:00:33. > :00:45.Hello, Brendan is finding out how he got on the pro challenge.
:00:46. > :00:51.And with us tonight is Jason Gilkenson. This is exciting. This is
:00:52. > :01:37.It Takes Two, how do we get it all in? Live from London, this is
:01:38. > :01:45.Strictly, It Takes Two. Please welcome your host, Zoe Ball.
:01:46. > :01:49.Hello and welcome. It is Thursday. Strictly quarter-final is drawing
:01:50. > :01:52.closer. You would think by know that the celebrities would have a whole
:01:53. > :01:58.new learning a dance and delivering it on a Saturday down by now but it
:01:59. > :02:03.seems that they are really feeling the pressure. Let's see how they are
:02:04. > :02:08.getting on in training. This week I have the salsa. I am
:02:09. > :02:11.going to smash the pants out of this one. This will be a full on proper
:02:12. > :02:18.salsa. There is no hiding in the dance it
:02:19. > :02:23.is full on. Fast hands. Fast feet. Fast everything. There is a lot that
:02:24. > :02:29.could go wrong in the routine. Lots of jumps, flips, flops and lifts!
:02:30. > :02:32.There is a lot of salsa steps and moves.
:02:33. > :02:37.You don't get one arm, then that is it, the rest is gone. You have to
:02:38. > :02:43.make sure you have the right arm, and you go on the right beet.
:02:44. > :02:50.If I get this right on the night it will make Strictly history.
:02:51. > :02:55.We have the Tango. It is a powerful dance and a strong dance.
:02:56. > :03:02.There is a certain attitude to it. I have a Tango face... I can really
:03:03. > :03:09.see the character that she's been building week on week really coming
:03:10. > :03:13.out and shining. There. Good. Boom! Pick yourself up.
:03:14. > :03:18.If you are trying to be intense and a little more assertive and
:03:19. > :03:24.aggressive, the tendency is to put your chin down. I have to keep the
:03:25. > :03:28.right attitude. She is growing as a dancer and a performer. This could
:03:29. > :03:34.be the week she puts her mark on the competition with the Tango.
:03:35. > :03:39.Looking good. More news throughout the show from the training room.
:03:40. > :03:46.Before that, please, welcome to the show, Sophie and Brendan. Goodness
:03:47. > :03:53.me, congratulations on your dance on Saturday. Joint high score along
:03:54. > :03:58.with the Charleston. Such a moment. I had tears in my eyes watching that
:03:59. > :04:03.at home. Were you delighted with a Sophie? I was elated. It felt
:04:04. > :04:08.glorious. Even on the Sunday I was so happy. Such a lovely moment to
:04:09. > :04:12.spin about like that with the lights and the music.
:04:13. > :04:19.And the dress and everything all came together.
:04:20. > :04:24.Brendan, Bruno was full of praise for the choreography. Was it
:04:25. > :04:29.important to deliver a pure Viennese waltz, which you did in It was a
:04:30. > :04:33.pleasure, in a way. I was saying to Sophie in the car. When you have
:04:34. > :04:40.somebody who can do it, who is inspired by it. I am inspired to do
:04:41. > :04:45.the best for Sophie so she has the best experience. I am. The whole
:04:46. > :04:48.thing is coming together, it feels right.
:04:49. > :04:54.I can't stop beaming! It is wonderful! Len was very happy,
:04:55. > :05:00.Sophie, with you and your fleckles. How hard are they to master, and so
:05:01. > :05:05.many of them as well? Well, it has been a head in my week, to stay down
:05:06. > :05:11.on the fleckle. I'm amazed that I know what one is now.
:05:12. > :05:17.You will never forget. Never. With the Viennese waltz it is repetitive,
:05:18. > :05:21.but if you lose the technique it goes pear-shaped. It is hard to get
:05:22. > :05:28.back in your stride. Putting the feckle in it is a challenge.
