Episode 40 Strictly - It Takes Two

Oh, well hello to you me old chums. The eagled amongst you will know I

am not Zoe Ball. I have become a little bit obsessed with Strictly

Come Dancing so I have pulled a few strings with Aunty Beeb and I have

taken over It Takes Two. Tonight you get to have me on the couch. Oh

as it very much were! LAUGHTER

Listen, Zoe doesn't know anything so say nothing. Hush, please to you,

please. So let's crack on. Tonight, a thrill as American smoothies

Denise and James will be here. What else? Mm, oh yes, we will be let

loose in the Strictly studio as we gate-crash rehearsals. And Alfie

Boe and June Whitfield join me for the Friday panel.

Security. Security. Excuse me, it happened again. Sorry.

Who is that? Just calm down and we will get on with the show. Who is

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

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE Hello. Welcome to It Takes Two.

Sorry for the dus tishance earlier. I love Miranda. It is just 24 hours

and 17 minutes and 55 seconds until our next Strictly fix. Denise and

James will be tackling a salsa. A reminder of their beautiful

You are a pleasure to watch and you know, those difficult lifts.

It is extraordinary how effortless you make them.

I thought it was wonderful. The smooth and weightless quality

of the finest silk. For me, it was perfection.

APPLAUSE James, you were perfect.

Another triumph. Nine.

Nine. MP Ten. The the lift went well and I didn't fall on my head.

I really enjoyed it. Oh, we love them, Denise and James.

APPLAUSE They are popular. They are popular.

Congratulations. It took my breathe away, your American smooth. It was

a triumph, how was it for you out there? I really enjoyed it. I was

stressing all day about that end lift, but when it worked, it was

such relief. He did sort of drop you in training

last week. I didn't actually touch her, she just launched herself on

to the floor! Now, you did, you went away from me,

you wimp! He just turned his back on me and

let me hit the deck. On Saturday night, were you

nervous? I was so nervous. All day everybody else on the show was

going to me, "Are you all right? Are you all right?" I thought how

embarrassing if I hit the dog shelf! It would have been awkward.

But it was stunning. Another ten from Bruno. Your second in two

weeks. You are getting a nice little collection now.

I want to move in with him now! you getting used to that, getting

the ten as soon as. No, we really weren't expecting it, so it was a

surprise. Hayley, sung that song beautifully.

She is amazing. Hap. Hayley and the ban, it is the right song, the

right dance and right dress. My mum said she cried and then she

followed it up by, "I wasn't feeling very well.". Ah, so funny.

James, we loved Craig taking the mickey out of you.

Everyone takes the mickey out of me. Was your mum pleased? My mum was in

the audience, I mean she is in the awed yen every week with my dad and

she said, "Are you going to be nice this year?" I made her a promise I

would be well behaved. . I think it is paying off. Lyyne

did -- Len did pick up on a couple of mistakes. We can't see where

they are. I can tell you, but it wasn't Denise's fault. It happens

to to pros and every now and again your feet will hit each other, I

had a moment, I trod on her foot and continued. It was in the

standing spin. We had one one tiny moment. A foot collision.

But Len doesn't miss anything. He doesn't. He doesn't. Salsa this

week, are you liking the salsa? I'm struggling with it a little bit

because you have to be free and loose and after dancing last week,

I have to get myself out of the thought process. It is so different.

Yeah, we're going to enjoy it. It is fast swm.

-- as well? You are not the biggest fan of the salsa, James? People at

home don't get the salsa. If you look at the past few weeks, four

people have been out on salsa, I don't think the people at home

truly get the salsa because it is not as structured as all the other

dances. It is a mishmash. It is not a Latin dance? It is more

of a social dance. If you go clubbing, you pick up a couple of

birds and have a little dance. A couple? How many do you need? In

LAUGHTER I mean the thing is, one thing we

have really enjoyed from watching your training this week is Denise

has been loving some of your moves in the salsa? Yes.

Take a look at this. I have never shimmied before.

Show me again. It is really good. No, that's good.

