Episode 1 Strictly - It Takes Two

Hello and welcome to a brand new series of It Takes Two. A new

series, new celebrity, new green room. Come with me as I meet our

first guests to talk us through their waltz, Rachel and Pasha are

here. Will I fall in love with him too? Dave and Karen are here.

In your face! Yes! And to talk and sift through the weekend's delights

and disasters Craig Revel Horwood is back. You love it! This is Strictly

It Takes Two. Boom! That's for you, Dave!

Live from London, this is Strictly, It Takes Two. Please welcome your

host Zoe Ball. Hello, and welcome to It Takes Two.

Yes, we are back! It is time once again dance lovers to immerse

ourselves inthe world of glamour as we guide you through the next 12

weeks of Strictly action. What a weekend it was! 15 new celebrities

make their debuts. In case you missed any of it, these are the

Strictly headlines: Ment evening, here is the news! It

was a weekend of surprises, but with the memories of Nancy Dell'Olio and

Anne Widdecome still fresh in the mind, perhaps the biggest shock came

from Fiona Fullerton. Might Anton, for once, actually have a partner

who can dance! ? It is lovely to see Anton actually dancing this series.

The content in that was amazing! There was so much going on.

Go, Fifi! Has caig met his match. While Vanessa's post-verbal workout

left him speechless. It is a shame you don't dance as

well as you speak. There was too much acting and not enough dancing.

Let me tell you what it is like from this side. Side. I am squeezed into

a girdle. I am having a hot flush, like you wouldn't believe and I have

to pretend to not be impressed when James Jordan takes his chest out!

Closing Saturday's show abbey and Aljaz had some lovely footwork.

Dreamily, deeply-felt. Romantic. You did an incredible debut on Strictly.

And finally, an it takes two - a pre-dance -- It Takes Two - a

pre-dance warm-up. And one, and two and... I want a go! You can do me! I

reckon you are too heavy. It is OK - Mr Macdonald was later

restrained! Those are the Strictly headlines. I thank you! Well, we'll

have more behind the scenes action later. What do our judges make of

the class of 2013? First it is the boys. Strictly, 2013... Bring it on!

This year will be a fob louse year! What a cast! What a treat for the

eye! Ash the smash! He is good looking. He has great fizz eke.

Do you know what I call him - Big Ben, ding-dong! He has the full

package. They don't come more packaged than him. Lovely Patrick of

Casualty. Let's hope he's not a casualty on the dance floor.

Temperatures will be rising. We'll have Saturday Night Fever! I think

he'll have it. Lovely posture. Stands straight, lovely smile, just

like me! With Julien I will pay particular attention to the detail

in his dancing and the technique. Let's hope he doesn't get

He may have a great sense of when food may be ready, but does he have

a sense of where a heel should be placed? After many years of an

on-screen double act, my first guest has ruthlessly traded his partner in

for a more attractive and... Sorry, Si - it is Dave Myers and his dance

partner. I am so excited to see you. Can I

say hashtag telly joy. You look like you were having the time of your

life on Saturday! I had such a good time. We worked really hard at the

dance. We did train for three weeks. Once that train left the station

there was no stopping it. Everything was right until the last

air-punches. By then the audience were with me! You looked like you

were loving it. It was infectious! Might I say... That is the reaction

everyone else has when they watch it back! They are loving you online.

Deborah from Leicester says dancing is all about fun and involvement,

Dave, you tick all the boxes. Karen, were you proud of your partner? I

was so proud! Really, he made me giggle all the way through. I was

having such a great time and working so hard. Really we are so focussed

on this. We want to stay in this competition for as long as possible.

We are working really hard. That is the attitude. Karen has some

fantastic ideas. We hope we have a chance to execute those ideas.

Fingers crossed. Sorry to put a dampener on it, Craig found it

terrifying. What did you make of his comments? Well, you see Darcy - I

was over the moon! Even Bruno was nice, looking forward to next week.

I mean, Craig, he looked like he had a mouthful of vinegar. Maybe that is

what it was. I am meant to count in my head, not verbally. That is hard.