:05:29. > :05:31.And going at the speed, you build up a momentum. Snoo and Craig was there
:05:32. > :05:37.the week before, saying that the Rumba was cold, no chemistry, then
:05:38. > :05:42.on Saturday he praised it. Is that something that you worked on or
:05:43. > :05:48.thought about? You always felt there was chemistry? I do. It is odd when
:05:49. > :05:52.somebody says that we are not. We are loving working together. Having
:05:53. > :05:58.a great time in the studio. When I watch the dances coming back, I see
:05:59. > :06:04.it, if they are not it hurts a little. The fact that he recognised
:06:05. > :06:06.that, that it is there it is a good thing.
:06:07. > :06:12.It is important. An incredible store but still
:06:13. > :06:18.mid-table. When Karen Hardy was here on Tuesday, she did say you should
:06:19. > :06:25.have seen tens, would you agree? It was nice to hear that from Karen. I
:06:26. > :06:30.loved the dance. It felt perfect. If they don't give ten, it was maybe
:06:31. > :06:37.not there 100%, but I'm the judge that would not give that many tens.
:06:38. > :06:41.So... You would be as hard? I probably would. Nothing is ever that
:06:42. > :06:47.perfect, but as the stages go on, everyone is getting better. The tens
:06:48. > :06:50.are coming out. We would love one. I would not know what to do with a
:06:51. > :06:56.ten. What would you do with a ten? !
:06:57. > :07:04.Brendan, obviously we saw you singing in the make-up room. It has
:07:05. > :07:10.seemed you have been in vocal training all week. Join us on this.
:07:11. > :07:16.# These are a few of my favourite things. Hshg hshg
:07:17. > :07:24.# When the dog bites... # When the bee stings...
:07:25. > :07:27.# When I'm feeling sad, # I simply remember my favourite
:07:28. > :07:35.things, # Then I don't feel so bad. If I had
:07:36. > :07:37.not been a dancer, I would have been a singer.
:07:38. > :07:41.It is bad enough she has to hear it every day in training.
:07:42. > :07:47.There are dogs barking all over the country. The Tango, how has it been
:07:48. > :07:53.going in training? Fun! I really like the Tango. It is a strong
:07:54. > :07:57.dance. We have had a good week. We have.
:07:58. > :08:02.What is it you love about the Tango? I like the way it is assertive and
:08:03. > :08:09.dynamic. It feels good. All of the right words. Brendan is
:08:10. > :08:16.pleased. Is it a help or a hindrance with the
:08:17. > :08:21.Argentine? There is the same intensity about it in many ways. In
:08:22. > :08:26.the Argentine tango, you are close together at the head. This is the
:08:27. > :08:31.opposite. You travel across. The Argentine Tango is stationery. I
:08:32. > :08:35.loved that Argentine Tango. This is a strong one for us.
:08:36. > :08:49.It does. You have amazing music. Let's have a listen.
:08:50. > :08:56.So for two people born in the 70s, an 08s track is perfect.
:08:57. > :09:00.Will you be dressed as Madonna? I think so.
:09:01. > :09:12.Obviously in the video, she was playing an homage to Marilyn.
:09:13. > :09:19.Snoo Oh, I like it. And the swing-a-thon, are you looking
:09:20. > :09:25.forward to that? What is that? Well, we have something new for you. What
:09:26. > :09:32.do you like as a dance? I really liked the Lindy Hop.
:09:33. > :09:34.But there are a lot of lifts. I am long.
:09:35. > :09:38.I could be using my head as a weapon.
:09:39. > :09:44.That's it. Good luck this weekend. Brendan, we are seeing you soon for
:09:45. > :09:48.the Pro Challenge. I can't wait.
