Episode 29 Strictly - It Takes Two

from all our couples, blues, they brought the roaring 20s to Elstree.

Fiona and Anton are here. His paso-doble showed plenty of front.

It's Ben and Kristina. Last weekend's performance had Craig

feeling under the weather. We loved it. Will there be sunshine on

Saturday? It's Dave and Karen. Lovely impact! Plus it's Vicky Gill.

How will we squeeze it all in! Please welcome your host, Zoe Ball!

APPLAUSE Hello, and welcome to Strictly: It

Takes two. It's Thursday, which means another weekend of delicious

dancing just around the corner, and, with no theme this week, it's back

to basics for our couples. In a moment, I'll be chatting to Dave and

Karen, but, first, let's see how the first of our boys are getting on in

training. This week, I am dancing the quick

Steph. One, two, three, four. I want to push Ashley. I want him to

improve. You're pulling this to to a connection with me. I've put a lot

of content in, maybe a bit too much. week.

To show the judges we are improving. Last week, I had my highest score.

If I can get my posture right, hopefully, I can improve on that.

Karen and I will dancing the Tango. It's passionate, and I need some

passion in my dance this week if I am going to stay in the competition.

Shoulders down, belly up, in the pose! Attitude!

Dave is going to find it really difficult when it comes down to the

technique. Heel leads, keeping his frame, everything has to be precise.

I keep going on one, two, three on that one. We're having issues here

and there, especially with timing. It's getting so confusing now. I do

- I do get it confusing. I want to get it right for myself and Karen as

well. get it right for myself and Karen as

Get it now in case! On Saturday, we briefly said farewell to cuddly nice

Dave, as you embraced the monster within. Was it begun to go dark

side? I am like a panda with an attitude problem, you know what I

mean! Did you enjoy it out on the floor on Saturday? I did, yes. I

really enjoyed the jive. Funnily enough, my dance was better in

rehearsals than on the night. Brendan said they had that problem

this week as well. Funny. Frustrating. Yes. Karen, on Tuesday,

Karen hardy was saying that she did see lots of jive content in Dave's

performance, and she was actually for the first time, I really liked

it. Bruno said on Saturday night the jive content was nonexistent. What

do you say? I didn't understand that, because I thought I put so

do you say? I didn't understand human met gnome. After your

performance, you did say that you thought you had lost your nerve a

bit, and you were a little bit angry with yourself. Why was that? About

two eighths in, there's a trip emstep, and I forgot to do it. It's

funny, because I saw a cold ice flash across Karen's eyes, and I

felt this in my head, but I just held it there for longer, and nobody

else noticed. Hurray! That's because you're improving as a dancer, you

know how to get yourself out of a situation like that. Len really

enjoyed it. Karen, is it good to have Len in your corner? It's

fantastic to have Len, really. His support means a lot to us. First of

all, himming the head judge, you know, he really knows his stuff. I

mean, they're all magnificent, the junction -- judges, but we really

trust Len. We're glad we have him in the

trust Len. We're glad we have him in get on very, very well, but when

somebody leaves, it is really hard, and the fact it got down to the last

two, the fact it wasn't us, we felt really sorry for the person who had

to go into the dance-off. So, really, at that point, it is not

appropriate to start cheering and rejoicing. That's why, that was it,

really. Very much so. But great, everybody phoned and voted so that

is all good. Yes. We know you tried really hard to bring out the scary

monster at the weekend, but we've also noticed that dancing has

brought something else out in Dave. Where is your frame? I am not a dog.

You are a dog. Rarrr! You are being well trained. Who's your friend!

You're a pedigree, come on. Down! Up! Up! It's like Crufts! Boaaah!

Walkees! At least a dog gets a chocolate drop.

Hopefully, we won't snip you! Let's hope she doesn't snip snip

you. This week you're doing a Tango. Let me see your face. Oh! It is

different to a doble face. It's proud, and I am there for the

battle. It's not funny, it's a serious Tango

face! Your music is amazing. Have a listen.

