonderful, fantastic

left so. It was not completely perfect, I was further -- it was

further away from her than he should have been, but it was just

completely thrilling to watch and the music, all the elements came

together. And we will all remember it. Lisa and Robin, another great

performance. Another great performance. Has your heart

recovered after watching Lisa do the splits? I thought something had

gone horribly wrong, but she stayed there and was able to walk back.

Fantastic, the energy in this woman. Just the amazing action of her

dropping down into the splits. Wembley shock, darling! It did.

Victoria and Brendan, the Paso Doble. For You said it "wasn't

good." What went wrong? She was acting it will but she did not get

that Spanish -- Spanish flavour, the on shaping is so important. You

do not have that many steps to do. -- the on shaping. You have to keep

your chest height and keep the shoulders down. Would it be better

with more Spanish and traditional music? You can do that to anything,

it was a matter of shaping. Dani and Vincent. You didn't get to say

much, other than that you loved it. What was so good? She was flighty,

fantastic, and she is so precise about everything, I adored the

routine. Her and Vincent makes such a sweet, gorgeous couple. He

totally believe they have been dancing for years together. One for

the final? At think so. I did not have as high an opinion of her and

she has been growing on me every week. Ben queue, but gorgeous, I

hope you enjoyed Jonathan that. Thank you very much, Craig, we'll