Show me how you shimmy. This week, I've renamed as Shimmy

Similary James Jordan. To watch James shimmy is the funniest thing

ever! I don't like shimming. Blokes

shouldn't be shimming. When you arrive at the BBC, get out

of the car. LAUGHTER

You love it. I have even seen you do it on the high street.

What does Shimmy Jimi Jordan think? We will be all right because your

shimies will save us. Pasha could shimmy until the cows

come home and I wouldn't laugh. He is so not happy, but we think

that you have earned it. We think we know what is coming. It is your

cushion. Oh, look at your face! It is a party dance, I know you

love a party, young lady and you do too. How are you going to bring the

party spirit to the dantion floor? He is -- dance floor? He is going

to shimmy! LAUGHTER

Denise has done so well, and both of you have done so well, how are

you going to stay at the top, James? It is not about staying at

the top. We couldn't have trained any harder. You said you have been

struggling with this dance so we have put in extra rehearsal time so

we have done everything we can, so whatever happens on Saturday night,

we will take it, whether it is good or bad because potentially, it

could be a very, very good dance. But at the moment, it is a bit like

a box of chom lats, -- chocolates, isn't it? Oh no, when you get that

hard one and it gets stuck in your teeth. The film is only in three --

the final is only in three weeks, how much do you want to be there?

It would be nice to be in the final. I am not thinking that far ahead, I

want to get through your shimmy on on Saturday night.

Give us a shimmy. That could be my most favourite move. Good luck this

weekend.. Thank you. Denise and James.

APPLAUSE Last week, our new lemur friend was

spot on that Denise and James would be top of the leaderboard. We have

given the lemurs the chance to make # Gangnam style

I was distrackeded there because June Whitfield was going gangnam

style. Please welcome and perhaps be

upstanding for tonight's superstar line-up, Miranda Hart, June

Whitfield and Alfie Boe. CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Oh. June, you have left a little bit of space for Alfie at the end!

You have been training him. June... I am all right.

June, impressive gangnam skills over there. June, are you enjoying

the crop of celebrities? Of course, I am. I always enjoy it. I think it

is wonderful. How They do it, I don't know.

Do you have any favourites, June? They are all favourites, really.

Very diplomatic! I will ask you again later!

Alfie, welcome to the show. You are singing on the results show

tomorrow night? I am. Yes, I am really looking forward to it.

Sunday night. What are you going to be singing? Bridge Over Troubled

Water which is off my new album. Can I say that ever since I told

everybody that you would be on the Friday panel, every minute we say

Alfie Boe they go go... # Bring him home #

I am trying to find out why I am on a panel for a dance show.

It will become clear in a moment. Miranda, welcome to the show.

Miranda Hart. Stop it. I know you are a massive fan of the

show. Half the couples have gone, do you think the right people are

left in the competition? I think probably, yes, but I miss Richard.

I wish Richard had turned into Russell Grant. Not literally, that

would be weird, but as being in the sort of... Yes.

You know what I mean. He was so much fun and very, very

funny as well. Of course, he wasn't brilliant.

That's why we loved him. We know you are a massive fan of Strickly.

We are fans of Miranda, when is the new series starring? Christmas time.

The first episode is at Christmas. How is Tom Ellis? He is fine.

Is it going to be that whole thing like moonlighting? I couldn't tell

you. But there is some loving in the series. It might not be you

involved. Let's talk about the couples. We're going to kick off

with Michael and Natalie. This week they are doing the samba. Here they

are in training. Now June, Michael, last week, was in the bottom two

after his tango. Looking at his samba, June, do you think he can

stay in the competition after this weekend?

Well, I haven't seen his feet yet! That's a good point, June may I

say? Oh, definitely. You are amazing just on that tiny clip you

can tell! Such skill. This is the music they are dancing

Ta At the keel la. Alfie, this is where you come in, this is a

classic. It is a great tune. Lots of rit rit of rhythm.

