Episode 50 Strictly - It Takes Two

A Hell lone and welcome to It Takes Two. It's Friday -- hello.

For your delectation, they quick stepped their way to the

quarter-finals, Susanna and Kevin will be here. Plus we'll be seeing

how Anton du Beke got on with this year's Pro Challenge. James Jordan

met up with Patrick and Anya and Ola and Ashley. There they are. And my

fabulous Friday panellists are presenter, Stephen Mulhern, singer,

Heidi Range and the return of Stats Man, Russell Grant. Hooray. This is,

It Takes Two. I think! LEAR From London, this is Strictly,

It Takes Two. Please welcome your host - Zoe Ball.

Welcome to It Takes Two. It's 24 hours, 38 minutes and 27 seconds

until Saturday's quarter-final extravaganza. If last week's

performances are anything to go by, we are most definitely in for a

treat. So excited. After wowing us all with their speeding quickstep,

Susanna ina Kevin are very keen to keep up the momentum with their next

dance. Let's remind ourselves of their brilliant weekend. News flash

- musical night on Strictly come dancing, Susanna Reid closed the

show with a blockbuster of a quickstep. You capture the spirit of

the film perfectly. You were so light on your feet. It was a shame

there was a couple of mistakes. I thought the footwork was rather

sloppy, I have to be honest. You were completely out of sync with one

another over here when you were doing the kick stuff. 7. What? 8 9.

9. Thank you. I feel so upset. I feel

ridiculously upset. Don't worry about it. She is awesome and makes

me proud every single week. She has nothing to worry about.

No leaping over sofa's this evening, just sitting on them. -- over sofas

this evening. Oh, I hate seeing people upset like

that. Let's think about what Bruno said, he said "Newsreader by day,

musical superstar by night", remember that. A lovely thing to say

Fantastic. You sound like a dancing superhero. How was it being Debbie

Reynolds out on the floor? Well, it was fantastic but definitely Debbie

Reynolds with feet of clay. I love watching this bit. This was

brilliant. There was so much energy. The choreography was fantastic. I

did definitely make a slip-up. It was so ironic. I don't know whether

it happened to you but you can have seven perfect rehearsals when it

goes, bang, bang, bang and is brilliant and then it is all about

how you perform on the night. That one moment. It is frustrating, you

cannot take it back. But you know what, you cannot concentrate on it.

You can't come off the dancefloor and think - that went wrong, you

have to look at the 95% of the routine that went right. Exactly.

Which is what you should do. You have taught her well. Karen Hardy

said when she was on Choreography Corner on Tuesday that you had

really pushed Susanna to amazing standard at this. So many moves you

gave her. And that was a bit of a GM bell but it paid off. Is it

important to push at this stage in the competition? Always. That has

been our thing from the beginning. We have always said to each other -

we are either going to go for it, or we are not. You might as well take

the bull by the horns and go to the maximum that we possibly K if it

goes wrong, at least we have gone out and had a great time and smashed

it, in our opinion. Exactly. That is fine. An incredible score of 33.

When Craig gave you a 7, Bruno was so angry, this happened. 7. What?

I'm going to leave. 99. -- 9. 9. Thank you. I mean, how

furious they were with Craig and they weren't the only ones. Kev,

were you worried. You finished second-bottom on the leaderboard.

Were you worried you were in the dance-off? We were convinced. We

weren't worrying, are we or aren't we, we were practising out the back,

the little step that went wrong, over and over again, ready for the

dance-off. We were convinced. I was looking forward to getting it right.

You were saved because everybody loved you, which was brilliant. When

we go back to the training room, it does seem you have your work cut out

for yu slightly, Kevin, week-in, week-out, Susania, it is the same

old story, take a Today she hates everything. Just do

the step for now. I can't do it. I hate this bit of the dance. You ut

hate this bit of the week. For the most part of the day she will be

hating everything and be pressed out Tuesday morning, I hate most things.

Then with go for lunch and when we come back it'll click a little bit.

Got it, done. On Wednesday she will be saying - I've got to get this

dance down, we'll be wasting time. I have five minutes, and I have to go.

Can we do it one more time? Can you do it without the chat It won't go

right the first time, and she will be annoyed about that. You are

painting a beautiful picture of me. Thursday will be a beautiful day.

Nice. By the end of Thursday she'll go - I really like this routine.

LAUGHTER Beautiful. It is the same every

week. So good. So Thursday was yesterday. By the end of last night,

how did you feel about the Argentine tango? Oh, completely obsessed with

it, in love with it. It is amazing. It is so intense. It is pretty

full-on physically. We trained really hard yesterday and, yeah, it

felt fantastic. Good. I mean, Kev you are a ten-dance specialist which

doesn't include Argentine tango, so this is new for you, as well. Yes,

scary. Good choice for the quarter-final. How is he doing?

