Episode 52 Strictly - It Takes Two

It's very exciting, as we're merely minutes away from revealing who is

stepping in to Karen Hardy's shoes for this week's Choreography Corner.

and managed to short-list it to these lucky three.

So, will it be pop superstar, Beyonce?

Or perhaps the world renowned former principal dancer with

Let's face it, there's no competition.

ANNOUNCER: Live from London, this is Strictly, It Takes Two.

On tonight's show, Mr Ian Waite will be stepping into Dame Karen Hardy's

And fans of Global Glitterballs stay tuned as we'll be finding out

what Strictly looks like across the North Sea in Scandinavia.

But first, in a break from It Takes Two tradition,

it's not the saved couple keeping my sofa warm.

Instead, it's one of our other semi-finalists and, as the saying

goes, this pair have had more tens than I've had hot dinners.

How does it feel to be a Strictly semi-finalist?

It feels good. I have an official title. Semi finalist. That's all

you've ever needed in life. A rumba, not always everyone's favourite

dance to watch or to do. But it can be a tricky mistress. Len said it is

very difficult for boys. Look how well you did. Did you ever imagine

it would be a rumba that was your top scoring dance? Never at all.

Costume definitely thought, can we get away with a jeans and shirt you

bear every day? I'm wearing it now. You are, haven't even changed. I

didn't think it would grab people. But it did. Can you ask you, how

easy was it dancing in jeans? Did it get a bit hot? They were quite

elastic. Are you wearing elast Kated waists at your age! You have to go

out there and sell a love story when you dance a rumba. How was that? Was

that easy? I think because it wasn't like a big showy, here's what it is,

you're in love, it was a really quiet in love. The musical is a

really quiet in love. And the song was quiet in love. And my dancing is

quite quiet. Not very loud. I thought, OK, I can think about the

steps and dance around. I think it's easier to do a rumba when you have

actual characters to play and you have an actual musical so you're

telling a certain story. It is not just you two. It's somebody else.

So, two people creating a story that already exists. Aliona, you've

changed your hair. I know. You even dyed your hair for the role? We were

playing two roles that exist. They nos raisy aliens. You did it so

brilliantly. Is it a dance that came naturally to Jay or did you have to

work really hard for this one? I think the dancers are pretty much

the same. We work really hard on all the dances. It is a matter of will

we go wrong or not? All the dances we work as hard equally. But we

don't know what will happen. Monday I was a little bit thinking, ooh.

You were getting almost a bit depressed. I wasn't grumpy or tense

but you know when someone's quiet and you hear a million things. Are

you OK? Yeah, I'm OK. Are you sure? Did you say "fine." Zipped up by bag

and left! Incredible though, the judges absolutely loved it. They

really, really did. Tears in Darcey's eyes. How does it feel to

have that affect on Darcey? It's great. It doesn't just mean it was

danced technically well but they were carried away with the acting.

They've said it over and over again. OK, we're all good. If there are

tears it is not just emotive. Not just technically good, really it

meant we'd done something they'd been asking for. It's great to see

people feel the same way we did when we were dancing it. You could really

feel the connection. It was beautiful. What do you think it will

take to get a 10 from Craig? I don't know if that exists. But, really, I

think a 9... People don't understand how much work it takes to even get a

9. When you see an 8, it's what! Such a stamp of approval from

someone who is a professional judge. I don't know. I think that Big

Questions for a 10 might be a never ending wild goose chase. Will we see

Craig's 10? We'll discuss it later on. As we saw on Len's Lens, you had

Craig and Len bickering over you. Our favourite part of their tiff was

Len's mature insult to Craig. Give over, go and have a shave! Go and

have a shave! Top of the judges leaderboard, three 10s and your

highest score this series. So, so good. Did you know that you have

added a couple more entries in the McGuinness World Words. Here it is.

You have now the joint highest ever male celebrity rumba score along

with Matt Di Angelo from the 2007 Christmas special. Are you loving

that picture of yourself? State of that. It's beautiful! You have

received the most 10s from the judges so far this series. Six of

them. Wow! Amazing. How does that feel? Happy with that. Really happy.