That will come with experience. The others did enjoy it. Darcy said,

literally crying with happiness. Did you expect them to enjoy it so

much? I thought I'd got them then - one, two, three, four... And I went

away with a flourish then! You know, like I had so much

information to absorb, and the thing is, it is times when you have to

stop and people say, do whatever you do, don't stop moving. So, I kept

stop and people say, do whatever you moving, you know! And don't stop

smiling thanked was easy once I started -- smiling and that was easy

once I started. It was a very strong dance. The other thing is, you were

doing your rock star moves in the training room. You might have

possibly taken it a little bit far! Let's have a look.

Hit it! # Wild thing

# I think I love you # Come on hold me tight

Oh, goodness me! I didn't know they were filming!

That! Bru Bruno says he looks forward to your American smooth

next. How is it going? Challenging, it is beautiful. Should have more

discipline - perhaps! There will be. And there'll be some

big surprises. Yes, I have heard you are working on -- I have heard that

you working on a building site has come in! Easy. Not that you are like

a sack of comment. Never! So, she is... He's very strong. And

well rooted, but it is getting the roots up!

Good luck this weekend. You are a joy to watch. Good luck! Dave and

Karen... Now, soon Craig will be pirouetting in his pumps. First,

behind the scenes action from the weekend. It is the first live show!

Hello! Here we go! I have the feeling we are going to have a

megaday. We have just abandoned the lip gloss

because I am doing the jive and there's so much twisting it will

go... And I will get stuck like that!

We are just about to run through the group pro-dance. It will be very

exciting. I am the professional dancers doing their stuff. A very

ressive dance they have tonight. I am flying down on a silk. The things

you do for Strictly Come Dancing - I tell you that!

We have been to rehearsals and I have messed it up. I messed it up

before. I am a bit breathless. I must hold

my breath unconsciously. Such a different atmosphere from where we

have been rehearsing I is nice to get in -- it is nice to get in here

and have the lights. I am very nervous, openening the show. It is a

lovely honour, but... My mum has been texting me all day. She's

coming tonight. She has been giving me last-minute tips.

10 minutes, people! It is Strictly, 2013... Let's go: And get ready to

rumba! Live from the BBC... Last night -

fabulous! Oh, what's in store today? Can't wait to do it! Just can't

wait! Morning!

I come here with a blank canvass and she draws a magical face on me. I

think when I look in the mirror, oh, who's that! ? A little bit too

early. They are fixed to the bar. It is definitely feeling real. It is

like, oh, my God, pinch me time! You know you have made it when your name

sl in lights. In all honesty, it wasn't very good.

Hopefully I can sort of put on some sort of dance with a little bit of

rhythm. I am hoping! I feel quite relieved to have done

the rehearsals. Fingers crossed for the actual thing. Five minutes,

guys. I have glitter, my arms being tanned. My back being waxed! This is

more than a few last-minute touchups. This is a proper

renovation! I am hoping it will be better than it was last night!

Good luck to you! Good luck tonight! Come on! I stop being a Dragon and

be a... What am I? A dancer! I am literally quaking!

Oh, watching them go on still makes me have clammy palms. Taking to the

floor first time was not nervewracking enough, they had to

cope with Craig Revel Horwood. Oh, a little move. Oh, shippy and a

spin! -- shimmy and a spin!

Did you enjoy yourself? I had a -- shimmy and a spin!

whale of a time. An interesting fact for you, in the first episode of

last year's series, the average score was 22. This year it was 24.

Does this mean they are even better at dancing than last year's

contestants? No, I think Len is overscoring!

Possibly! We have so many to get through. Wed start at the top with

abbey and Aljaz. You gave them an eight and said it was gorgeous -

what was it about it that you loved so much? Well, they danced together.

A lot of the couples, I thought on Saturday, also Friday, were fighting

one and others. But, it was just Saturday, also Friday, were fighting

absolutely beautiful and the only thing that I thought actually didn't

quite work was the fact that they lost a little bit of focus with

their putting their bodies together. That is the only thing. It is only

week one. She is amazing really. She is amazing. It will really stand out

in the Latin. When the ladies are led around the floor it is easier

for the celebrity ladies. You said it is easier, it is really tough.

When you get your shimmy on it is tough. You gave an eight to Natalie.

