Episode 47 Strictly - It Takes Two

Owe Hello. Welcome to Tuesday's Two-Footed Corner Challenge. What a

-- it takes two. It was almost exit stage left, but they were saved for

another week. It's Ashley and Ola. Forget the Glitterball trophy, more

crucial competition to addressment here to kick off the it takes two

Pro Challenge, it's Iveta and Aljaz. Here to tell us whose performance

was in tune and whose was off key in musicals week, Karen Hardy is here.

This is Strictly: It Takes Two. Hello, welcome to Strictly: It Takes

Two. It's Tuesday and as our Magnificent 7 have become six,

dreams of reaching the finals are rife. For my first guest, Saturday

nearly turned into an Arabian nightmare when they found themselves

in the bottom two for the first time. Ashley and Ola join me after

this reminder of their performance. So exotic with a touch of the

erotic. You framed the object of your desire so well. The chemistry

was there, the lines were beautiful. Your arms still need a little bit

more expression but I really and truly loved it. You told a very real

story of love. You created some strong masculine lines, great

control, well done. You took command of that dance. You came out and you

really performed. Eight. Nine. Nine. Nine.

We did it. 35 again! Why are you always getting stuck in your

trousers? I know, very annoying. I would like to save Ashley and Ola.

Ashley and Ola. I would like to see Ashley and Ola stay.

They took us on a magic carpet ride with their exotic rumba. Please

welcome Aladdin Taylor-Dawson and his Princess Ola. Well done on

making it through, the standard on Saturday was so high. It's just

crazy. How surprised were you to find yourselves in the dance-off? I

wasn't surprised to be honest. I think because everyone is so good

and anyone can be there. So I wasn't surprised. How due feel? I think the

same. Everyone else's song was upbeat and fun and it's nice to

watch that. Ours was a romantic, sort of magical dance. It stood out

in a different way. Due feel confident when you went into the

dance-off against Mark? He's been three times before. No, I haven't.

Because he has been three times before. I thought you never know

what's going to happen here, because if we go wrong, we could go home.

You have to do your best again in the dance-off. And you did. You did.

Through the carpet again. Did you ever in your wildest dreams imagine

there you would be in a little jacket... Grown man, 31... On a

flying carpet. Definitely not like that, no. I'm not surprised. So the

rumba is always known as being the male celebrities worst nightmare.

It's intimate and very slow. Did you enJo I it or are you glad it's gone.

Thanks to Ola and her choreography I did enjoy it. Ola did an amazing

job. Was difficult to manage how we were going to go with it. We did

good. I think you did brilliantly. I know it looked amazing. Was it tough

to go on after abbey and Aljaz. How selfish are they? ! Me, me, me with

those two. Getting 40 before we go out. Out of order. We said when they

got 40s, their dance was amazing, we looked at each other thinking wow,

how are we going to beat that? There's no chance. Come on, let's

get on the carpet. Did your kids love the carpet? Yes, Buddy adored

it. It was nice to speak to him on the camera and send him my love.

Apparently he was so busy dancing around the room he wasn't bothered

about what I was saying. Him. Fourth week in a row you got 35. It's an

amazing score. Rub it in. Is it frustrating to get that again? It's

just the whole point system. It's like I must have gone up and down or

some way or improved and to get the same thing every week it's becoming

repetitive. It's like a stagnant pond, I'm not learning anything and

nothing's growing. You are learning. He is. He is improving every week

and he's doing very good. I'm loving the dancing, but you think, give me

some sort of... Indication. Of what we're doing right. I haven't gone

down. We know how much Ola loves it when the phone lines open. She goes

crazy. We've noticed in training it seems to be a bit of a connection

with you and phones in general, Ola. Erm...... PHONE RINGS

Sorry, that's my phone. Home aLen.

-- alone. Erm...... Yeah, oh, good. This is James. "Ola, how do you make

cereal? We should mute that while we're training in future.

He's going to get you. He's going to hate that. That's very funny. Salsa

for you this weekend. I'm excited about this. How's it going? After

last week, being in the bottom two, salsa, for me, I just can't wait.