Fingers crossed you get some more. We're not that surprised you were

good at the rumba. We have closely observed and study your music

videos. # I will be remembered for

centuries... # Who is Heather? Her name was Heather

as well. Real name? Still is, unless she saw Shah video and change it bee

deed Pol. I assume you still speak, you and Heather? OK! Now, last time

you got this far in the competition,al Yoann in a, you were

with Harry Judd. You got to the final and you won. You winner, you!

I know. Do you think you could win this year with Jay? Don't listen,

Jay. I think anyone can win this year. Everyone has a fair shot.

Everyone's amazing. Every couple has something very special about them.

So, it's anybody's game. Honestly. You can listen now. Do you feel any

pressure now? Aljaz is out of the competition. . Aliona is the only

pro in the competition who could win the trophy twice? At the end of last

week, when Helen left, I sat there and started spiralling out of

control. I can't believe it. What will happen. Next week, we've two

dances. What's going on. I had a bit of getting slapped by Aliona moment.

This is what you're going to do, learn your dances. Do them well just

like any other week. OK, that's what it is. Pull yourself together. Was

if like Aeroplane where they line up? Exactly. Just the two dances

this he can would. Viennese waltz and charleston. Where shall we

begin? Which is your favourite? I've only learned one of them. That must

be your favourite. Yeah. Which is that? Viennese waltz. It is

different from waltzing, it is quicker and has a different feel.

Not sure what that feel is yet. But it's's quick! Is he right? Is that

even close? It's close. She's not despairing yet. What have you in

store for Jay for the charleston? We have a great choreographer doing our

charleston, Ryan. Our routine will be a bit different to any other

charleston that was on Strictly to this day. It will be a bit more

modern and it will be a bit more the way charleston is danced now by

everyone. I like this. Not old school charleston but more the way

they do it now. With facial expressions? Charleston is crazy. Is

Jay going to have to give it all that or slightly more modern as

well? Slightly more modern. Still charleston, a happy dance. But it

will not be just... Slapstick? Not so much. A cool one. A cool

charleston. How do you feel like that? I think me and cool go really

well together! Daniel O'Donnell sends you him singing to cheer you

up. What a lovely thing to do? . He's awesome. We have a group chat,

since day one. When they have their day's off they'll send a message in

their PJs. Daniel sang and wished everyone good luck. I was in a pub

this week. Two Irish girls came up and were talking to me. I

this week. Two Irish girls came up video of them singing to him.

Beautiful. Good luck with your charleston and Viennese waltz. You

are utterly brilliant. Jay and Aliona.

CHEERING. I

So far on our Global Glitterball journey we've seen what the Danish,

Indian and Lebanese versions of Strictly have to offer.

. Next up in our Global Glitterballs tour is a country famous for ABBA,

flat-packed furniture and meatballs. Yes, it's Sweden. Sweet enrecently

finished its 10th series of their version of Strictly called Let's

Dance. The head judge is a man called Tony Irving who grew up down

the road from our own Georgia May Foote in Lancashire. I'm off to meet

him. Hi, Tony. So lovely to meet you. Nice to meet you too.

Congratulations on being a judge for ten years. Thank you. How big is the

show in Sweden? The only thing that's bigger is the Eurovision Song

Contest. A good pedigree. Who are the big celebrity names this series?

We've had some mega names. Jonas, a former world tennis players. Marie

from the pop group and a stylist Eunice. He was hilarious. Couldn't

put his left foot in front of his right foot but could make you laugh.

