Episode 55 Strictly - It Takes Two

Hello and welcome to It Takes Two and it's funtime Friday! They

Viennese Waltzed their way to the Semi Finals with the highest scoring

dance of the night. Abbey and Aljaz will be here. I'll be heading to

Elstree to catch up with Sophie and Brendan in rehearsals. Give us a

wave, Brendan. He could not resist. And it's Strictly All Stars for

tonight's Friday panel. The runner-up from the very first

series, Chris Parker, 2011's Runner up, Chelsee Healey, 2009 Champ,

Chris Hollins and last year's winner, Louis Smith! This is

Strictly: It Takes Two. From London, this is Strictly: It

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

Takes Two. Just over 24 hours until this year's Strictly semi. Abbey and

Alyash will be hoping their Samba and American Smooth will see them

through to the final. I'll be chatting to them in a moment but

first a reminder of their beautiful Viennese Waltz. You, Abbey, identify

got to say are the biggest surprise of this entire competition.

Absolutely brilliant. Thank you! The arch you created in the top line was

beautiful. You get better and better. Just beautiful.

There were one or two issues with the footwork, by I have not time to

go into but if you come up to my dressing room, I'll explain it

fully. You look like a movie star, you

dance like a Goddess. Bruno said I look like a movie star,

I should do after six hours of hair and make-up. I enjoyed it. It was

really amazing. Please, welcome Abbey and Aljaz. We

cannot go further without mentioning those kinky boots. Look at those!

Yes, a big wow! Everyone in here fell silent when you walked in.

They are covering the bruises. We will get on to those later on.

The highest score of the week last week. That must have been brilliant.

How special did the dance feel on the floor? Fabulous. The dress, the

hair and make-up. The dance that Aljaz made was gorgeous and twirly.

I love them type of dances. And obviously it was the Stoke theme as

well. How did Peter and the team feel about you dancing to that tune?

They were all made up. People were voting five times.

Craig said last week, Aljaz, that Abbey has been the biggest surprise

in the competition. Which is such a wonderful thing for her to hear. How

much would you agree? How much has she surprised you week after week,

getting better and better? I agree 1 million percent. From day one I knew

she had the talent and the potential to being really good, but the way

she progressed is incredible. Every dance is better and better. She

didn't have one bad week. There was not a dance I would not say it was

not a best performance. So I am over the moon for my first year. To do it

with Abbey, with someone so eager to learn.

That was a rousing speech! It's the first time he has said that to me,

to be fair! Brilliant. Len mentioned footwork issues, after. Did you go

up to his dressing room? Did he tell you what they were? Do you know what

he meant? I always try to put the content in the routines. There is a

lot of specific footwork. There was a little bit of a thing going on in

a reverse turn. So it is a mistake. I agree with the comment, but she

did so many things beautifully. Holding her frame up, smiling all

the way through, a movie star. That's it.

It is brilliant. And the swingathon. Karen hardy said you two should have

stayed in longer. Higher up the table. Were you gutted to go out

when you did? I loved that. It was so much fun. By my mind went blank

when I was there, but it was great. I loved it.

The way you ran tonne the floor, so eager! The good thing is for you

two, it has been plain sailing. The last couple of weeks no dance-off,

no rule-breaking, keeping your heads down and letting the dancing do the

talking. Has that been deliberate? Always from the beginning, from the

first show. We got the highest scores, there was so much not

pressure but expectation to do well every week. We always had so much to

work on so there was no time for anything else. It was all just about

the dancing, I think. And I think we are so chilled about

it in rehearsals. We are literally dead chilled. I think this week has

been the most chilled week. I don't know why.

That's a good thing. And it is double the chill with two

dances. I know how hard you have been

working. In the training room. Aljaz , putting in a heroic effort. Look

at this. Introducing Aljaz, action Man. He can survive any terrain.

Follow me. Stay calm. I'm trying. It is always cold and

windy here. Singing any melody.

# Sometimes I feel like holding my hands up in the air.

# A little less conversations, # A little more action, please.

Don't drop me! Bless you. And for the first time r, it

includes kicking action. Aljaz the Action Man cannot be purchased

anywhere, ever. Fact. We all want one for Christmas.