Amazing. If he was doing it with somebody who can dance, he would be

10s. Trust me, Susanna is better than me at the moment. Let's listen

to your music. Wow, Michael Jackson, can you give

me your best, hee, hee. I love T only Sophie and Brendan have done

one this series, so you can go out there and pull out all the tricks,

no-one has seen them before. That is exciting. That does help. If there

had been ten already, there would be nothing left to show anybody. So the

fact that there has only been one, it helps and it helps with the fact

I haven't done it before. And you have torn up the rule book, thrown

out all the expectations. I'm excited. Of course, the swing-a-thon

this weekend, as well. All of you out on the floor for the first time

together to be judged alongside each other. Do you have any tricks up

your sleeves? I've got Kevin. No-one else has that. He is the jive king.

He is brilliant. Look at him. You love the jive, one of your frafts.

Surely it'll stand you in good stead. We will do what we always do

and go out there and blast it with energy and have a great time and

hope that it works. It puts a huge smile on my face

because I'm dancing with Kev. Believe, I love it. Both of you in

scar et. Good luck this weekend. Susanna and Kevin.

APPLAUSE Now Friday and that can only mean

one thing, a little trip to Elstree to look around on the set and check

in on rehearsals. Earlier today James Jordan met up with Ashley and

Ola and Patrick and annia. Here is what happened. James, over to you,

darling. Here I am back on the main Strictly set, somewhere

unfortunately I haven't been able to be for the last couple of weeks

because of my back. I'm devastated about it. But what I can do, is I

can give you an insight to what is going to happen tomorrow night on

Strictly come dancing, quarter-finals and look who is here,

Patrick, Anya, Ashley... Hello. All right, will have.

-- love. Guys, I will start with you, you are

dancing the rumba. This is traditionally a very difficult dance

for the man. Yes. It is very slow, very... Controlled. Sustained, oh my

goodness How has your week been, guys? It has honestly been the most

challenging week. This one had a little bit of a hard time of picking

up the rhyth The rhythm and the feeling. It is kind of off the beat

but it isn't, there is a pulse going through it and I couldn't get on the

pulse. Listen to him. And guys, you are dancing the Sal sacks the

opposite end of the spectrum -- the salsa. How has your week been? Very

tough. Very tough. Hard work but we have got here now. Loved it, though.

It is going to be brilliant. Ashley, 35 points? No, I won't beat

that. I will be on the same one this weekend. That's what I do best. Hay,

if it is not broke, don't fix it Guys you are all dancing the swing

-a-thon. The first time you will have all six couples on the floor at

the same time. Dancing the Lindy hop, the jive, things like that. It

is fun, I have done it twice before. Don't rub it in Do you have any

tactics? Just dance with each other and have fun and energy. Anya is

going to keep talking to me, that's T Who do you think is your strongest

competition in the swing-a-thon? Everyone. My feet And Ashley. I'm

her biggest competition in this. I don't know if you knew it. You are

the last two guys left in the competition. Four girls and you are

the only two guys. Are you going to be sticking together? Absolutely.

The thing is, as a professional male dancer, if I'm on the floor, we

lead, we have floor craft. I will be pushing and shoving you. Are you

ready for that? "Ish"? We are. Listen, it is the quarter-finals.

Are you excited and ready for tomorrow night? Do you feel you will

go out and create great performances. Well, James, I need

another three weeks. What can you do? Unfortunately I did see your

rumba. I think it looks amazing. I haven't seen your salsa but you will

give us a glimpse in a minute. 35-plus this one. Are you looking

most forward to your individual dances or the swig-a-thon? A little

bit of both. Just kind of taking one dance at a time. Salsa. I'm looking

forward to my salsa. I want to do my salsa. I heard you had a bruise on

your arm. A bad boy bruise. She signed it. I'm going to auction it

after the show Guys, you are going to go and show us your amazing

salsa. Give us a little glimpse. Have you guys seen this yet? No. You

You don't know if it is any good. All we know, is that it is a 35.

Still pretty good. 35 is really good.

Music do the Conga by Gloria Estefan.

Very good. You will see more of that tomorrow night. All I can say, Zoe,

back to you in the studio. Thank you, James, you gorgeous,

cheeky monkey. Time for our next contender for the Pro Challenge,

please welcome back to the It Takes Two fold, Mr Anton du Beke. Oh, look

at the way you float in. Hello darling. Look at me with all this

space on the sofa. I've never had such luxury. I might sit like this.