What's the difference between Let's Dance and Strictly Come Dancing? Our

show is prayer comedy. Everything is done to entertain. So the dancing

show is prayer comedy. Everything is main part of the show. How is it

being a Brit in a Swedish show? When I speak Swedish, I sound like I'm

still from the north of I speak Swedish, I sound like I'm

SPEAKING SWEDISH Are the judges from Sweden similar to our judges? We

only have three. Ann is our Darcey. Very technical. We have Dermot who

does his thing. I'm like this combination of Craig and Len. When

you see something you like you're very complimentary but when you

you see something you like you're something you dislike, you go hurt

'em? The problem is, most of the stuff I don't like. Do you have in

gossip or headline stories from this series? This year, we had a major

crisis. I accused Ingmar, a living Hedge End in Sweden, of not doing

his best and the other judges of cheating to treat him well! We got

the front page in all the major newspapers. Judging panel chaos. We

ended up not speaking to each other for nearly four weeks. All because I

did my job and told them off. I don't understand it. Which were your

favourite dancers of this series? It is always when the celebrity makes a

breakthrough. One of the biggest was Jonas, the tennis guy, this stuff

middle-aged man suddenly became this sex U hung for all the women... And

me! Tony, an absolute pleasure talking to you. We've gone full

circle. I think we need to go. My stomach's not agreeing with me up

here. Let's go. Dear viewers, it's come to

our attention that something ia missing from the world of

Strictly so far this series, so we've been forced to launch

an It Takes Two appeal Yes, missing from action this

year is Craig's 10 paddle. The paddle in question was

last seen on 20th December - After Simon Webbe and Kristina's

Argentine tango. There's already been a lot

of concern on social media. Caroline said, "Still no 10 paddle

from Craig. What will it take?" Nicola said, "Should have been 40!

A-maz-ing. And a source close to the paddle

said, "Ahh come on, Jay was well worthy

of a 10, darling." There are suspicions that

the paddle could have got into the wrong hands if these

sightings are anything to go by. Here it is on Saturday with

Kellie Bright's son, Freddie. And just a few weeks ago it was

right under our noses here at ITT, when it popped up with some of

Daniel O'Donnell's fans. If you have any information,

photo sightings or have seen Craig's Paddle, Please Contact Us

Using #findthepaddle. As Karen Hardy is halfway

around the world she's only gone and left her

choreography corner unattended and you'll never guess

whose made himself at home in it? It feel so strange, sat on the sofa.

The purple sofa, it's a beautiful thing. What did you think of

musicals week? At some point, I felt like I was sitting watching a

musical, a West End musical, and I thought the production was

incredible, I thought the music, the lighting, the make up, and last but

not least, the choreography from the professionals, give them a round of

applause. Spectacular work. Were you surprised by the shocking bottom

two? It was always going to be sad because they are also good. I was

shocked. And I thought that at this point in the competition, he goes to

show that you can be at the top of the leaderboard and still be in the

bottom two. I thought it was sad that Helen, one of my favourite

dancers, actually went. Sad to see them go. And she did so brilliantly.

Let's start with Georgia and Giovanni. Straight lines for the

foxtrot. -- straight nines. Craig said is delightful, enchanting. What

did you think? I thought it was like a fairy tale. I loved the extra

characters, especially the candlestick. That was my favourite.

As you see from this clip, what I loved about it, I talk about a

flower in the vase, and as you can see, they had that rounded shape at

the top, and her head goes out. This is absolutely superb. She is stuck

to them like glue. To be honest, I could not find anything wrong with

that but then I am not sitting in the Judges' seats. From a viewer's

point of view, I could see no technical faults. I would have been

close to giving her ten. He is crafty like that. Anita and Gleb

found themselves near the bottom. Craig only gave them a 6. He said it

exposed her weak points. What did you think about that score? Was that

they are? I agreed that there were certain points about her technique

that needed to be worked on but I thought that the sex was very harsh.

