Episode 46 Strictly - It Takes Two

Hello. Welcome to It Takes Two. It's Monday, what a weekend of

dance it was! Of course, it means we have to say goodbye and every

time we say goodbye, I cry a little. Nicky and Karen are here.

Oh, no! And yum, yum pig's bum - I say so - head hundred cho Len

Goodman is here tonight. What a -- huncho, Len Goodman, is here

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

welcome your host, Zeo Ball. -- Zoe Ball. Welcome, there was an

explosion of chicksteps and tum bas at the weekend, as our couples

tackled fusion week. Here are the Strictly headlines.

Good evening. Here is the news. It was raining tens. Kimberley and

Pasha's cha-cha-cha fusion blew the judges away to receive a perfect

score of 40. Nice work! The dance of the season so far for

me! I'm going to join the audience. I cried! Don't tell anyone! It was

a case of Strictly does Bucks Fizz. The dance really took off when your

clothes came off! You were like a glitterball under a search-light!

Go on - it wasn't quite Denise's week.

She put her foot in it - her skirt, that is - she was in the bottom two

I got my heel caught in this! couple in the bottom two tonight

is... Denise and James. It happens to the best of them.

Finally, it with us a case of double trouble backstage as Louis's

doppelganger left Flavia slightly confused. I have seen something who

looks like Lewis, just hovering. I have done a double-take. There is

someone who looks like me. I will believe it when I see it! And a

very special thank you to Liam - the dishy stage-hand there. Those

were the Strictly headlines. I thank you!

You know you are getting on when you describe a young man as being

dishy, don't you? More backstage gossip. All the action from behind

the scenes. Denise asked me to bring her make-

up bag for her. Today is quarter- finals I is nerve-racking. There

are only six. Fusion - the first time it has ever been done here in

the UK. It could go horribly wrong. What is everybody going on about?

Brendan! These knee pads don't work! Why didn't you put them on

properly? What's wrong you? Look at all these mirror-balls. I

It's the fastest dance in history. She hates this.

Semi-finals next week. Everybody wants to be there. There's a lot of

pressure and nerves and definitely - it's in the air. This is my very

special sparkly shirt for this week. Now, look at all the sparkles on

there. And what you will see is this goes around our waist and we

poke this down the back of oh our trousers and that is our -- back of

our trousers and that is our mic- pack. They can hear everything we

say! You have to be careful what you say. I have to quickly go and

get changed. I'm not in the show. Sorry! I forgot!

That's how you have your lipstick done!

Right now, it's crazy. Everybody's just really excited and just all

over the place. Nobody's standing still. Covering my bruises. I've

been pacing up and down. I am literally walking up and down,

I hate this bit so much. Sweaty palms!

I think you can see the panic in these faces and myself too!

Have a good one, everybody. Have a good one!

To see Nicky go was really hard. He sells it. He knows how to perform.

It with was joy to watch him it was just his technique that let him

down. Glitter-box at the ready. Sadly, it was third time unlucky as

they were unable to withstand another dance-off. Please welcome

Nicky and Karen. You two - we didn't want to see you on the sofa.

Commiserations for last night. Our production team are inconsolable.

They are weeping back there. They gave me a bottle of wine.

Thank you. How are you feeling the day after? I am OK today. I was

gutted, to be honest with youfplt I really wanted to go as far as --

with you. I really wanted to go as far as I could. On Sunday, I felt

devastated. It is a fantastic competition. I didn't want to leave

the show - haven't embarrassed myself or anything like that.

did not embarrass yourself! Len did say on Saturday night the American

smooth and samba was the greatest challenge trying to put those two

together. Did you feel a disadvantage when you were given

those two? Actually I didn't. I feel Nicky handled both dances

fantastically. Everybody is afraid of the samba and afraid how tough

it. We went out there and we just had fun. I think he did brilliant.

I am extremely proud of you! Nicky, was it tough for you to take

on two new dances? Others had dances they had done before?

suppose it was a disadvantage not having done either of those before.

I just approached it like, as any other dance, as if it was the same

one. Obviously there was a difference of speed. It is a banana

skin for everybody. I actually thought, you know, we got it to a

level where we recorded it in training, we kind of felt it was

good. It was harder than the week before when we did the Argentine

tang go. I felt that was a -- tango. I felt that was a fantastic dance.

I thought it was strong enough to get us through. It shows the

standard of dancing. Darcey was particularly impressed at how well

you sold the dance. You were pleased it went well on the night?

It went fantastic. It is a great one to go out on. You didn't shame

the family! Craig was particularly harsh.... Who? You never have to

see his face again. It was not the first time. Your fans and everyone

on Twitter was going mental about it. Can you explain his five to

Len's eight? I just need to say that Craig needs a hug. Or a slap!