I'm going to just smash it this week, as well as I can. Queer going

for it. -- We're going for it. Everything in the routine. If I can

do it. In my mind I'm going to be to do it. In my mind I'm going tobe to

be fantastic. Seen those hips go. It will be brilliant. He can move. The

judges critique was a lack of hip action. How is that going? It's

actually OK, not too bad. Probably salsa maybe be a better dance for

Ashley. I think he will enjoy the salsa more than the rumba. He will

loosen up. I will make sure. He's a party dance. I can see the twinkle

in his eye, he likes a party. Also on Saturday, we have the return of

the swing-a-thon, when all the couples go onto the floor head to

head at the same time. It's quite an exciting thing. I have to say, if we

look back in history, Artem won it in 2008 and Harry and Aliona won the

swing-a-thon and they went on to win. It's the first time we see you

all at the same time. Yes. Kick, push, whatever you can do. Kick and

push. Take them down. Banana skins. Exactly. Will the quiff make a

return? I don't know. No. I think it's gone into retirement. It's a

good-luck quiff. Bring him back. Put him on a lead and take him with us.

Your Aladdin. Good luck on Saturday. Ashley and Ola! As we all know,

nothing gets the pro dancers going like a healthy dose of competition.

In previous years we've tested them on kick ball changes and botafogos.

This year it's time to launch the Strictly: It Takes Two Pro Challenge

2013. Bring it on. This is a challenge to set a

Guinness World Record for the most drunken sailor dance steps in 30

seconds. One challenge. One goal. 30 seconds.

I'm joined by choreographer to the stars Richard and Guinness World

Records adjudicator, Elizabeth. A drunken sailor is a cross step

behind, a step to the side and a replacement of weight to the

starting foot. They need to make sure they cross behind and replace

the weight. They're really going to have to concentrate on the rhythm,

because one foot wrong and it could all be over. This challenge is very

physical. So they're going to need stamina.

Just 30 seconds Stans in the way of our pros. The prize: A world record.

-- stands in the way of our pros. The prize: A world record. Let the

battle commence. There you have, it finally an answer to the age-old

question - what shall we do with a drunken sailor. Welcome Iveta and

Aljaz, our first contenders. APPLAUSE

Hello, my darlings. Take your place upon the sofa. Welcome to you both.

Very excitingly, it's your first Pro Challenge for you both. Iveta, how

excited about it are you? I'm very excited. I've never done it before.

I have no expectations. I like the competition between competitors.

Aljaz, did you know what to expect beforehand, did any of the pros who

have done it before say this is how it works, any advice? Yeah, everyone

is trying to do their best. I was going in as well. I have never done

as many drunken sailors as I possibly can in 30 seconds. I was

petrified. It's so exciting! Any fighting talk with Jenette? All the

time. No, no. We were thinking like what should we do to make it quick.

But I don't know if there is a recipe just... Just got to get on

with it. Let's have a look. Are you ready for this?

I think what's difficult is 30 seconds sounds like a short time but

it's a long time when you do something nonstop physically. I'm

nervous. But I'll do my best. I'll give it a roll and do it for Mark.

Hello. Hello. Your first Pro Challenge. How are you feeling? A

little nervous. I know I'm against really good professional dancers.

Take your position on the dance floor.

Are you ready? Yes. Richard, are you ready? Ian, I am ready. Acued Kator,

are you -- adjudicator? I am. Three, two, one, go.

end, a little bit muddy. Absolutely. Especially

for whoever does best. How well do you think you did? I loved your face

for whoever does best. How well do How well do you reckon you did? I

don't know. Something under 100, How well do you reckon you did? I

happy for whoever won. But you are How well do you reckon you did? I

it? I do want to win for Mark. As I said, I do

it? I do want to win for Mark. As I thinking, "Didn't mention Abbey."

You will have to thinking, "Didn't mention Abbey."

anxious to see how good I can do. Aljaz, welcome. What are

very seriously. I've been practising every night for the last three

months. every night for the last three

Are you ready? Ready. Richard, are you ready?

It looked very precise. I thought you were very consistent, very

together, very controlled. There was a bit of speed there. So, who knows.

I would be over the moon breaking a new world record, my body is in

agony right now, I hope it was enough.

Come on Aljaz! The great thing is you didn't stop smiling once during

all of that. Let's see how they both did. After each of the professionals

had attempted their drunken sailors the footage was watched back in slow

motion to verify every single one. They had to be accurate. I can

reveal that one of you did 61 drunken sailors and the other did

73. However, and there is a big however,

one of you had a mammoth 31 steps disqualified. Shocker. Yes, a

shocker. That's me. Let's have the moment of truth. The

person currently at the top of the leaderboard is...