Semi-finals, the two dances, the Samba and the American Smooth. Where

does the Samba fall for you? I was petrified of the Samba. I didn't

think I would get this far in the competition, so I didn't think I

would have to do it. So I was not worried. So, I thought, we have it

in the semi-final, but I'm enjoying it now.

George Michael... Yes, let's have a listen. Here it comes. That's the

double bounce action. There is no bounce action in our

number. I can't do it. Yes you can. I have seen it. And the

American Smooth. A great dance to be doing. Is it Foxtrot-based? Yes,

very smooth and Foxtroty! And American! This is your MUSIC: Neil

Diamond, Sweet Caroline. Another great crowd pleaser. At this point,

how are you u feeling about the semi-final, are you confident?

Terrified! It is the perfect mix! Good luck for tomorrow night. Give

it up for the dancing Abbey and Aljaz.

Now, after a slow start Lucky the Predictive Pup found his form just

as he needed it getting his last three predictions spot on. Here he

is for the final time this series - just for fun can he make it four out

of four? Oh! So lucky. Lucky the Predictive

Pup, he thinks you are going to be top.

For three weeks he has got it right. Your little face.

I nearly died. We will wait until tomorrow. The

best reaction of the series. Now earlier on, I gate-crashed the

last-minute rehearsals in the Strictly studio. Here is what

happened. It is Friday. As is customary, I

have a look around Elstree, but it is not just any Friday. It is the

Friday before the semi-final. So the atmosphere is like nothing you have

ever known before. Look it is ly Artem doing their Tango.

Wow! Natalie and Artem. Oh, it is looking amazing. Can't wait to see

the rest of that tomorrow. Look what I have run into, to is only Sophie

and Brendan. We have not seen you. Who are the strange random people

there, they work on the show by the way! We have not seen you since last

weekend. Congratulations. How are you feeling? Excited.

I'm sure I will be nervous tomorrow, but at the moment. Very excited.

Well done. The Tango last week was fantastic.

Did you enjoy it out on the floor. Yeah, massively, actually, yeah. It

was really fun to dance. A good story.

We were loving the mannequin nod to Kim Cattrall. How much fun was that

as a concept to put together? Very good. I love a concept. It gives a

strong image. From what you are going to do, being in character.

Building on it, but as there is a character it puts a little strain on

the character. It must be right. So there are double sides to that, but

I loved the whole feeling of it and the feedback has been great. People

are really getting into the spirit! I think it awakens the young person

in all of us. And the judges so in praise of your choreography. That

must be great to have that recognised and have Sophie dance it

so well. It is nice. I am having such a great

time in this series. You are encouraged to do better stuff and

having the perfect partner in Sophie Ellis-Bextor, my little mousse, it

works. It is making me good stuff. You have been amazing. Two dances

tomorrow, did the swingathon prepare you? It took it out of me a little

bit. I left on Saturday night after the

that limping a little. Then straight into two physical dances.

You have the Paso Doble. Tell me about that first? I like it it is

dramatic. Fantastic music. It is intense. Theatrical.

Physical! You are obviously feeling it. feelingit. A little out of the

flight. You are being thrown around again. You are like a cape? Turns. I

spend about 50% of the time sweeping around the floor.

Cleaning the floor, but imagine it is a great one and for the

semi-finals, it is a showstopper of a dance, the American Smooth. And I

hear you have usual lifts? Unusual, interesting, difficult, tricky? They

are, but I am reluctant to talk about it too much in that respect. I

don't want people thinking about that when they watch it. As they may

not get the right feel. There are lots of different things in it. We

see so many of the same styles so I am trying to put a nice feeling on

it, some lovely moments. How is the mood in the camp? How is the

camaraderie? Are you all looking after each other? The morale is

good. It has been a testing week. Everyone is feeling a little more

fatigued. The aches and the pains with the stakes high, but I feel

excited. I know I have at least one more Latin number and one more

ballroom number for it. It is weird as there is the

pressure. We are all supporting each other but everyone wants to be

there. Trying to soak up the atmosphere to enjoy it. It will be a

massive weekend. One that is exciting for everyone involved.