:09:49. > :09:52.Let's get back to the training rooms to see how Abbey and Natalie are
:09:53. > :09:58.getting on. This week we are dancing the
:09:59. > :10:03.Viennese waltz, which I am excited about. I can't wait. I love it
:10:04. > :10:11.already. It is a very rotational dance, the Viennese waltz. We are
:10:12. > :10:16.getting dizzy every 20 seconds. It is extremely important to keep the
:10:17. > :10:22.posture. To make it look good you have to stay there.
:10:23. > :10:29.Aljaz is drilling it into me to stay close, no gaps between us. That way
:10:30. > :10:32.you lose the posture and the frame. No gapping.
:10:33. > :10:36.We can start to iron out the mistakes soon and make it look
:10:37. > :10:51.pretty and picture perfect, hopefully.
:10:52. > :10:55.We are adapting the Paso Doble. It is very fierce. It is a different
:10:56. > :11:00.Latin style from the others. So there is a different technique
:11:01. > :11:12.involved. I know that Artem is upping the ante. The Flamenco is not
:11:13. > :11:16.easy to achieve. It is very specificic. This This can look
:11:17. > :11:22.really limp and lame if you don't get it right with the Paso Doble. I
:11:23. > :11:27.have to find my inner Senorita. I don't have it at the moment! It will
:11:28. > :11:35.come. Have faith. Please, welcome Natalie and Artem! Hello you two!
:11:36. > :11:38.Paso Doble is obviously coming this weekend, but first let's have a look
:11:39. > :11:44.back to your stunning American Smooth. How was it for you out on
:11:45. > :11:49.the floor, Natalie? The best moment of Strictly for me. I just
:11:50. > :11:55.absolutely immersed myself in it. I think that I finally completely let
:11:56. > :12:03.go. I will remember it forover ever. Even said that to the music there. I
:12:04. > :12:10.am Welling up! We loved your jacket, Artem. You looked like a little
:12:11. > :12:14.glitter bug. All beautiful! Did you? Natalie was saying she was
:12:15. > :12:18.struggling with the lifts but watching that performance from
:12:19. > :12:26.Saturday, we could not tell where was the stress. She had nailed it,
:12:27. > :12:31.it was there! I think it helped with the trapeze. Then the lifts were
:12:32. > :12:40.nothing. After swinging up in the air nine metres.
:12:41. > :12:44.It works! Len gave you an eight. Did you feel surprised by that.
:12:45. > :12:49.Len has rules about the American Smooth. He is following that, that
:12:50. > :12:56.is what the rules said. Like I said, there is a fine line to add, to give
:12:57. > :13:00.all of the aspects of the routine, so it does not just become about the
:13:01. > :13:05.steps but also about the story. I think I am leaning towards telling
:13:06. > :13:10.the story through the dance instead of showing the technical aspect it
:13:11. > :13:14.is a gamble you take. It paid off. We love your
:13:15. > :13:20.choreography. Is it true your mum sent you flower last weekend as a
:13:21. > :13:26.surprise? Yes, beautiful red roses. Bless her, it is such a lovely thing
:13:27. > :13:34.to do. How proud of her best girl is she? Her only girl! Yes, which other
:13:35. > :13:40.girl? ! How protective is she over you when facing the judges? I think
:13:41. > :13:43.we have been lucky with the judges' comments so far. There is always a
:13:44. > :13:48.first time, but of course she is protective. This is a very exposing
:13:49. > :13:53.experience. It is natural that your parents go on this crazy ride with
:13:54. > :13:59.you. So she feels everything that I feel. So yeah, very protective.
:14:00. > :14:03.This week it is a Paso Doble. Very, very excited. Your training is
:14:04. > :14:08.looking incredible. Are you enjoying it, Natalie? Yes and no. There is
:14:09. > :14:11.always the mid-week pushing the boulder up the mountain and watching
:14:12. > :14:15.it roll back down again, but I think we are getting there. Slowly but
:14:16. > :14:21.surely. I love the character of the dance. I am hoping to adopt that a
:14:22. > :14:24.little more by Saturday. He looks pleased.