You said the fringing was holding a multitude of sins on the hips. I

hoped she would have more hip action. She has lovely straight

legs. If she straightens them more and gets more hip action, that could

have been a nine. OK! In due course, possibly a ten. I think she's

absolutely fantastic and to come out on the first show, really and do

something that spectacular is incredible! OK, to the other end of

the leaderboard, gorgeous Dave and incredible! OK, to the other end of

Karen, who were just here and the cha-cha-cha. His booty shake - I

quote - gave you an overwhelming feeling of revulsion. What was he

getting so wrong for you? Well, the majority of the dance really. It is

all very, I suppose it is a lot of fun for everyone at home sitting

there watching with their wine and having a good laugh with some potato

crisps, but when you have to judge something like that, I have to look

at it technically. I like his enthusiasm. I like his energy. I

like his zest for the show. But, there does have to be some technique

in that. The American smooth next weekend. Tony and Aliona. You gave

him a two. You used the D-word for the first time. How did he go so

wrong? I was surprised when I saw him come out. I thought he had some

rhythm. There was a rise and fall. Then he went wrong about six times.

That is why his score was actually, in my case, so low. If he hadn't of

messed it up, I think it could have been possibly a five. First show

nerve Duke of Yorks you think? I think -- first show nerves Duke of

Yorks you think? -- nerves, do you think? Absolutely. Mark surprised a

Yorks you think? -- nerves, do you lot of people on Saturday. You were

going on about his right thumb - what is it about you and thumbs?

Look at it! Where should it be? Down, darling. That is easily

adjustable. It was a little bit stompy, I thought. At least he put

some intent and purpose into it. I thought he was very funny, some good

steps there. To the jives. We've never had jives first week. A tough

dance to do. Susannah from grimsy did a jive. You liked her energy and

personality. I liked that section there. She's got a great

personality. It is just wonderful to see her shine through the dance. And

that, to be honest, the acting is 50% of doing it. You know, the

people at home possibly don't know all the technical stuff. So they

will vote for that personality. She did a great job. A good partnership.

Patrick and Anya did the jive. You gave him a seven. You said you liked

his rhythm and energy. Could he be a frontrunner for the boys? I think

so. This was a surprise. I didn't think he would come out and nail it

as well as he di He was flat footed for me. He is committed. He has that

inner grove. He has a natural demeanour for it. And all on bad

knees. He's had dodgy knees. Vanessa and James and their cha-cha-cha. You

didn't get a chance to say very much on Saturday night, which I thought

was funny. What did you want to say about Vanessa's cha-cha-cha? There

is not much to say. It would have all be, sadly, negative. She was

kicking up every time she went into a New York or something, she would

stomp her legs up and down. And it just needs a little bit more focus.

I think she just needs to concentrate really on nailing just a

basic technique. And then start developing it. Of course, it is day

one, isn't it? It i Vanessa could come back and thrill and shock us

all. Sophie and bren Dan and the waltz -- Brendan and the waltz, you

said it was beautiful but you were not happy with her top line? It is

stiff and her right shoulder moves up. She has a tendency to lift it

and then she loses this side of her neck. She needs to licht her chin as

well -- lift her chin a little bit neck. She needs to licht her chin as

as well. Normally we are doing this in week five or six, aren't we? It

is all amazing, really. I am really quite gobsmacked. He's a pussy cat

really! Ashley and Ola, you called Ashley

easy on the eye. You said his footwork was feral. Untamed. That is

what I meant. I like that in a man normally. Me too and especially one

in hot pink. I like him, I think he's an equal opportunity with

Patrick to be up there of the top boy celebrities. I like him. I want

him to do really well in it. He shows promise. Good stuff! No news

on the baby, by the way. Apart from comparing Ben to breeze blocks, you

said there were a host of things to say, but you did haven't the time.

Do you have time now? Personality. No real acting through it at all. He

looked worried through the whole thing. No hip action at all, really.

He was just concentrating on the back of her head for most of it, you

know! It is a shame. If he had just thrown caution to the wind and even

overdone the hips, you know, he would have been better off and at

least smiled through it. You know what it is like with these rugby

players, slowly, slowly they come out. Look at Goughy at the end! M

You were pleased with Deborah? I was surprised. She was being dragged

about a bit, particularly when she does any turn and stuff like that. I

felt she was off Robin. She has surprised me. Another shocker,

really. I think she'll be really good. I know Gough is a cricketer,

not a rugby player. Just testing you!

Thank you very much, Craig Revel Horwood!