Good luck for the dances tomorrow. I know you will be spectacular. Now

back to the blonde in the studio. Not a natural blonde! Don't give

away state secrets! Now t with us tonight we have Janette. It is a

good job Aljaz has left the building, as she has not picked him

on this project. This is her choice.

I have chosen Susanna Reid and Kevin's waltz. It was magical. I

love the connection between the two of them. They found a really nice

mix between technique and storey-telling. From the beginning

of the dance, Susanna is alone on the dance floor. With her arms

wrapped around herself. Caressing the skin, bringing her hands

together. You see the sincerity. Kevin comes in, the moment he

touches here, she shrugs her shoulder up and you can tell that

she feels his energy. The frame and the posture was beautiful. She did

not move throughout the dance. They were like two dolls dancing across

the floor. They kept the feeling of the waltz with the romance and the

softness between the two of them. Then came the pivot after pivot

after pivot. My eyes opened, my mouth opened, my

shoulder went up. It was so beautiful to watch someone that is

not a dancer do that step so well. And so many of them. And when Kevin

grabs her and drags her across the floor, his hand touches her head

ever so delicately, it was truly magical. Before the routine ends,

they do a beautiful rotation step. They both swing their arms open and

even up to the finger tips, they are perfectly in pcsnch. It was

beautiful. The judges enjoyed the dance. I can see why.

-- pysnch. Beautifully done. The pif outs, perfect.

Absolutely gorgeous, I loved it. Susanna and Kevin told the story of

a romance. They had a beautiful frame. They used the floor. They had

a beautiful pivot section, it was magnificent.

Thank you for that, Janette. That was lovely. I will take the

opportunity to say well done to Greg. He is a floor manager. He is

behind the scenes, he had a baby this week with his lovely girlfriend

Kate. It is Freddie Frost. So well done.

It is Friday Panel time. Tonight we have Strictly royalty among us.

Tonight's guests know what it takes to the make the Strictly final after

months of a tough dance competition. Please, welcome, Chris Parker,

Chelsee Healey, Louis Smith and Chris Hollins! Welcome, welcome!

Look at you all. You know how it feels at this moment in time. How

has it been watching the series from the sofa this year, Louis? More

comfortable than doing it for real. It is nice to enjoy it for what it

is, but the nerves awe you know what they are going through.

I still get clammy palms. Hollins, do you get envious? Always. When

they are given the partners, but nothing ever beats watching Ola

getting teamed up with Paul Daniels. The year after I won it. I thought,

what is he doing with her? She is mine! Were you upset when they left

the competition? I was gutted. I thought he would go through to the

final, but she always did text me to say that I was better than him!

Chelsee, do you guess jealous without Pasha to dance with over the

months? No, well, I do get jealous. And Chris, you made it to the final

in the first series, do you think you could have made it with this

batch? I don't think so. The talent is so much higher.

And it is more weeks. When we first started it was a mere

ten. So, let's start with Natalie and

Artem. Chris, Len has not been best-pleased with Artem. Will he

approve of this? Well, Len is a traditional man. This looks like a

traditional dance. So I think he will approve. We can hear the music.

That is sounding traditional too. Hollins, do you mind that, me

calling you Hollins? Not at all. You tackled the Tango in the

semi-finals. Well, these guys are wimps, this is

the first time that they do two dances in a week, but they are good.

We were rubbish. The Argentine Tango. I was all sexy, I had to do a

rumba. And then a bit of this and so I got to know Ola very, very well!

Patrick and Anya are doing the waltz. Patrick and Anya were in the

bottom two last week. Were you surprised? I am. He is normally good

in the ballroom. His American smooth impressed me. I think he will do

well in the tournament. They are dancing to Unchained

Melody. Could this see him through to the final, Chelsee? I hope so. I

hope that the public are excited about imhad. I think he has really

progressed and improved loads. And I like Patrick, I think he is lovely.

He is a lovely chap. Susanna and Kevin are doing a salsa.

Hollins, a good mate of yours. She has not had the best week. A tough

one. I knew this girl would be good. She

has badgered me about Strictly for four or five years. If you survive

being on the bottom on the leaderboard and you are through, you

must abhot favourite. She looks comfortable doing that dance.