However you like. Now, now, now, you are known to all as the king of the

ballroom, surely a load of poseky drunken sailors will be a walk in

the park for you. Ha, ha, ha, that remains to be seen. It does. A

double reverse spin much more. That was one of my favourite moves. Did

you get much practice beforehand? Seconds. I had a private lesson from

Iain Waite T worked wonders. I fell you what, I felt all sort of

fabulous and tickly. Before we look at Anton's afoam Attempt. Let's look

at the leaderboard. I'm calling it that so far.

There we are: Brendan Cole up there, with 71. Brendan Cole, 71. He has

never moved so fast in all his life. He did it in socks. Socks? He would

slipping and sliding. You would have to ban him. Apparently completely

acceptable by the adjudicator. We shall find out how Anton got on. Are

you ready? Oh... Take it away. I'm feeling good. It is my first Pro

Challenge, certainly for a long time. Up against some of the new

guys. Bring them on. That's what I say. I'm very determined to be top

of this leaderboard. I think this challenge is made for me. Look out,

pros, Anton is back in town! Ah, Anton. Hello. Welcome. You are the

most experienced. Indeed I amount nchtsd professional Do you Do you

think you can beat the youngsters? I think I could do, if I don't I shall

get a big stick. Thank you Anton, good luck. Thank you. Please take to

the floor. I'll count you down for the world record. Three, two, one,

go... Three, two, one, stop. Well done.

How did that feel? Did it feel longer than you expected? It often

does, actually. I think that's the warmth in the room. Well, I think

there is a little bit of leg burn going on but there was a muddle of

steps. I think we'll have to take it away and analyse T but I think you

did a really good job, very fast. I'm impressed. That's what I was

after, speed. I was motoring through that. It was good. I enjoyed it,

more than I thought I would. Fast, fast. Were they actually your legs.

There was steam coming off the floor Michael flatly did that for me. Do

you think you have done enough to beat Brendan Cole? Do you know, he

is a tough act to follow, Brendan of Cole. If I can get anywhere near

him, that would be enough for me. You will be happy. I will be happy.

Well, remember after each of the professionals had made their

attempt, the footage was watched back in slow motion to verify. Every

single one, to make sure they were accurate. Anton, I can tell you now

- you had five disqualified. Do you know, that could be the difference.

I know which five. They must have been the ones they couldn't see.

That was the blur. Anton, I can reveal that you

scored... 72. That's unbelievable. Top of the

leaderboard. How do you feel about that? Oh, please tell me Brendan is

here now. He has run, he has fled. He is devastated and weeping

probably. I'm going to lay back here in a smug, superior way. You can see

it in print and you can enjoy every moment. Look at that. You are the

one to beat. Look at that. You still have to see Janette, Pasha, and

Kevin and Karen. We don't need to see them. That right there is all we

need to see. Can we wrap it up? Thank you everyone for coming. Give

me the trophy. At least I'm on the top of the leaderboard, the first in

my life. You noticed when that happened? When I was on my own. All

I'm saying. Thank you very much partners, but you were rubbish.

Oh, he is so happy. For two weeks in a row Lucky the Pup has correctly

predicted who has topped the leaderboard. It is with bated breath

that we await his next prediction. Can he make it a hat-trick? Du Bece

is at the top, would you believe it? -- du Beke.

Oh, Snoop luky Pup, thinks Patrick and Anya will be top of the

leaderboard. He might be right. Time now for the Friday final. Please

will you welcome, hugely, big round of applause, Stephen Mulhern, Heidi

Range and Russell Grant. It here they are. Come on, I love

you. Hello, lovely. Hello gorgeous one. Welcome, welcome, welcome. How

are you? Give us a bit of glitter. Can I have the pink one? The pink

one. Thanks, love. We have missed you. You are doing panto in

Kettering. Dwarf dwarf dwarf - Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. I am in

Lighthouse Kettering and I've been doing a lot of dance steps. What do

you think series so great so far? Less novelty acts. You have the

likes of Dave and Mark, I smile with them, don't laugh at them. Now I

think it is a serious competition. Someone said to me - do you watch

it? I'm not going to come on here and say - oh, really? What is his

name, the Lady in Red, guy, Chris deberg. He didn't watch at all.

We have last nine couples so far, do you think the right people have gone

and the right stayed. I think we have the right ones, I do miss

Julian, though. It was his face every week. But I think the strong

ones are the ones that are left. Great stuff. Let's start with

Patrick and Anya and their rum BA there has been a bit of -- and their

rumba. There has been disagreement about whether a rumba should be

raunchy or tell a love story. What do you want from Patrick? Argentine

tango is raunchy and passionate, I want love. I want all that love that

comes, that expression, you know, you know... The way we are. I know

what you mean. We are like this all the time All the time.