Do you get nervous when you watch Michael doing a Latin dance? I get

nervous watching any man do a samba. You know, with love and respect for

him, very, very concerned. It can be dad dancing, sambaing?

you don't have the natural hips. Natalie is an amazing teacher, it

could be brilliant. Nicky and Karen are doing the

Argentine tango. Were you glad and relieved to see him back on the

right side of the judges? I really liked Nicky and he came alive. The

pop star dancing works for the Charleston. I am not sure that move

would. What's wrong with it? It is Michael

Jacksonish. OK. That makes me nervous, apart from that he looks

strong. June, the Argentine tango. A

different dance to the Charleston, how do you think Nicky looks?

think it is the most difficult dance, isn't it? Yes.

I mean all the flicks and not kicking each other must be the

first hazard to overcome, mustn't it? Very much so. I look forward to

You look beautiful and your glitter. You have got sparkly shoes.

Beautiful. Where is your sparkles? I didn't want to up stage the set.

Music, of of course, they are dancing to Adele.

Alfie is this good for an Argentine tango? It sounds passionate. I

think they will feel that in the music.

Lisa and Robin, I interrupted Alfie, I am sorry.

Oh, you are really letting yourself down.

Lisa and Robin and their quickstep. June, did you like Lisa's rumba

last week? I like everything she does.

What do you think of her quickstep? I think she will do it extremely

well because she is very light on her feet. She has a great sense of

rhythm and that's what you need. And a wnderful -- wonderful at

attitude, doesn't she? It makes us all smile and want to join in.

Do you ever quickstep these day as soon as. No, not really. I can't

say I do, no. But, of course, in my day at

dancing school, the quickstep was very different. You weren't thrown

over somebody's head or dragged around.

It is all advanced. This is the music.

# Bring me sunshine # In your smile

# Bring me happiness all the while It pains me that it is not

Morecambe and Wise. June, you worked witherric? Once.

June, the ladies love a bit of Lewis, what are you thinking of

him? I think Lewis is very, very good, indeed. Yes.

I think, I mean I know... Oh, look at that.

He is an athlete, but and the will letics is not dancing, but to go to

that from athletics is brilliant. He has not been on the right side

of the judges, what do you make of that, Miranda? There is something

reserved and wooden about him, isn't there?

As a natural dancer, I can say this. He doesn't sort of feel the dance.

LAUGHTER Do you know what I mean, Zoe?

Feel it. Why are you not on this show, lady?

Would you be tempted to to do the show? If you did the show, which

dance would you look forward to doing and which dancer? Obviously

with Ian. He is the best. Probably bring on the drive and

feel a little bit queasy about the rumba. Let's talk about Kimberley

and Pasha and their jive. Are we a fan of Kimberley, June? Yes, of

course. She is a wonderful dancer, but she has a little bit of

experience, doesn't she, from I suppose Girls Aloud? I mean they

move and in time to the music. They do.

It helps, doesn't it? Alfie, are you a Girls Aloud fan? And do you

have a fab a favourite? I have all their albums.

Do you? This is what they are dancing to.

This song has rhythm and they will really connect with that. I'm still

getting over your dance. That scared me a little bit.

It is good to be a little bit scare, Alfie.

Dani and Vincen are doing a waltz. Do you think they could get a ten?

A ten, I don't know. Look at her lovely red shoes. I mean, she is so

sort of precise, isn't she? She trains the least which is, and it

is amazing. What is that? Pure laziness. She should train more and

then she will soar. You are a poet as well as everything else. They

are dancing to Dean Martin. June is singing. He let's get the

sherry out! June, what do you think about this

tune? I think it has been around for a long time slam. It has.

I think it has something about it that... Fluidity. That's a good

word and makes you want to swing along with it.

It is a night, gentle. Denise and James, they have topped

the leaderboard for the last couple of weeks. Can they make it five at

the top, Miranda and are you a fan? Yes, I am a big fan, but I'm

worried - she looks a bit sort of, like a skittish pony!

What sitely out of control? slightly out of control? They were

saying saying earlier they weren't keen on the salsa. I want to know

does she have a strong enough core? I have no idea. We will find out

tomorrow. Lower heels. Can they survive the

curse. Curse of the samba? I am sure they will.

That's all I need. That's perfect. Three weeks from the final. Miranda,

who do you want to see lift the the glitter ball? Le sasmt

Lisa. It has to be Lewis.

Alfie. Kimberley.

Miranda Hart, June Whitfield and Alfie Boe, thank you.

