Episode 56 Strictly - It Takes Two

Tonight we have a stupendous show for you, my pretties.

We wave arrivederci to Anita and Gleb.

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

Hello and welcome to the final week of It Takes Two.

Tonight we raise a toast to Anita and Gleb, who sadly left

That leaves four couples reaching for the stars this weekend,

and a little later on some of their famous supporters

Plus, he may be the last judge to grace us with his presence,

But first, who can forget their fiery paso doble in Blackpool

# We come to the end of the road... #

I'm standing up! We love you so much. I'm so sorry that you got so

close and just missed out at the last hurdle. You have been

incredible. I think you should celebrate because you have been

magnificent. How much have you enjoyed it? I have loved it. Yeah.

Loved it. I have thrown myself into the experience from day one. I just

thought if you are going to do this, let's go for it. Hopefully, that

came across. I think so. No expectations of what it would be,

really, and thought I fancy learning how to dance. Then, I don't know, we

had a ball. It was amazing. I loved it. In the beginning, when you think

way back, it seems like years ago, did you have any expectations of

what the competition would be like or how far you would get? And when

you first started dancing with Gleb, did you think, I could get good at

this? Or this will be a matter of weeks? I have always loved dancing

and I have loved the programme. Like anybody, I used to dance in front of

Top of the Pops as a kid. This, like learning to dance is so hard. I have

so much respect for Gleb and all the other pros and the amount of

dedication and just how physically demanding it is. And mentally

challenging. So, no, nothing prepares you for just how difficult

it is, to learn and not only that, perform live every Saturday, my

goodness have I had a good time! Gleb, we know you have worked Anita

so very, very hard. She's not disappointed you. She has been

incredible. How proud are you? How impressed are you with her? I'm so

proud of you. I said it already, many, many times that a person who

had no dance experience coming in and giving your all, 100%, working

so hard, wanting to learn how to dance, trusting me, and just jumping

me into this journey with me and it's been just super. Oh... I heard

somebody gasping in the audience. Somebody is weeping! I don't know

that is because Gleb has his shirt undone! Your salsa, what an amazing

performance. Craig said it was like the Olympics! It really was. All of

that, and in a wedge, Anita! So, impressed. Really complex

choreography there as well. And then you had to do it again in the

Dance-Off. You must have been exhausted? I just feel, like, when

we watched it back, we watched it back after we done the show, and

Gleb was laughing, how you are pulling this off! Now, you are

saying that! It is what Gleb said after working together for so many

weeks, you become one and I have trusted him. Everything he says, he

says don't worry, do it, I will catch you. I trust him. I knew if he

says I can do it, I will be able to do it. It is fine. That was the most

complicated routine ever. You made the show! Ahh! First time in the

bottom two as well, when you heard you were in the bottom two, what

went through your mind when you had to dance against Katie and Anton? I

thought let's give it our all. Honestly, we felt that the public

have our back, in such a huge way and the last two days, I have been

so fine about the fact we are out. It is a wonderful show. And that was

it. Our time was then. What sort of really overwhelmed me is the

reaction we have had from the public who have been so devastated on my

behalf because they know how hard we have worked and so I felt when we

were in the Dance-Off, OK, I don't know, I don't know whether we are

going to be the ones saved here. The public have supported me, I guess,

more than anything. There are people incensed at what's happened. Sam and

Katie, they were both very upset. So many lovely messages. SaiR Ra said,

"You may not have made the Final, but you will always be my winners."

Adil Ray from sitcom Citizen Khan shared this.

"Well done Anita Rani, a true star who went

Looking forward to you showing me a move or two soon.

And the legend that is Russell Grant shared this.

"To Lose Anita and Gleb from Strictly is to lose vitality,

That is really - it is overwhelming. Originality, that comes down to

Gleb. Ahead of your time, mate! Genius. Brilliant. Let's enjoy some

of those incredible moments that you two have given us throughout this

series. The one showing you what to do,

Anita is Gleb. We are doing cha cha cha, super-fast, super-fun... And

super-difficult. This is the most embarrassing thing ever. The sexy...