:14:25. > :14:33.Let's have a listen to your music it is very good.
:14:34. > :14:52.I don't know what that is, but it is very traditional. It is called
:14:53. > :14:58.ElGatoMonte. When you did your Tango, Craig said
:14:59. > :15:03.it lacked drama. Are you ready to throw drama at him by the bucket
:15:04. > :15:08.loads? I think so. I think that the Paso Doble skirt
:15:09. > :15:15.will slap him in the face with drama alone! We saw your dress. It is
:15:16. > :15:20.looking stunning. And also, the swing athon, how competitive are you
:15:21. > :15:24.feeling, Artem? That is about having fun. Having a laugh. That is what it
:15:25. > :15:29.means to me. When you become competitive on that kind of dance it
:15:30. > :15:35.does not come across as nice. So we will just have fun doing it.
:15:36. > :15:43.The whole vibe, you did win it in series eight. Has he given you words
:15:44. > :15:49.of wisdom as to how to tackle it? Always! Always! That's how he likes
:15:50. > :15:55.to think of it! You were going to do a Jive in week seven but yourl
:15:56. > :16:01.poorly. Is it good to show some of the bits you have learned? I was
:16:02. > :16:08.gutted not to perform the Jive, so a chance to do that will be lovely.
:16:09. > :16:15.Good luck. I am very, very excited about the Paso Doble! Natalie and
:16:16. > :16:21.Artem! This week we kicked off the Challenge, the world record of a
:16:22. > :16:27.number of drunk ensailors in 30 seconds. Here is how it is done:
:16:28. > :16:33.This is a challenge to set a begins yes, sir world record for the most
:16:34. > :16:39.drunken sailor dance steps in 30 seconds. A drunken sailor is a cross
:16:40. > :16:42.step behind, a step to the side and a replacement of weight to the
:16:43. > :16:46.starting foot. They have to make sure that they cross behind and
:16:47. > :16:53.replace the weight. Let the battle commence.
:16:54. > :17:01.Hoping his sailors a drunk and not just a bit tipsy, will you please
:17:02. > :17:05.welcome, Brendan Cole. You're back! Thank goodness. I have missed your
:17:06. > :17:13.face. So, now, although you have not won a Pro Challenge, you have come
:17:14. > :17:16.close to tasting glory. How much do you want it this year? I would love
:17:17. > :17:25.to have the title, but I was not very good. I will go uncompetitive.
:17:26. > :17:32.OK, you are playing the game like that. We know you are headstrong.
:17:33. > :17:39.Have you ever had a go at a bunch of drunken sailors.
:17:40. > :17:48.--? Only once or twice. How difficult was it? I lost.
:17:49. > :17:54.I arrived without my shoes. I was like an unprofessional dancer. I did
:17:55. > :18:01.not give myself a good head start. I lost my zest for it.
:18:02. > :18:05.Well, let's have a look. Let's see how amazing he really was. Take it
:18:06. > :18:11.away. My long legs will not give me the
:18:12. > :18:14.advantage on the drunken sailor, however it does not matter. Let's
:18:15. > :18:19.get in there. Brendan. How are you feeling? Good,
:18:20. > :18:24.thank you. You are known as feeling and acting
:18:25. > :18:30.competitive, are you going to be competitive on the challenge? Yes.
:18:31. > :18:38.That's what I like to hear. Are you ready? Ready.
:18:39. > :19:11.Brendan, best of luck, for the record, three, two, one, go.
:19:12. > :19:18.Stop. That is a travelling drunken sailor.
:19:19. > :19:24.I should have put shoes on. I thought you did well. Generally,
:19:25. > :19:29.you focus the, you gave it loads. Shoes would have helped me today,
:19:30. > :19:33.but I think I have done enough to get myself off the bottom of the
:19:34. > :19:40.leaderboard. Let's hear it for Brendan Cole.