Let's not dwell on the negative. I think we should celebrate. There's

a lot of good bits. Here we go. Right Nicky, your up town girl will

be... Karen Hauer. She had no idea who Westlife are. Show me that

third one... The what? He picks up movement really quick.

There are certain rules in Strictly Come Dancing. You broke one of them.

That, my darling, is a lift. lift probably was not the best idea

in the world. Are we doing a lift? No lift! It's not coming easy, is

There was confidence. There was attitude - which was great. Sadly,

for me, there was not enough cha- cha. Going out for me, it's not an

option. Quick, quick, slow. You stepped into it too quick.

Will this get us extra points? week there was no life. This week

it is full of life. You are starting to win me over. This week,

the tango. Slow... Nicky is more driven this week. It is what we

need. Yes, the whacky professor has found

his secret formula. We really want to show the judges he is improving.

Where is your posture. Do not pick up your feet. I swear, I will glue

your feet to the floor! I believed every moment of the performance.

I've got to come out fighting. We are too close to that bottom two.

That was your best dance for me, so It was wonderful - rock'n'roll.

danced as best I could. I find myself in the bottom two. I will

say Nicky and Karen. I was that close to going home. I was like, "I

need to nail it this week." I have never met someone with so much

fight in them! It was magic. I loved it. Magic!

Imaginative, fresh, brilliant! I couldn't imagine being partner

with anyone else. I am extremely proud.

He works really hard. It was just too aggressive and

stompy. The couple in the bottom tonight is... Nicky and Karen.

The last few months have been I tell you, you give all of it 110%.

I command you for it. Judges, it is I I believe I've made a friend for

life. Thank you. Thank you for making my first year on Strictly

Come Dancing so special. I've had been amazing time with you. Thank

you for sharing that with me. They've all gone in the studio.

Everyone is crying. Looking back there as well, you

have waterery eyes. The charleston, so many awesome dances. Which was

your favourite? I loved the charleston. It was a high score -

four nines. Didn't quite make the tens. The sky fall, -- Skyfall -

the James Bond theme, that was great. Your first year on Strictly

Come Dancing. How has it been for you? Will you come back? I hope so.

This is the best job a dancer could dream of. Will you keep dancing?

made a statement today on Twitter that I was hanging up my heels and

retiring from Latin and ballroom with mediate even. Maybe at a

wedding - I may get up and do a tango. Who do you want to win? It's

the important.... Not Craig! You're not going to see him in

panto then, I don't imagine! thank you!

Do you know, it's so hard, I love everybody left. I don't want

anybody left not to think I am mentioning them. I think Denise is

the best dancer by one million miles. If I have to pick one I will

say Kimberley. Nicky. You have been an absolute gentlemen. Give it up

for Nicky and Karen. CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Love him! Soon, Len joins us for the first time this series -

exciting. A chance to work out MUSIC: BLUE SUEDE SHOES.

WHO IS THAT. NOW A VERY SPECIAL GUEST, PICKLE MY WALNUTS It's only

the top cat - Len Goodman. Come in. Come in!

What a series it's been, Len. Listen, we say it every year.

Sometimes we say it for just saying it - this is the best one. It is

the first time I knew everyone who was on it. That is a good start.

Have they lived up to expectation? 100%. The mix of characters we've

had - we've had funny ones, good ones, not so good. It was a great

mix. I enjoyed doing it. It is not over yet. Come on! Two weeks to go.

Let's talk about the weekend - you are no stranger to dance fusion.

What did you make of the talent this weekend? It was terrific. It

is a challenge. It's not just a challenge for our celebrities - but

also from the pros. They have to be inventive. They have to think, how

can we get into this one and go back to that one? I think they did

a great job, but I think the celebrities were brilliant. I was

not sure at first. Then I thought, this is really good. What makes for

a good fusion My favourite type - I like a proper fusion, when you get

a bit of this, into a bit of that and a little touch of the other.

Cheeky monkey! There was a couple of them - Lisa is one and Lewis,

which was half and half. It worked, but I prefer the ones which are a

mix-up. It is how they can do that and the

seamless way. They go from one to the other and then back in.

It keeps you watching, as a judge or as a viewer, it is interesting

to see, especially for people like me. I think how will they get from

a cha-cha-cha, into a tango, back into a... It was marvellous. I

loved the blend. Some are hard to marry together. Are there any you

didn't think quite worked together? I think they all pulled it off. One

of the hardest, and I said it on Strictly, was Nicky.

The samba is tough. He's got a foxtrot and a samba. To mix them in

is harder than a quickstep and a charleston or a quickstep and a

jive, which are both upbeat. I thought they all did a brilliant

job. I was impressed. I got emotional watching the show. I have

fallen in love with them all. You said in the results show, you too

would have voted to save Denise and James. She is so good. Why does she

deserve to stay? I love this little bit, the pendulum. This is where -

that was the incident when she caught her heel in her Nickers or

whatever - but her work ethic. I look at the results... She's

worked... Russell's pole. She's worked the hardest. She's put in

the most hours and I think she's a terrific dancer. I know there are

people who say it is unfair and all this. It's not unfair.