It's not funny, it's a serious Tango face! Your music is amazing. Have a

listen. # I would have walked 500 miles. #

I mean, Craig apparently and Charlie from the Proclaimers have got

involved, sent you a member, they're very proud. What did they say? They

wished us the best of luck. They said a lot of people have basically

bust some shapes to their tunes and can't wait to see what we do. I bet

they've not brought a Tango into it. How do you bring a Scottish feel to

it? How do you bring a Scottish feel to

Don't answer that! APPLAUSE In

a little memorandum, I'll be chatting to Ben and Kristina, but

first it's back to the training rooms to see how the rest of the

boys are getting on. We are dancing the rumba, one of

Iveta's favourite dances. I will do my best to get it right. A good

rumba is when you show a great timing, when you create beautiful

lines. You see how it softens. We just sort of got the routine mapped

out, so I am looking forward now to really trying to polish it for the

next couple of days and really try and get the technique. He has a

rhythm, and he has by the movement, hip movement. I think his challenges

will be keeping it clean. My ambition this week is to get my

footwork right and the arms and hips right. There are a lot of different

things I've got to bring together for Saturday.

things I've got to bring together would like to emulate in that dance.

It's very big movements, and you have to cover the whole floor.

I am already there. I am going to go round. In terms of the brains,

suddenly kicking in and passing it down to the legs, it's a huge

challenge for me. I've got to work hard in terms of trying to get it

in. This week, we're doing jive. I know

it's going to be quick and a lot of footwork. It's the fastest dance of

the Latin dances. We are really struggling.

It's been tough. I am tired this week, and it's a lot to take in. Th

is driving me insane. Hopefully, I can get it right. One of my

favourites was again, and again. And again, and again, and again.

I am sure he hates again, and again, and again.

On Saturday night, that icy paso got judges hot under the collar. Let's

hope their next dance gets just as warm a reception. Please welcome Ben

and Kristina. Hello, you two. two. , You found your top, thank goodness.

Well done! Someone had hidden it! Can I have it back! A personal best

for the two of you. Yes. Are you still on a high, Ben? I actually am

pretty grounded after I started the jive this week. It's been tough,

but, it was nice to get a good result. Especially after all the

hard work you put in, so, yes, a good score but you quickly move on

to your next dance. Bask in the glory a little bit longer if I was

you. Kristina - I told him to enjoy all the comments. They were amazing.

When you first drew the psao, did you do an internal fist pump of this

is going to be brilliant for Ben? Yes, I knew it would be a good

is going to be brilliant for Ben? happen to your shirt? When did you

decide to go topless? Christ You know, it wasn't necessary that we

were going to go topless, it was the fact that the bolero impact looked

like I had borrowed one of my kid's impacted. It was no way I was going

to wear that. There was a big debate about it whether we would do it or

not. It happened. And it worked. It did work. I must apologise for a

little bit of swearing there. Family viewing, I hope you weren't offended

by that. Len gave you the first nine of the series. Well done.One point

short of perfection. How pleased were you? I am so proud of this man.

We started seven weeks ago, never danced before, never put a left foot

and the right to music, you know. I am so proud of you, and thank you

for putting in all am so proud of you, and thank you

dance, which was good, so, yes, it worked. Look, it worked. Moving on

to the jive, right! We think we know what you might be

doing to dazzle the judges this week. Have a little peak.

-- peek. Struggling with your Strictly smile. Cohengate for fresh

breath and a glowing smile! I can smile no problem now. Today was the

smile. Smiling again!

Available nowhere! APPLAUSE

Not cheesy at APPLAUSE

high heels. It's too bad. Will you be all right on Saturday? I have to

dance on flats. I can't put my foot and a dance shoe. This was because

this strong man threw you halfway to Birmingham!

Don't blame him because actually it was a real accident. We were too

close to the wall when I did the sliding through his legs with all

the power and momentum, I hit the wall so hard. I thought I had broken

the toe, but - Apart from the accident, how is the jive going for

you, Ben? Incredibly frustrating, I've got to say. I am used to quick

footwork with playing rugby, but trying to put it into a sequence and

trying to make it rhythmic, and trying to have rhythm to it is hard

work. It's been very, very frustrating this week. Something

exciting in your routine, though. I hear there's going to be a trick,

and somebody's been helping you with that. Tell me more? You know too

much! So, that. Tell me more? You know too

my friends is Louis Smith who helped me learn. How handy. We have a clip.