:19:41. > :19:45.I must say, if Sophie was doing drunk en sailor steps, I would be
:19:46. > :19:52.miffed. They did not look proper, but it looked fast.
:19:53. > :19:57.Now after each of the professionals tackle the drunken sailors, the
:19:58. > :20:03.adjudicator watched in slow motion to verify every single one. Brendan,
:20:04. > :20:08.how many did you think you knocked out in the steps? I reckon about
:20:09. > :20:19.half were disqualified. OK. Let's have a look at the
:20:20. > :20:26.leaderboard. Let's remind ourselves. Are you ready for this? OK, Brendan,
:20:27. > :20:43.the steps have been counted and verified. I can reveal that you
:20:44. > :20:51.performed... The drama is insane! 71 dreng en steps in 30 seconds.
:20:52. > :20:59.He is not even surprised! Well, you know, I'm an old pro! You did get 76
:21:00. > :21:07.but had five disqualified. You are top of the leaderboard. Look at that
:21:08. > :21:14.37 years old, 23 years old, by the way! Exactly. Can you see anyone
:21:15. > :21:20.else beating you? Well, there are about 79 pros on the show. I'm sure
:21:21. > :21:27.that somebody will beat me and that will be annoying on the day.
:21:28. > :21:30.Brendan, well done. Brendan Cole! Soon Strictly's director of
:21:31. > :21:36.choreography will be here, but first one final trip to the training room.
:21:37. > :21:43.Let's see how Patrick and Susanna Reid are getting on. Nice work.
:21:44. > :21:48.This week we are dancing the Rumba. I knew that the Rumba would be
:21:49. > :21:53.difficult for Patrick. It has little to do with the rhythm but more to do
:21:54. > :21:58.with the technique. You do what you do. I will try to
:21:59. > :22:01.keep up. The movement so stable but you have to look like you are
:22:02. > :22:06.presenting your woman and dancing with her it is a fine balance.
:22:07. > :22:10.It has not gone in that easy. I have to remember that there is more
:22:11. > :22:15.elements to it that I really have to focus and concentrate on. I think
:22:16. > :22:20.that we have to rely on his acting skills a lot.
:22:21. > :22:27.I don't hate it but I just can't do it. Yes, you can.
:22:28. > :22:33.Hopefully by Saturday I'll know it! We are doing the Argentine Tango.
:22:34. > :22:42.The steps are gorgeous. That involves a lot of intricate
:22:43. > :22:47.foot patterns in the Quick Step that tripped us up a little bit.
:22:48. > :22:56.Well I love drama and passion, that's what I'll be putting into it.
:22:57. > :23:01.Is that Argentine Tango? Susanna will have to get into character. I
:23:02. > :23:07.know she is looking forward to playing that. Knowing us too two, we
:23:08. > :23:12.will be laughing at each other. I think it will be fiery and rather
:23:13. > :23:19.exciting. I'm looking forward to it. Good, Susanna Reid with the flashy
:23:20. > :23:22.leg movements. Time for a dance legend. During his career,
:23:23. > :23:28.Australia's und'you feeted Latin champion. 17 years straight. He went
:23:29. > :23:33.on to take the world title. He has since choreographed television
:23:34. > :23:42.programmes across the globe and is the mastermind behind the successful
:23:43. > :23:51.stage show, Burn The Floor. Please, welcome Jason Gilchristson.
:23:52. > :23:59.Is it true, you were the inspiration for the film Strictly Ballroom?
:24:00. > :24:04.Loosely. At the time my partner and I were
:24:05. > :24:10.about to become world champions. So he asked to interview. We became the
:24:11. > :24:21.prototype. That is Baz Luhrmann.
:24:22. > :24:27.Of course and your partner is... ? Peta. I started dancing at the age
:24:28. > :24:31.of four. We have been dancing together for 43 years.
:24:32. > :24:37.That is incredible. Everyone is thinking how young you look. What
:24:38. > :24:40.was your favourite dance? I love a Rumba.