Great energy, you threw yourself into the dance. Fantastic to see.

This week, I'm doing an American Smooth and I know nothing about this

dance! It is really hard. Just feel it. Open up. You flew across the

floor like a rampant crab! What was that move when you crawled across

her? A Gleb special! This week, I'm doing the Samba. The only thing Gleb

has said to me about this dance is, it is very difficult. You want

something more dramatic than paper cups to throw at the floor!

That was one of the most dramatic waltzes I have ever seen. You never

fail to give your all. Just as I suspected, the jive is

super-difficult and very, very fast. Nine! Bruno Tonioli? Nine!

It will be amazing. You turned the ballroom into a bull ring! Nine.

Ten! Nine! I'm sorry, that is the best paso doble I have ever, ever

seen on Strictly Come Dancing! The rumba is the hottest dance of all

the dances. First of all, you did a lift and you are not supposed to.

There you go... I felt elegant doing it. I know we broke the law a little

bit. This week I have the Argentine tango, the choreography is insane!

bit. This week I have the Argentine You have got to go like that! Six! I

thought I done it alright. Until Craig absolutely slated it! It is a

semifinal. My foxtrot is hopefully going to be a timeless

Hollywoodesque classic dance. You have got it right tonight. You

understood what this dance required. I feel like he's left the most

insane choreography yet for the salsa.

# We used to have it all... # I really enjoyed that. Craig, who

would you like to send through to the Final and why? Anita and Gleb.

Katie and Anton. Katie and Anton. Katie and Anton. This man is a slave

driver, yes, he is beautiful, but he's also got the most creative mind

and the choreography and I have just had the best time. Gleb, thank you.

My goodness me. You have done all that. It is quite incredible. The

ultimate moment for you, do you think? I guess it would have to be

the paso in Blackpool. It was other worldly. What a magical moment. In

the Tower Ballroom - oh yeah, I can't believe it is me. I want to

say thank you to Gleb. honestly, I have always wanted to

learn how to dance and... You did. You will always be the man that

taught me and you know what? Gleb is going to have a fantastic career

taught me and you know what? Gleb is Strictly, but I will always be his

first! You have been a joy. Gleb, you know what I think about you!

With our finalists now revealed and the grand final fast

approaching, have you ever wondered what our celebrities think

From the BBC, this is Strictly Come Dancing: The Semifinal.

Please welcome our Strictly stars... Kellie Bright, Katie Derham, Jay

McGuiness and Georgia May Foote. Being in the semifinal is the

toughest. I have never danced like this before in my life. I thought I

would enjoy it. I have loved it. There is no rivalry this year. We

are all willing each other on. Georgia is so diddy, she is the

sweetest girl. One of the most genuine girls ever. It is the

semifinals. I love watching Georgia and Giovanni dance. She has

blossomed. Throughout this, Kellie has been my Strictly mum. It is in

her bones, whatever she does, she wants to look after people. Final

prep, trying to stay calm. Beautiful dancing, and she can turn her hand

and feet to anything. Nothing fazes her at all. When I first met Jay, I

thought he needs a haircut! Modest, kind, funny. He is a beautiful

dancer. And for me, he has always been a beautiful dancer. Katie

Derham is such a gorgeous lady and lady is the word. We are all jealous

of Katie's legs, they are just phenomenal. Down and turn around.

She has the most beautiful smile on her face. She is like a swan with a

bit of hotness! Your finalists are Katie and Anton... Jay and Aliona...

Georgia and Giovanni... Kellie and Kevin!

Now, as the last four celebrities sweat it out in the training room

ahead of this Saturday's final, we are joined by some

of their closest friends, here to convince you who should win.

Please welcome Luisa Bradshaw-White, Hayley Tamaddon, Tom Parker

The campaign starts now. Bonnie, how proud are you? We are so into

Strictly that my character, her cat is called Craig Revel Horwood. This

is serious. We are part of the storyline now. Kellie has done the

most amazing job. Everybody says that you work so hard and everybody

works hard but Kellie is doing these amazing storylines and dancing as

well. I saw heard this morning and she said she wobbled on the Rumba

but she was phenomenal and she is just so authentic and genuine and

her and Kevin together, just a wonderful team, on the same page.