Tom Chambers. Jill Halfpenny. Is it more an advantage than being

say a sportsman, who has the work ethic and the will to win and the

coaching? You can make a case that they've all got an advantage if you

want. I think she's a fantastic dancer. Lisa and Robin did a tango

and a cha-cha-cha. You did say there was an incident. What went

wrong? I don't know if you are show it. This was great, the Cuban going

on there. Somewhere here there was an incident. It's coming up now.

She went a bit, then she started stomping about. Then she goes into

a New York, which is a bit off time. She, for me, is my biggest problem.

I tell you why. Yes? My brain looks at her dancing and thinks her

posture's not that good. It is a little bit cumbersome in places,

but my heart is saying she's so much fun, there's so much feeling

going on and it's a challenge between my brain and my heart. My

heart wants her to go through and my brain is thinking, well the

technique's not that good. Then I think, well, as a judge, my job is

to judge it with my brain. It's for the viewers to judge with their

hearts. If they say, oh, we love her, she's bubbly and great, oh,

well, good luck to her! Louis and Flavia did this. The way they did

it was not that hard. He has massive hands. You know what they

say? I don't want to know! hands, big gloves!

Up to here it is a rumba. It wasn't a sort of true fusion of one and

another. There was a lot of rumba and not much tango. I understand

from the music and when you choreograph, you do that by the

music. It was all quiet and rumbay. Then it goes into that strong end,

which really feels like a tango. I did understand musically it was the

right way to go. If it had been more of a balance of the two dances,

it could have been a ten even. vein vent and their quickstep and

charleston. Yum, yum, pig's bum you said. What did you enjoy? I enjoyed

the quickstep more than the charleston bit. I think the

charleston was a little confined. It was not full of razzmatazz. The

mix was very good. I thought Vincent, last week, with hisvy

enneez waltz, that was clever. Last Saturday, I thought that was clever.

It is a little easier. Both dances are from the 20s. You see

charleston in the normal quickstep any way. It was a little easier to

fuse. Kimberley, Pasha and their tango and cha-cha tkha. Shut up!

This, I tell you what - I loved... Look at how she went from cha-cha,

even her expression told you what dance she was doing. It was so well

done. Absolutely seamless from one to the other! The cha-cha was cipls

and clean. -- crisp and clean. Awesome. It made me cry. Thank you

for visiting us. Len Goodman, I salute you. Next week, Bruno for

your pleasure. What was our Elivs Presley? Time to reveal who is in

It was of course Anton - the king. Did you guess that? I never guessed

it. Last week, we kicked off our pro challenge. Len said he would

like a go at this. The Guinness To do as many kick ball changes as

pick as possible. A quick from the other leg and a back replace. Which

of our pros are up to the challenge? It's time to welcome our

next contender. Come on down... Karen Hauer.

Come on. I love that move. I love your dress

as well. OK, Karen, it's your first time at the It Takes Two pro

challenge. Were you nervous? Yes. How many kick ball changes have you

done in a row before this challenge?Vy No idea. You have

never stood there intentionally and done it Probably four. It is time

to see how you did. Come on. Here we go!

This is really exciting, especially since I am new. I am really looking

forward to it. I am feeling excited, but a bit nervous. Hello. Welcome

to your very first pro challenge. How do you think you'll fare?

I hope. Good luck, my darling. Off Five, four, three, two, one, stop!

How did it feel? For a second, I totally forgot what I was doing. I

felt like I was doing like this. felt you could have gone faster and

harder. You took your time. It is a world record attempt. Why rush!

They were beautifully done. You may leave the floor. It was gorgeous to

watch. Stunning! Why sweat! I don't think

I have a chance to win the world record. But I do have a shot at

technique! Oh, Karen, you made me laugh.

looked like I was doing Irish dancing. It is a kind of fresh

approach to it. It is so neat like that. What was the thinking behind

that pace? There was no thinking! Really.

At which point did you forget what you were doing? From the beginning.

You could kind of tell. After each of the professionals our

adjudicator watched their performances in slow motion to

verify the kick ball changes. How many do you think you managed?

OK, fingers crossed. Yours have been counted and verified. I can

reveal that you performed... 33 kick ball changes in 30 seconds.

Not too shabby. I was close to 30 seconds. You see? They were precise.

Let's look at the leaderboard. Erin has beaten you by over double.

was in a hurry. You are on the bottom there. 33. Is there anyone

obviously not you could top Erin Boag, do you think? Vincent.

Italian stallion is in tomorrow giving it a go. Well done with

Nicky by the way. It's been amazing having you on the show. Give it up

for Karen Hauer. OK. That is nearly it for today.

Thanks to all of my guests. I have to ask you, who would you like to

see go on and win out of the pros? Pasha.