Episode 1 Strictly - It Takes Two

You'll never guess what, they've only gone and let me choose my own

team this year. I know! As I always say, you want a job doing properly,

do it yourself. How do I look? Just a little bit of this and you'll be

good to go. Perfect. I've got your coffee. Just

like you like it, extra hot, extra foam, stirred three times anti-clock

wise, aren't you sweet. Thank you. How's everything going? Everything's

great. The team is phenomenal. I've got a really good feeling about this

year. Stand by everybody. Goes live in three... Two... One... Roll

titles. Why aren't the titles rolling? You

pressed the wrong button. It's that one.

Live from London, this is Strictly It Takes Two. Please welcome your

host, Zoe Ball. Hello and welcome to a brand

new series of It Takes Two! And don't worry, there's just

the one of me for now, Strictly returned to our screens

this weekend and wasn't it glorious? Anastacia did the splits,

Judge Rinder blew our minds, Over the next 12 weeks,

right here on It Takes Two, we'll be bringing you all

the Strictly news and exclusives So shall we meet our star studded

line-up for tonight? Coming up, the gorgeous

Anastacia and Brendan.... Plus, former Strictly

champ and dance legend, Dame Karen Hardy's back

in her Choreography Corner. But first, she's got the biggest

pipes in pop and I feel like... To have her on the It

Takes Two sofa. Let's hope she and her partner have

some decent cha-cha chatter. It's Anastacia and

Brendan, everyone! You are certainly a supple chick on

that dance floor. Based on this, I'm expecting fantastic dance next week.

What I loved is that cheeky, sexy attitude. If you can do that with

the cha-cha, I can't wait for the Argentine tango. It's Anastacia and

Brendan! Welcome to It Takes Two. Give us a flash of the bling. Come

on! Yes, a little bling, just for today. I can't show you mine. No,

please, we'll see that later. How did you enjoy your Strictly debut? I

enjoyed it tremendously. After that I got extremely emotional. I was

overwhelmed by the moment. It's not surprising because you build up and

build up and psych yourself up and then you do it and then you are a

nervous wreck afterwards. Yeah, I'm trying to come to terms with my own

womanhood after a lot of health things. Doing that in the outfit,

doing that dance to that song. I felt like I'd come into my teenage

years in front of the whole UK. So it was very interesting! We

absolutely loved it. We have to say Brendan, Craig got the eight paddle

out in week one. He had obviously been drinking. That's unheard of!

Very nice. Normally, you know, you are expecting flor from Craig. A

great way to start. We had the six from Bruno, still not a bad mark. A

nice way to start. Ease us in gently. I'm sure it will be

different next week. Everybody will be like scores start down here.

Little scared that they were nice this week. Sometimes you dance and

you don't even hear what they're scoring you. I had to watch it back

to know what they said. I thought they just said, "Horror... " I

didn't know. I wasn't sure he talked about some of my mountains and I

didn't know what he meant. That line, yeah, that was interesting You

knew. Let's talk about the face at the end. That was incredible. What

is the mood in that face there, so good. A four-letter word was

newspaper there. Yeah I was just feeling like, because she goes,

Yeesss-aahh. You said it was your show and you wanted many eout of

shot. I did say it was all about me at that moment. In the song you're

saying, do you want to be with me and very romantically and it's like

yes-ahhh. I love that. You have previous form with Popstars on this

show Brendan. The governous Michelle Williams and of course, Lulu. Don't

mention... And Sophie Ellis Bexter. Lovely girl. You can't compare them.

Every single partner on the show, 14, I've had about 25 - they're all

very, very different. I love this girl. We're excited. We talk a lot

in training. We need to do more dancing. Yeah, we really do. He says

that we're like two old women and I think we're like a bromance. We talk

too much. Great thinking about the show. Great - she just loves being

on here. There's no agenda here except for being here and dancing.

Except to dance and maybe win. And learn. And learn the dancing

quality. I'm only a performer and ape singer. When -- a singer. It

literally has nothing do with dance moves and techniques. The good news

is you are not going to give up the singing, are you? You never know. I

know there's a lot of singing in training. Cha-cha ticked off, what

are you doing next? Salsa. Normally one extreme to the other. Similar in

terms of pace and speed and we get to do a few lifts, which is very

exciting. How are you feeling about the lifts? I'm so excited. That's

what I mean, people go, "I'm terrified, don't touch me." I'm

like, "Bring it on. Make me go around your head and flip twice."

OK, slow it down. I'm over eager, he will say do something and I punch

him in the face when I'm trying to do it, maybe you can't do that. It

won't be the first time. Or the last. We can't wait to see it.

Anastacia, you're fantastic, Brendan you know how I feel about you.