:24:41. > :24:47.What has been your favourite on the series? Have you had one? I think
:24:48. > :24:51.Artem and Natalie on week two. Only week two as well. Since
:24:52. > :24:54.competing, you have done choreography on a number of
:24:55. > :24:58.television shows, talk us through some of them.
:24:59. > :25:07.I have been lucky. Not only do I work on this one but I work in
:25:08. > :25:11.Australia and America on Dancing With The Stars.
:25:12. > :25:16.But I love this one. What do you do in your role as head
:25:17. > :25:23.of choreography on Strictly? Each week we have the group routines, the
:25:24. > :25:28.guests, and every week one or two groups. A couple of guest starters.
:25:29. > :25:34.So we have to pluck who has been eliminated and put things together
:25:35. > :25:37.with them and then the six or seven couple routines that happen in the
:25:38. > :25:44.week. You are a sounding board for the
:25:45. > :25:48.proef choreographers. -- professional choreographers? Yes.
:25:49. > :25:53.How do you work out the professional routines that we all love? Funnily
:25:54. > :25:58.enough we do all of them in August. So every day the pros learn a
:25:59. > :26:05.different group routine. They remember it from August? ! By
:26:06. > :26:08.day five they are scrambled, then we recap them the week that we do the
:26:09. > :26:15.routine. How long do you get them for? Eight
:26:16. > :26:19.hours to do all of the groups. It shows how good you and they are.
:26:20. > :26:23.You have worked with a lot of the professional dancers before. Who are
:26:24. > :26:28.you worked with along the way? Almost all of them. Just about all
:26:29. > :26:37.of them it was really good, like coming to a big family.
:26:38. > :26:42.You brought us Aljaz and January identity -- Janette and everyone
:26:43. > :26:49.else! What about the costumes, do you have a say in that? Well, Vicky
:26:50. > :26:54.is lovely. She is great. It is a collaborative thing. After 11
:26:55. > :27:00.seasons now there are so many dances that have been done. So it is just
:27:01. > :27:06.trying to come up with the next out jit, better each time. That is
:27:07. > :27:10.incredible. Let's talk about the stand-out numbers, one was the
:27:11. > :27:14.opener in Blackpool. All of the dancers, all different ages, how
:27:15. > :27:20.difficult was that to put together? That was hard. We had one week. We
:27:21. > :27:24.had 08 or 90 people. Rehearsing in all parts of the country. A couple
:27:25. > :27:28.of hours where they came together and we did this all on the one day.
:27:29. > :27:32.A lot of hard work, but the result was unbelievable.
:27:33. > :27:37.Did it bring a tear to your eye? It did. To see them all together with
:27:38. > :27:42.the pros, it was a great feeling. It fulfilled the group.
:27:43. > :27:48.You see that and think that is what the show is all about. Let's talk
:27:49. > :27:55.about Iveta, she flew in the sky. That was stunning. It was not the
:27:56. > :28:01.original idea? Well, Natalie and I were collaborating on it, but then
:28:02. > :28:06.Natalie hurt her foot. We had the idea of putting Iveta up on the
:28:07. > :28:11.wire. It was a great idea. So, Natalie could not see it through but
:28:12. > :28:16.was there in spirit. Hopefully she can fly next year. We
:28:17. > :28:22.have three weeks left of the show. Have you got surprises up your
:28:23. > :28:27.sleeves? The finale will be amazing. If you fr need my services, please
:28:28. > :28:33.contact me! I have to ask you, who do you want to win, Jason? I would
:28:34. > :28:38.have to say in the lead is... I'm not going to tell you that! You know
:28:39. > :28:43.what, all six couples could take this.
:28:44. > :28:52.It is incredible. It is awful, we will loose some of them! Br thank
:28:53. > :29:01.you very much for the -- taking the time with us.
:29:02. > :29:03.That's it for today. We are back on our Friday panel,