It was too harsh. -- the six was very harsh. The character that she

dances, I loved the fact that she did this so low. She looks great

among those professional dancers behind her. And then she ends with

that amazing cartwheel, with not a fear, not a doubt in her mind that

she is going to make it. It is just at the

she is going to make it. It is just at the end. If you look at her

position at the end, she should have had a straight leg, and she has a

turned in food, so these are the details that he was on about. --

turned in foot. A lot of the scissor kick. Kellie and Kevin, Craig said

it was common, but he loved it. Did this and conventional take impress

you? -- unconventional take. It was a different interpretation but it

was pitched perfectly for that theme. I would have said, can I have

some more. It was consistently good and it had consistent energy and

performance throughout. I absolutely loved it. I picked this clip because

I wanted to show you. They go straight into a Flegel from a

standstill position, which is a difficult thing to do. And I watched

very carefully the footwork, and her footwork was perfect. Would you go

with these dancers? If there is one detail that is not quite right, the

performance is great and the technique was great. The energy was

brilliant. Jay and Aliona scored the joint highest score of the series

for their rumba. Do you think it deserved ten from Craig? I thought

it was absolutely brilliant. I loved the basic content and the

contemporary feel of it. It was full of musicality, but I have to say, at

the beginning I did see a heel leap. You should never see that in a

rumba. I would not have given it ten. As you can see, the clip, the

contents, he does a basic van into three 3s, and then it goes into a

sliding door. And then he checks, and these are all the elements that

Len Goodman would be looking for. He does this lovely spiral. Look at

that. I thought I would demonstrate. Craig was talking about for two,

two, three, four, one. He needed to hope that a little bit more. But the

piece de resistance was the turn. That was pressure. Unbelievable.

Katie and Anton and the foxtrot that earned them their joint highest

score of this series. What was so good about this? Look at this. I

spoke earlier about them losing contact throughout. All away through

this, she goes into the kick, and they don't lose contact once. It is

absolutely amazing. Really, they did a splendid job and she was smooth

throughout. Great job. And her legs, gorgeous. It was absolutely

beautiful. You are back tomorrow. I am! I am! We have tunes on Tuesday

coming up and we might need your help.

Now, any Strictly fan should have an encyclopedic knowledge of the show.

You know, just the simple stuff like, first ever perfect score was

given to Jill Halfpenny for her jive in Series 2 and since Kevin Clifton

has been on Strictly, he's accumulated a total of 1,465 points.

But if you're a bit rusty, don't worry, because Robin Windsor has

It's me, Robin, running down your most favourite Strictly moments from

a to see. Had some great moments so far, so let's continue with the

letter T. T is for Tango, now, too obvious. It is really for torsos.

Our celebrities have shown a lot of flesh over the years but you don't

want me to keep going on about that. # Nacho, Nacho man.

You is for underdog. Never underestimate a celebrity. Even the

most flat-footed of dancers can make it to the final. Christopher Parker

was not the most graceful of dancers but he made it all away to the

finals. You work that Cape, Chris. but he made it all away to the

V is for Velcro. Robbie Savage put Velcro to its best use, flashing us

his bulging thighs. V is for vigorous chemise. -- shimmies.

That's enough of that. Come on, Zoe, show us your shimmy.

That's enough of that. Come on, Zoe, Thank you, Robbie. All of that

shimmying has got me in the mood for dancing. This would be a good time

to wheel out of the gigantic jukebox.

Let's see what semi-final gems our jukebox has for us.

Here we go. Nice wolf whistle, madam. This is

Tanguero by Sextetto. Did you know that Sextetto are a man band with

two members of the age of 85? Which of our couples are doing the

Argentine tango to its? Reveal yourselves. That will be good. It is

nice having you here. This is Puccini. Interestingly, Puccini had

a whopping five middle names. His full name is actually Jay, or,

Domenico, Maria Puccini. Who will be waltzing around to this? And Tom and

Katie, nice. Our last song. Here we go. I love it! High kicks. So good,

they named it twice. Of course it is, New York, New York, by Frank

Sinatra. Apparently Frank owns an extensive collection of electric toy

trains. Ian, do you collect anything? What do you collect? I

collect plugs. White ones from different capitals. Let's find out

who is foxtrot and to this little gem. -- fox trotting. Anita and

bladder. That will be promising. -- Anita and Gleb. To find out what

music the rest of our couples are dancing to, heads to our website. I

love you being here for this. Let's dance night. -- let's dance all

That's it for tonight. Thank you to all of our guests.

Tune in tomorrow when I'll be joined by Katie and Anton.

Strictly singers, Tommy Blaize and Hayley Sanderson will be here.

And Ian Waite is back for his weekly warm up.

Justly dancing, this is beautiful. I love it. -- just keep dancing.