This is Ben doing his first back flip.

That's made it into the routine on Saturday? Yes. Thanks, Louis, for

helping me. He's been absolutely fantastic. Good luck, I hope your

foot is all right. Ben and Kristina! Thank you, guys. Good flip.

Right, let's head back to the training room to check up on some

more of our celebrities. Brendan and I will be dancing the

Argentine Tango. It's an exciting dance. Audiences love it. That's

cool. I am excited because I think the choreography is superb.

Sophie has the attack and the performance, it is just a matter

Sophie has the attack and the started out dancing on Strictly, I

never imagined I would be able to attempt a routine like this, so, in

a personal way, it is incredibly exciting. We are dancing the waltz.

It is lovely. It's such a wolf dance. It's the most romantic dance

out of all of them, which is a challenge because we tend to just

laugh all the time. If I've just come off a news programme, it's hard

to access my soppy romantic side. Kevin has been teaching me tumble

turns and I still don't really understand.

They're quite difficult step to pull off because they are tricky footwork

wise. We've done it a number of times today, and I've probably got

them right about 25 per cent of the time. If one of in four of those

times is on Saturday night, we are sorted.

times is on Saturday night, we are much costumes did you have to make?

65, something like that. Four or five days you had to do that? Yes.

Are you relieved to be back to a normal themed week with the

classical Latin? Yes, it's hard going for everybody, but we love it,

we need a little calm. Two words: men's impacted, OK? Mark has lost a

lot of weight doing the show, and they're saying his impacted are too

-- impacted are - jackets are too big. We have to defend the Taylor.

The jackest is cut so when they are in hold, when nanograms with

standing with air harm down, they look ill-fitting. Mark could do with

some taking in. Because he has lost so much weight. Step with me this

way. Let's go along here. Thank you very much. You can see

way. Let's go along here. Turner is known for a fringe dress,

and Natalie was keen to embrace the number. She's got the barnet. Lots

of fringing. This is longer. It hasn't been trimmed or fitted. I

think that Natalie will take it really short the weekend because she

thinks she's Tina. She is bold. Yes. Artem, as we shuffle to Anya, across

to a quick shuffle, and what about Artem. Will he have any themes in

his costume? He often takes longer than Natalie. I don't believe that!

We've got great prints for him but we'll have to see whether he goes

with it. This is Anya's dress. Yes. She's doing an American Smooth with

the wonderful Patrick. What can you tell us about the design of this

dress? We fitted this dress in the summertime and hoped that it would

find its way to the show because we guess in terms of dances, and - That

far ahead? Yes, they don't often make it to

far ahead? Yes, they don't often lifts in the American Smooth. Let's

talk about Sophie's dress. She's doing the first Argentine Tango -

everybody is very excited about that. Talk me through the design.

The design for the dress this week, we've really taken a directive from

Brendan because he has been looking at certain influences and would like

us to take that on board, so we have. It's a little bit

work-in-progress the fitting tomorrow, so hopefully it's what he

wants it to be. I like that they get involved. I guess they know the

movement and the mood, don't they? Yes. Talk us through the materials.

The material on the skirt is important because we don't want

Sophie to get her heel caught so if it is a stretch fabric, she will get

her heel caught. One layer of satin, no binnedings, so the so the legal

can slide off it. It can get tricky with the kicky dog-leg. Karen is

doing a Tango to with the kicky dog-leg. Karen is

will have to see. I didn't want to know the answer to that. Whatever he

does, I am sure it will be glorious. What about Ben Cohen? Is he going to

have top on or off this week? Kristina said unfortunately top on.