Beautiful. What did you think of the Fred and Ginger routine? Gorgeous,

enchanting and they were having such a great time. They have fantastic

stuff for the final. I am very excited. I cannot say a word! What

do you think about Kellie and Kevin? Kellie is amazing and I think the

fact she has been in the bottom two and took Kevin to the bottom two for

the first time! She felt so responsible. I wanted to weep

because she'd tell that on board. She felt guilty and made me love her

a bit more, she is gutsy and I enjoyed watching her. Haley, you are

a good friend of Georgia and she had a tough week with the two dances,

she was poorly and she wrote it, how impressed? She stormed it. There is

nothing worse than feeling poorly. You have got to perform and put a

face on. I would not have known, nobody would. She smashed that

routine. I was so proud of her. What do you think about their

partnership, her and Giovanni? It is his first year, he was lucky. What

an amazing first year for him, that partnership is special and she is a

great little actors. You can see the emotion in it. No embarrassment

between them and they do it. They know what to do to look perfect and

romantic. She goes for it every time and I love that. As she given you

any secrets about her showdowns? I have heard rumours. My favourite bit

was when she did Chicago. It was all to Matt. It was mental. Fingers

crossed we see that in the final. She has to do that. What do you

think about Georgia? She is a light for, enchanting. She is very good at

doing the Latin and the traditional, she was enchanting as Belle. She is

good at everything and does not have a favourite. She said the other day

she prefers the ballroom. From a young person, you would not think

that. Her ballroom is so romantic. Very lyrical. Her frame and her

little hand, she is so tiny. She is tiny. Our floor manager was loving

it! As is everybody. You were in The Wanted with Jay and he was so shy at

the beginning and terrified, has he surprised you? Yes, he has. He has

come a long way. When I first saw him, I was like, do something,

anything! What are you doing? But I think he has. The hairstyle

transformation, he has come a long way. It is mainly the dancing! Have

you been nagging him to cut that hair? Yes, I kept saying, have you

cut your hair? He said, no, I love it. He has come a long way and

become a lot more confident because of the show which is nice because he

was quite introverted in the band. It is nice to come out of his Shell.

You notice he takes on board what the judges say and he takes it

seriously and personally. He has cried a couple of times and I said,

it you are crying on TV! But he does take things very hard. That is good.

It means so much to him and so he works really hard in training. I

disagree with the judges went they say he does not show enough

expression, the emotion comes through. And the jibe so early, that

we me away. -- Jive. It is the most watched we have seen on Strictly.

When you are not used to being soap close to a woman all the time, it is

hard to show your emotion and he does it well. He is the last man

standing. And he is a gentleman about it. You are a friend of Katie.

DG think she would get to the final? No! -- digital thing. No, but I said

on Twitter she would be in the final because she had a strong start but

99% of that was being a friend! But big grew together. She is such a

clever girl, Katie. She is one of my clever friends and she is so

musical. She has this background in classical music and you can see that

she hears the music. I knew she could throw shapes because she is

the girl at the party on the Dons for first and last and I thought

that, Katie will know how to perform. -- dance floor. She has a

secret performer inside her and that is not a secret any more. I cannot

wait to see her at the final party. What about the relationship

wait to see her at the final party. her and Anton, she is the First Lady

to take Anton du Beke to the final! You can put people on is it quiet

but it is Katie who got him there in the end! -- is the wire. When I saw

she had him, I was ecstatic. The make-up artist said, what is wrong

with you? I said, my friend has the best partnership! Very exciting. I

knew they could go a long way together because they are very

similar. I love Anton and it has been delightful watching them. What

a final it will be! Now, he is the Strictly

jack-in-the-box judge who could really do

with a seat belt. He is here! Bruno Tonioli. So nice

to see you. I have had to wait for you so long. So busy! You are a

wanted man. Finally, we have you come how are you? Very, very well.

You happy with come how are you? Very, very well.