APPLAUSE Well, we know what these guys think,

what do our couples make of each other, it is time they sized up the

competition. The competition is getting really

tough now. Everyone is so good.

I think you can tell that everyone has upped their game. Everybody

really wants to get as far as they can in the show.

You arrive on a Friday and you go in the studios to have a little

peak of what does what and you go wow. It shows how hard everyone is

working. It is lovely seeing everybody

growing so much over the time we have been together.

Denise is the perfect dancer. When she did the jive, I thought I

was watch ago pro in action. She is that god.

You can see from her commitment she works hard and she doesn't take it

for granted. Lisa is a joy to watch. Whenever

Lisa is dancing, everyone has a smile on their face.

Everyone loved the exciting side of Lisa. Underneath of it, Lisa is a

really, really good talented dancer. Lewis is a brilliant dancer and he

is one of the best boys left in the competition.

I did think in his paso doble he might have got more votes had he

lost the vest! Kimberley is the most improved. She

made steady progress throughout the competition.

I love watching Kimberley and Pasha because they are so suited as a

couple, I call them Mr and Mrs Kara mel.

I love Barney. He loves every second. For me, watching his

journey has been the most exciting because he is getting better and

better. If I left the show, I would love

Nicky to win it. Coming back from the dance off at

Wembley to do a Charleston, he has got preal determination.

His His Charleston was my favourite, it was brilliant.

Dani has just got better weeb after weekment

-- better week after week. She is stepping it up every week.

The final is in sight. I think if we want to get there, we have to do

that little bit extra. We all need to dig deep. The

standard is really, really high. It is how much you want it.

We have to pull all the stops out to stay in it.

We have got to nail every routine and you can't make a mistake.

There is only seven of us left so the game is on.

Now is the time to bring it. It is Friday which means I get to

stretch my legs and come and have a look. There, ladies and gentlemen

is a techno crane. Look at the size of it, hang on, sam familiar faces

in -- some familiar faces. Aliona and Brendan. Is this where you

three normally hang out? Aliona, you are back. Nice to be back in

the fold? It is amazing to be back. Have you missed everybody? I missed

dancing and I missed the studio. How is the leg? All mended.

You guys are practising because you have got something special in the

results show on Sunday? We are doing a little pro number. It is a

big one. A big one? Yes.

I like the sown of that. You are doing the Christmas special. Aliona,

who are you dancing with? Fabrice Muamba.

Is he a good mover? He is. Ola, who are you dancing with?

lovely JB from JLS. Lucky you!

They are on the Friday panel next week and you are reunited with an

old friend? Yes, lovely Kelly Brook. She was amazing. Probably one of

the best dancers I have danced with. Have a great week. Over here, over

here, we have Kimberley and Pasha. Right, we talked earlier in the

week and you were saying, jive had a few aches and pains and trouble

getting through the routine, it is Friday, the big show tomorrow. Can

you do the whole thing now, Kimberley? Only just.

She is brilliant. We can get through it, but it is hard.

It is a tough one, isn't it? Has it translated well from the training

room floor to the Strictly studio floor? Yes, it is always daunting

to do it in the studio for the first time, but it is OK.

And then you feel the energy. He feels the energy, a bouncing

bunny here. You don't have the intimacy of the

training room and suddenly everyone is watching you. You get nervous,

but I guess it is good to experience that now and get get

prepared for tomorrow. Exactly. Exactly. At what point do

the nerves kick on a Saturday? Usually on a Friday!

Really? They stay until Saturday night.

Do you sleep all right? I wake up with the routine going over and

over in my head. The good news is our lemur

predicted that you will be top of the leaderboard tomorrow. He got it

right last week. Will you give us a little glimpse of your jive? Yes.

You go and prepare yourselves over there. Off they go.

# Mashed potato # Alligator

# Put your hands on your hips # Let your backbone slip

# # Na-na # Na-na

# I need somebody to help me say it It it looks brilliant. You can see

Kimberley and Pasha do their jive tomorrow and all the other couples

tomorrow and all the other couples tomorrow night. Strictly Come

Dancing is on at 6.30pm on BBC One. Book your seat.