Rumba hips. They are dancing to Bruno Mars, we'll have a listen.

Heidi, does this say rumba do you, immediately To says love,

definitely. Which is what you need. Look at Stephen's head there. He is

amazing. I didn't even do that. It just happened. Three tense last week

with their Charleston. Do you think they can go one better this week?

The thing with Patrick is this... For me, he doesn't make me want to

pick up the phone and vote. Really, why is that? I don't know what it

is. I look at the others and Susanna and I go - do you know what, you

have had a real journey and I want to vote for her but he doesn't give

me anything that I go - he is a bit too hard for me. He is not very

giving. He has to win you over. Maybe tomorrow's rumba could be the

one. Sophie and Brendan are doing a tanning yoe. Here there are in

training. Last week she was back in form with a Viennese waltz. The

judges loved her Argentine tango. Can she bring fire and passion?

Definitely. Has been giving it her all. Her confidence is growing. She

has to believe in herself. She is one of the strongest dancers. I'll

put the music on. She gets marked too low. This has been said. I think

she is better than what the judges make her out to be. She should get

better scores. What about doing a tango to Imagine, does that work?

You are asking for a professional answer, now, aren't you? I'm sure T

Let's talk about Abbey and Aljaz. This week they are doing a Viennese

waltz. Will it be a whirl or a comeback after getting 40 out of 40.

I adore her and I think they are elegance and sheer beauty will just

carry her around from Richmond on Thames to Vienna. A long way.

It is stunning. Ian Waite is saying her neckline is really good. I said.

I said it was like a swan. Gentleman probably the perfect couple, aren't

they? I have to sit opposite them sometimes you don't know where to

look. They are so hand some. They are dancing to Tom Jones. Come on.

Zbll # My, my, my Delilah... #

Terrible choice. I knew I would be doing it on my own. It's karaoke

Strictly, so wrong. Surely when they were putting the songs together they

should have said - why? I went - why. You don't think this is right?

No, I think karaoke Strictly. The music has to lift and carry you.

Flavia and I every week we deliberated about the music. That

does not say whatever they are trying tos. . -- trying to. A

Viennese waltz. Natalie and Artem are doing a paso doble. Last week he

got in trouble with Len because there wasn't enough foxtrot for his

American smooth. Do you think with this music, let's hear it,

tradition, they can win him back? With the music, it does help.

Whether it is dance or magic or comedy, the music helps.

Interestingly, Patrick - and we had the conference, tell them what you

said -... I think she is an incredible dancer, probably the

strongest but I don't endear towards Natalie. Why? What is missing

Possibly she is too good. I haven't watched one week and gone - that's

amazing, last week she wasn't that good. She has been consistent. It is

not a bad thing. The reality is that in this competition. It is the

personality as well. You are want to see that travelling. With Abbey and

Sophie you think - go on. Maybe she is too good. Susanna and Kevin are

doing an Argentine tanning goe. This is only the second this series.

Sophie and Brendan did the first. Howdy think it is looking? I have

had a look and although I didn't do it on the show, I have watched it.

It needs more passion, it needs - when they do the ganchos, it needs

more flicks, you know what I mean. It needs some kind of... Play the

music and do that face Clinching bottoms. He knows what he is talking

about. Intensity is what I want. They had a setback with their

quickstep. Do you think this could get them back on top form? I love

this couple. I think when Kevin came on board I thought - what is he

going to be like? He is not like the other male dancers. He seems to have

grown and grown. As a couple, do you know what, for me, they are the ones

to watch. Ahhh. So lovely. I'm writing that down. Ashley and Ola

are doing a salsa. They are doing the party dance. Will he get

everyone on his feet and what do you reckon to his hip action? They look

good. I like the song they are doing it to. Which is this. This is where

it works, traditional music. They are writing his name down. Would you

do this? Strictly? We've had this conversation. It is the one reality

show where if you can't do t you are stuffed. When you are on ice you can

make up an excuse - I'm on ice. I guess there is nothing to hide

behind. Exactly. All right. Who would you

like to see lift the glitterball, Russell? One of the girls, Susanna

or Abbey, I think. Abbey. Stephen? Not who I want to, who will. Susanna

and Kevin. Standing by that. Thank you so much. Russell and Heidi and

Stephen. That's all we have got time for today. Thank you to all my

guests. On Monday I will be commiserating with the next couple

to be eliminated plus, Mr Bruno Tonioli will be on that sofa, no

doubt lying down and on show. Don't forget to tune in tomorrow night at

7.10pm. If you can't wait that long, tune into Radio Two tonight at

8.00pm to hear me and Craig doing a very good show about Strictly music.