Yes, they worked very hard. There has been a lot of ups and downs this

season, incredible. You could never predict what would happen. I could

have a heart attack! It is so involving for that reason. They

worked extremely hard, they have given great performances. Sometimes

they have done incredible mistakes. We did not expect. And then it turns

they have done incredible mistakes. around the next week. That is why

this season has been so exciting and unpredictable. Ups and downs all the

way, you never knew who would take it. I feel we have in on The Edge of

our seats. A roller-coaster of one! Is that the final four you would

have predicted? Personally, I have done this for a very long time and I

can never do that, it you have two do it a show at a time, anything can

happen. -- you have to do it a show at a time, anything can

mistake can change everything. You can never give it away. Especially

the season. Every can never give it away. Especially

important. That is why the public has been so involved as well. You

important. That is why the public to happen. Remember that spectacular

Jive in the season, from Jay? Incredible. The following week,

Jive in the season, from Jay? messed it up. What is going on? It

Jive in the season, from Jay? has been like this all the weight

which is fantastic, so involving. has been like this all the weight

anybody left the competition, we have had 11 eliminations including

Anita and Gleb this week. Did any good too soon? Pioli from an

entertainment point of view, Jeremy. -- Pioli. He gave us so much

pleasure, so funny. A great dancer. Really good dancer. If you end up in

the bottom two, it is one of those things you cannot predict again. We

can only play with what we are given. I thought she could have made

another. Questions from our viewers. Georgie wants to know what is your

favourite style of dance to watch the contestants do and judge?

Honestly, the reason, there is not a particular style, it is to do with

what they put into it. Doing a series of steps, anybody can do so.

What is behind it? What gets me excited is the interpretation.

Something I have not seen before and that

Something I have not seen before and astonishing. The next level. It can

happen on a Paso, on a f. It tells me, this is wonderful. -- f. I

become part of it and get completely involved. I ends apprised you are

not on the floor sometimes. It is getting close! If you have the

chance to dance on the show, say Charlotte, who would your

professional partner be? Who would you choose? That is a very hard

question. I do not know if I should do it but it would be nice to do and

Argentine Tango with two list because that is how it started. They

did it originally in Argentina with the girls -- with two men. It has

been done only once in a film. Rudolf Norio did it. That would be

fantastic -- pulled off new Riyadh. All of them great and to pick one

would be, it would not be fair because they all do a fantastic job.

Very diplomatic. It has been a series to remember and special

spectacular Bruneau moments along the way. Enjoy. Oh, dear! Listen, I

am Italian. It has the flavour of the Dolce Vita and the acceleration

of a foreign! It needs more passion and aggression, I want it and I am

going to get it! He went for the attack! It was a

glorious disaster! Op and down and shake it all about!

Loins of fire. You have even but Naomi Campbell in. That takes some

doing! Do you make yourself laugh seeing

that back? I never watch it back. During the series, I have to fly

back to the United States. I never watch a show back. I feel that the

worst thing as a performer is becomes of conscious. Being aware of

what you do. You have to be honest -- becomes self-conscious. What I

say, is from the heart. You start looking back at things and you look

in a different way and you become, maybe I should stand back, or what

have I done? You cannot do that, in a live show comic you have to be

100% in the moment. Give everything you have got. If you analyse

yourself, EB comes self aware and self-awareness does not work in any

kind of performance -- you become. Then you go insane. More than I am

already. Is that even possible? On Saturday in the final, the four

finalists do their favourite dance, a show dance. And the judges choose

the favourite dance, what are you looking for? We have chosen our

favourite because it has been a long series and they have done those

dances earlier. There has been a process over the following weeks and

they have improved and learned so many things I can apply to that

stance and see how much they have progressed and improved. It is

almost like saying, this is how they started. Look at what they can do

now. That is the reason we have chosen those dances. I cannot say

what they are, it would spoil the surprise. It is going to be an

incredible season. We adore you! Bruno Tonioli! He is wonderful!

That's all we have time for tonight, my lovelies.

On tomorrow's show we are joined by dance-off survivors

Joanne Clifton returns to Choreography Corner to analyse

Plus, we reveal what songs our final four couples will be dancing

to in their highly-anticipated showdances.