Ian says she is a natural. And they are dancing to this music...

# Everybody move your feet and feel United. Chris, do you like this one

in the ballroom with Sophie? She is oozing energy. And I think Latin is

her dance. Now, Abbey and Aljaz. Dancing to

George Michael's Faith, should she be worried? Louis? Samba is a tough

dance. I struggled with it a lot. We remember your bounce! This is a

family show. She is fantastic. I'm sure when the

music starts she will be great. And Chelsee are you a fan of Abbey?

I am rooting for her to win. I think she has done brilliantly. I want her

to win. I like it, the cards on the table.

Sophie and Brendan are doing American smooth. Chris, she has done

well with the ballroom. Could this be her best? I said this in the

greenroom. This will get the top marks of the night. This particular

dance. Really? She is made for dancing

ballroom and for the American smooth. So she is probably in the

dance-off, now I have said that, but she is probably one of my

favourites. The way she moves with the ballroom, she may struggle with

the quicker dances but what is the music? It is Lisa Stanford.

Classic. I am a bit like Len. I am nearly his age. I like tradition.

You could be his son! Apparently they have surprising lifts. Brendan

is trying to do lifts that are out there and not the usual. Is this the

time for that? I went with lifts, I needed it to impress the public. The

judges were not on my side. If you do the lifts, if you are breaking

the rules do it for the public vote. It is risky but I would go for it.

American Smooth, you are allowed three lifts? Two was enough for me.

Now, second dances, Natalie and Artem are doing a salsa. Dancing to

Michael Jackson. You have to listen to this. Look at these for skills.

Louis is off. Her salsa, is the only dance of the series to get a perfect

40. Do you think that Natalie could be

up with Abbey after this? I think she can. She has the moves. She is

an amazing beautiful dancer. I reckon she will smash it this week.

Lewis -- Louis, you like Michael Jackson, do you think that this

should be in there? I think that will get the party started. It will

be fun. Now, Patrick and Anya are doing a

Paso Doble. Now, Chris Parker's Paso Doble was legendary. You running

down with your cape. Could he match that? I think he will be technically

more sound than I was. I think that this looks excellent it will be a

great one. The music is Patti Smith: Because

the Night. It is good for drama. And last man standing, Hollins, could he

get there to the final. Or will it be the girls? I really hope it is

that we will have a man in the final. I love him. I wrote him off

after a council of weeks but then all of a sudden he found his MOJO.

Now he is hot. If he gets to the final. He could be a real r.

It is such a fight this year. It will be amazing tomorrow night. OK.

So we have Susanna and Kevin doing a Foxtrot. Louis you got a whopping

38. Having a look at this, you know, is this good? It good rice and fall.

What other points do we need? It's good. She has a bit of an arch going

on. Keeping her head in the right position. He remembers it all! This

is the MUSIC: , Valley's Can't Take My Eyes Off You.

What do you think, Chelsee? I think she could do really well.

Now, Abbey and Aljaz, she has peaked at 37 for the ballroom. It is Sweet

Caroline by Neil Diamond, what do you reckon? There is no reason not

to be able to smash that for her. Is that not a strange choice of

music? Well it is not tradition A what do you think of it? It doesn't

sound like an American smooth. Well, I am sure that they will make

them work. There have been interesting music choices in the

series. So Sophie and Brendan. Last week the Tango went brilliantly,

they are dancing to Prokofiev. Are you a huge fan? Not really but I

like this music! Do you think that the judges will like this Paso

Doble? Hollins? I think definitely. They look great together there. The

way that they are shadowing each other. They are fantastic. Pass

pass, I have to say, I this I that Sophie will be top of the

leaderboard this week. I want to know who you want to lift

the trophy, Parker? Pat rib. Chelsee. Abbey.

Louis? Natalie. Hollins? Susanna.

That is all for this week. Don't forget to tune in to Strictly Come

Dancing tomorrow on BBC One at 6. 40pm. I am back on Monday, talking

to the couple who miss ud out on a place in the final. Have a lovely

weekend. Goodbye!