Sorry, Goughy! Earlier on we heard their thoughts, Craig and his

friend's thoughts. Time to find out what they make of this year's dance

floor dames. Abbey, of course, is brilliant at

looking fantastic. But, can she dance?

She can control all those limbs, I think she could go to the final. I

cannot wait to see those pins in action. News flash, Susanna Reid,

she will definitely be in the last four. If she can show her wild side,

I think the audience will just love her. I bet she cannot wait to get

out there. She is always sitting down. This is a dance to show her

legs. Sophie Ellis-Bextor she will be, actually rather wonderful. She

looks like a ballet dancer. Whether she has that confidence is another

matter. She can do it great with her voice. We will have to see whether

she can do it great with her body. Fiona Fullerton, does she have the

she can do it great with her body. license to thrill? Bond girl -

thrill to a kill - let's hope she brings that attitude with her. 007!

Oh, the dragon - Deborah - it is brings that attitude with her. 007!

great to have her. I am sure she's incredibly competitive. I think she

will be a live wire. Nat Tataly -- Natalie, young enthusiastic. I think

she will be very competitive and tough on herself. Vanessa, I hope

she surprises us all. Vanessa Feltz will be the ultimate performer. She

is brash - she tells it like it is - I hope she will tell it. Rachel is

beautiful. She will be stunning in the ballroom. She can count from one

to eight, so she will not have any problem. I know she can count, but

to eight, so she will not have any will she be able to do it on time?

Strictly, 2013, one to watch, darling!

Thank you, darling. What happened when you factor in as many hours of

training as you can - the answer is a beautiful first dance, please

welcome Rachel Riley and Pasha Kovalev.

If you can incorporate that into your next dance, that would be

great! How did the nerves hold out on

Saturday for you, Rachel? That is the question! I was fine. I was

singing along all day, having a laugh with everybody. Calm, calm,

calm and then the music came on and I checked out. I just went. It was

over I was looking at Pasha - what just happened? The steps seemed to

have come together. I wouldn't have just happened? The steps seemed to

noticed. Could you tell Pash that she had gone You could tell for a

second. She worked so Ment It is all in there, it is the

training. It was called a tad on the careful side. What did you make of

that? Because we were a little bit too nervous and somebody went to

Florida while I was dancing... Lovely trick! Maybe we didn't put

enough energy in it. Maybe that is what they meant by "careful." Can I

say my little girl thought you looked like Belle from Sleeping

Beauty. You looked stunning. You are elegant there on the floor. You

said, Pash, that she is like a giraffe stomping around!

There have been a few animals I have been compared to. Is he a good

teacher? Do you like his methods? He's a brilliant teacher. He will

say 17,000 different ways to explain He's a brilliant teacher. He will

it to me. One will kind of stick. Then we have to stick with that.

That does help! And the brain doesn't connect with the body and

the other way around. That will all doesn't connect with the body and

come. In the training room it is quite funny. We have noticed some of

his training room lingo is confusing. Look at. This As you run

around, you will see how I adjust it. What comes around comes around

or what goes around actually gets around.

Yeah! I like that version better. If you go around, then you will get

around. Good! Go for it! Cool!

What is he talking about? Psm how have you got on with the ballroom

shoes? I got blister after blister. It got to the point where I put them

shoes? I got blister after blister. on and I went, oh, I'm fine. I

couldn't really walk because one of on and I went, oh, I'm fine. I

them was really in there! .ed I love the Latin shoes. They are more

forgiving. I was in the socks n the blister plasters. All very sexy!

Also, how are you getting on? Does the maths - does your brilliant

brain help with the steps? It doesn't help. I can count to eight.

Is that all we have to do - eight? We don't have to go higher... To

three in the waltz. Up to eight, sorted. That is all of us. I found

especially learning the waltz to start with, my brain was the

problem. This weekend, it is the start with, my brain was the

salsa. How is it going? Salsa is different from the waltz. We need to

bring more fire into it. Len says he wants some welly. Will he get that

bring more fire into it. Len says he this weekend? I will have to up my

acting game. If you miss one step on that, then you don't know what will

happen. Good luck this weekend. Rachel and Pasha, everybody.

How do we get it all in? Thanks to all my guests. I am back tomorrow at

6.30pm. I will be joined by Deborah and robin, Aliona, Natalie, Artem

and Justine Henin-Hardenne.