It's Aljaz with 61. It means, Iveta you had 73 but had 31 disqualified.

Who did that? Nothing to do with me. She's going to take me on.

Who was the judge? Well done. Who do you think could beat you out of all

the pros? I'm not sure. I think short people, I think Jenette will

do great. Yes little legs. You have to say that otherwise you won't have

tea tonight. I know! And Kevin for sure. He's fast.

He loves jive. I don't know. We shall see. Well done both of you.

Thank you so much for taking part. Iveta and Aljaz! Tomorrow, we will

see how Aliona gets on. So far Lisa Riley has been working hard

behind-the-scenes. She's worked with the lighting team, floor managing

and last weekend, we had to give her props.

Thanks Zoe. Yes, they have trusted me to come back and do more work

experience. But what have they got in store today? Well, shall we have

a look. Come on! Are you OK? Well. You're with the art department. Grab

the sofa. Really? Let's go this way. The art department on Strictly Come

Dancing are a busy bunch. Each week they can be responsible for sourcing

and making every prop. They have the all-important job of getting the

studio ready for Saturday's big show. Would you mind carrying on and

setting these musical notes around the set for me. Be arty. All right.

No worries. Cheers. No pressure. We've lost a few couples, better

fill some spaces. For Bruce and his autoqueue.

-- autocue. What is your job title and what do you do? I'm the art

director and I'm in charge of staging and proppeds for the couple

dances and group routines. It's musical week and I've seen the car.

We've been given a concept, the flying car. One doesn't exist so

we've had it made. There it is. You always come up with the goods, don't

you? It's showbiz. You love a bit of glitter. Exactly. So do I.

The workshop is where all the props and sets are made and stored before

the live show. It's a bit like Santa's grotto for Strictly Come

Dancing. With the art department, I thought I'd be creative. It's tiring

all this prop stuff. I can use the props can't I, and have a rest.

Don't tell the boys! There's no time for sleeping, love. Sofa and Brendan

are waiting. We need this for rehearsals. I'm on it. Let's go.

Come on then. The prop boys are responsible for setting every prop

into position for each rehearsal and live performance in the studio. Is

that where you want it? Yes, it's perfect. More glitter on that later.

Where are you bringing me? This is the props cage where we keep all our

secret, expensive and glittery stuff for the show. It really is glittery.

Yeah, everything. The important job today is the paddles. If I give you

two sets. These are where they're kept. We can get them ready. Lovely,

right. Follow me. Jamie, so am I doing Bruno and Len? Bruno and Len,

yeah. They go down next to the chairs. You never see them. We put

them in before the show and take them out straight after. The boys

are here. I've really enjoyed being part of your team today. I just

wondered how I've done, have I done OK? I'd have you every week. I'd

give you a 10. Get in! Got to be a 10. I'd have you back again, a 10.

Three 10s, Zoe, are you proud of me, I got three 10s, I didn't get one on

the series. Back to you. Snment -- back to you.

On Saturday night our couples performed some of musical's most

iconic characters. Who was memorable and who would we rather forget?

Let's ask our leading lady Karen. Please welcome Karen Hardy! Still on

the jazz hands. Any excuse. Saturday's theme being musicals, how

hard is it to find the right balance between staying true to a dance and

impersonating a character? It's really difficult. Sometimes the

bells and whistles can take over and we've heard judges in the past put

in big complaints. You know what, it was perfection personified. I loved

this weekend. For the record, probably the best themed that we

have had. I know. It was so extraordinarily exciting, it blew my

mind. Let's start with Natalie and Artem. Len's critique was that there

wasn't enough foxtrot for him. Was it clever choreography from Artem

and if so, why? We have to call it clever choreography, because it

definitely sucked me into the performance. I loved it. Because of

the attention to detail. What we're seeing now, all these weeks in, the

beautiful use of arms. You no ethat really sells the performance. Here

this is a feather step in shadow position. It was exquisite. But

Leonard was correct again. It's meant to be a 60/40 split. We want

to see 40% of the basis of the dance. Looking back over it, there

wasn't quite enough. You know what, Artem, he's becoming the big bad boy

of the choreography. He's doing this every week, but what we have to look

at is entertainment versus content. That's going to wow the audience.