It's top on, but, it's side of stage, he thinks thinks, "Shirt off,

on?" And then makes his mind up. Quickly, Mark and Yvet have a Bond

theme? Their numbers have been fun, again, embraced, they're having a

giggle and having a good time. It is Bond, she's the villain and she's in

a gold metallic cat suit. She wears a cat suit so well. Maybe Mark will

have his top off next week, you never know.

From fashion back to footwear as we check in with

From fashion back to footwear as we to make sure that it is fast but

technically good. Open, now why doing extra steps? I don't know. I

don't know how to do it. It's really, really technically

difficult. There is so much bounce action throughout the dance, and it

has to be precise but not look too careful otherwise it's not

interesting to watch. It's going to be wild, and I can't

wait. This week, we're doing a Charleston

which is a very upbeat, a lot of lifts, very funny, very cheeky. S

such a quick dance of the that's really frightening me. How am I

going to remember it? You learn it slow and then the music comes on.

There is a lot of content in the number, and I really think it's

going to be very difficult for both of us, really. It's a

bang to and hopefully we get it right on the night and everything

goes well. We're dancing the paso-doble. Quite

a dramatic dance, which I quite like.

The timing of the paso-doble is really important because it is what

gives you the drama as well, helps to drive the dance forward, and one,

and five, one, two, three, four. Those and counts are really

important. Working with a skirt is quite difficult because the

movements have to be very broad, large, elegant movements. There is a

lot of style, a lot of shaping, a lot of acting from from Fiona, and

if I can get those things going in the paso, we should have a great

paso. I don't know about you, but I think that looks

paso. I don't know about you, but I think it suited you. You looked so

young, about 25 out on the floor there. I love you! Was it one of

your favourites? Definitely one of my favourites. That and the

quickstep. But, it's so great when you can find a little character like

that, and that gets rid of the nerves because it's not me Fiona out

there, it's somebody completely different and that really, really

helps. Cute! I love it! Did you feel the judges undermarked you? Oh,

controversial, straight in! This is good. I did, really, because I

thought the dance was excellent. I would say that of course naturally,

and I looked at it back because I listened to the comments that the

judges made and thought fair enough, we weren't in sync apparently

because we were dancing side by side and looking forward so it might have

been a little bit out of and looking forward so it might have

I had difficulty picking up my hoe, which is a very heavy hoe. Karen

hardy was on your side there was it wasn't like they had made it out to

be. She said if it had been a bit wilder it wouldn't have been an

issue but then it wouldn't have fitted the music. There you are. You

pitch it where you think it's right and you do the best you can. We

loved it, you loved it, who cares! We must talk also about your

reactions in the results show on Sunday. Let's have a look at it

again because the change in Anton's face is incredible. Here we go.

Waiting, waiting. Did they say our name! Were you

genuinely surprised? Yes, I was - Did you think it was curtains time?

Indidn't think we wou be -- I didn't think we would be called out in the

first half. I thought if anything they would be down the back. There

might be a potential chance we they would be down the back. There

Is that us and argh! Thank you to everybody who voted. Looking forward

to dancing it again because it was such fun. Don't say that! I said if

we have to do it again, that's great. Because it's one you love?

Yes. I never want to have dance another dance again so I dancing it

once is plenty enough for me. I thought we were great. That's

enough! This week, it's the paso. No politeness, are you enjoying the

spirit of it all, Fiona? I am loves it. It is powerful, dramatic,

passionate. It is a great dance. I mean, that training - yesterday. It

is just, I don't know, I love it, and again, if I can find the

character, and immerse myself in that character, hopefully it will be

OK. We need to listen to your music because it is unexpected for these

two. acting background to help you with

this dance, Fiona? You're saying there if you find a character, it

really helps? He is, yes, definitely. I think we've been

having lessons in being a very arrogant Spanish senorita, but it

does help if I can find that character, so it is been quite fun

and training this week. It does look great when we are looking at it.

Good luck on Saturday dancing to Nat King Cole. Fiona and Anton!

That's it for today. Thanks to all our lovely guests. Join me at 6.30

tomorrow. Plus my Friday panel of John Barrowman, Emma Willis and

Suggs from Madness. Good