Will it wow the judges? They've got to be really careful. Ashley and Ola

and their rumba, tough dance for all male celebrities to conquer. How

well did he cope with it? I thought he was gorgeous. We know that this

rumba is very difficult for men, should they be tough and strong and

powerful, you know, steps like this that we're looking at, the opening

out, left and right, those men have to deliver that strong hip action.

He did it all really well. They moved together in harmony. It was

just exquisite. A beautiful, romantic rumba. What I want to show

everybody is how to do this step. The opening out, left and right.

They involve a cucaracha. That means squashing the cockroach. We do a

figure eight with our helps, step to the side close the feet and then we

go to the other side. We close the feet. And the hips. You have to

think, we're asking a man on live television to be undulating... To

crush a cockroach. And undulate his hips. Not easy. He delivered it

really well. I loved the performance. Another tough night.

Patrick and Anya and their charleston. Patrick made this dance

look so easy. Each time something happened I thought, it can't get

better. Even better. Three 10s, how complex was that routine? This

routine was sensational. What a dance to open it with. You know in

the beginning, I've got to say, I didn't even know he was even

interested in this show. Look at him now, look at the personality between

the two of em, the music, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, but the

choreography here, what's interesting to notice a lot of solo

work. We say in the ballroom and Latin field, solo work is easier to

do than the actual partnering and ballroom and Latin dancing is all

about partnering. What I'm hoping, this amazing entertainment,

commitment, the technique in this, all of it, he can maintain when they

are in their arms, in the arms of each other. Because that was

sensational. Well done Patrick. Abbey and Aljaz and their salsa. Oh,

my Lord. You got top marks for a salsa with Ramps. The only other

couple to do that in our history. Now Abbey and Aljaz. How cleverly

did they fuse disco and salsa? Well, I'm going to say, this was

brilliant. Anything that's with a musical or theming, you're going to

get into a situation people will love it or hate it because it's been

themed. Now what I loved about this and I had to keep watching it back,

it actually has and the choreography I've chosen here, it has all the

essence of salsa in it, but they just brushed it over with a disco

element. When I watched it at first, I went this is too much disco, but

when you break it down, all the salsa was this there as well.

Instead of free arms, they might put the classic points in, loved it. I

loved brilliant. Awesome. It was awesome. Susanna and Kevin and their

quickstep. The judges said they had a few sync issues. What did you see?

First of all the energy these two have, the movement around the dance

floor was absolutely incredible. I loved it. That said, the

choreography was at a really high level. I can see where Kevin is

really pushing her. But he's got to be careful. He's trying to push her

into that final, so he's testing her now. There were a few little

mistakes that we've picked up here, do you know what, I thought it was

sensational. I have a little bit of special demo time here.

In that choreography were pendulum swings. What a way to work off those

calories because this is just to show you how difficult it is and I

want everyone at home to have a go. Point one leg to the side. Jump onto

the other win and swing. Now you have to imagine there's two of you

doing it at the same time. Now the woodpecker, which I love. Now you

tap behind at the same time. And a few of those and a couple of those

and that is why it can so easily go out of sync. A sensational

performance to close one of the greatest weekends that I think we've

had so far on Strictly this year. A clap for that domo alone.

The Viennese waltz and Sophie and Brendan. This made me cry. Why did

this dance suit Sophie so well and how did Brendan's choreography work

to her strengths? Absolutely pure, first class. What I love, she's the

queen of quintessential, Brendan, he wants to deliver pure dancing. I've

picked up here what we call the fleckerl. Every year we talk about

it. A lot of the professionals don't give it to their celebrities because

it's so difficult. Not Brendan. He gives her three to do. Three times

she went in and did some form of fleckerl. It was absolutely

gorgeous. The top lines, the body connection, the movement, there were

no gimmicks. It was not about the entertainment of lifts and wham Bam

thank you ma'am, it was pure dancing. It was essential, for the

record, why were there no 10s? There you go. I'm putting it out there.

She can do it and I know she'll be fine. It's so exciting now. Who's

going to win? I can't wait! Thank you as ever, a delight, Karen Hardy.

Well, that is it for today. Thank you to all my guests. Tomorrow, I'm

talking 10s and chatting charleston with Patrick and Anya. Plus Ian is

back with a preview of the upcoming dances in the Wednesday Warm-Up. See

you tomorrow, good night.