Anastacia and Brendan! APPLAUSE

If there is one thing we love here it's a behind-the-scenes action, we

sent our cameras along to the studios to capture every single

second, you are welcome. Hey, it takes two, I am here. The

sun is shining, let's get this party started. Leave your nerves at the

door. This is Strictly Come Dancing, for crying out loud. If you can't

enjoy it, you're on the wrong show. We are on the right show? Right?

Incredible. Like the band bring it to a whole new level. I want

something real subtle. What do you think? You're opening the live shows

of Strictly 2016. Good luck, yeah. Good luck. No pressure. I'm not

worried. I'm fine. Bit nervous actually. Very excited, it's going

to be hot. See you later. First live show, yay. I can't believe this is

happening right now. Less than a minute away. Pleased I can sit back

and watch everyone else but it will make me more nervous tomorrow night

because I will have seen how brilliant everyone is. I'm

petrified. I don't know where Anton is. Anton... I'm ready. Can't be any

more ready than I am now. Live from the BBC, this is Strictly come

dancing. Last night was nice. Tonight, we're

bringing the house down. Watch this space. Keep dancing! It wasn't the

best it could be, but hopefully... On the night. We'll smash it. By the

time we get to 6. 30pm, it might be all right. Come on, let's go.

Multitasking. Come here now. Here we go. 10 million, 12 million people

and Craig Revel Horwood. I just lose everything. My mind. Stand by, five,

four, three, two, one... A little film featuring Frosty, our

floor manager. He's here tonight. Is it true that eight times you're

getting fees for that. Judging by the reaction on the World Wide Web

at the weekend you went wild for the return of Strictly. You were not the

only ones. So did a few of our celebrity pals. Miranda Hart tweeted

this: EastEnders star Ricky Norwood, Fat

Boy said: Like that. Very clever. I think that means he liked it. Slay

is good. Jenny asked this: Our next guest was on the world stage as part

of Team GB in Rio this summer. All that pales in comparison to the

nerves she must have felt on her dance floor debut, it's Claudia and

AJ. You are absolutely adorable to watch, you two. I loved all the acro

movements and doing that in heels, I thought would be virtually

impossible. A little bit placed in some parts, but lovely. You've got

great coordination. You're going to do great. Welcome, Claudia and AJ.

APPLAUSE Well done. Absolutely amazing. How

much did you enjoy your first turn around the Strictly floor? I really

enjoyed it. Just getting out there and you know, I was like smiling and

like walking, as soon as I went into competition mode like gymnastics. I

was thinking, that you are trained to win as a gymnast. I imagine your

mind is brilliant. How did it differ performing out there than it would

say performing in the Olympics? Were the nerves different? Yeah,

definitely. Because I'm very comfortable when it comes to

gymnastics, been training all these years to do that. Then to be able to

go out, do it in heels, I can't even walk! Then having to do all that and

you know, dancing, trying to remember it all, smile and looking

to the cameras... You did it so brilliantly, though. Such a pro. I

have to say, doing a back flip in heels, all your gym trainerers

going, no, that's really bad! Were you a natural at doing that. It was

tricky in the heels. Quite a few attempts in the studio. He wanted me

to do a cart wheel with no hands. No, no. I will do this and let's see

how that goes. We've got to do that. Have you tried doing a back flip

walkover in high heels? I tried doing it in flats and it didn't go

well. A hand stand, can't do it. 26 points as well, two sixes, two

sevens. How did you feel about that? I was really pleased just to go out

there and enjoy it, whatever the scores were. To be able to get what

score, I didn't know how to add six or seven... Neither do I! I wasn't

good at maths. Very good at gymnastics though. Let's talk about

Lennie took a bit of issue with the gymnastics in the routine. Then

Craig at the opposite scale who absolutely loved that. Moving

forward, what will you do, more gymnastics, put it away for a bit?

Our next dance is completely different, so take a bit out ready

to stick it all back in. A bit of both. A little tease. Take it away,

put it back in. We'll talk about your next dance in a bit. I think as

AJ is one of our new pro dancers, we thought we should get to know you

better. I am AJ Prichard and I'm from Stoke.

The European Championship, British National Championships, pretty much

everything in England. I'm going to bring awesomeness, youthfulness and

excitement to the show. I'm ecstatic to be dancing with Claudia. Her

gymnastic skills are amazing. Training is a blast. I'm very

competitive and pretty much I'll do anything to win. A day, give me a

ride home in that car! Are you old enough to drive? Very flash. This

week, probably no gymnastics because you are doing...? The waltz. How did

you feel about doing that because it is quite extreme? Very nervous

because you have two hold positions and be elegant which I find

difficult because I'm more of a powerhouse. Being elegant. Being

calm, died rushed. That's the other thing, the judges said quite a lot,

it is quite slow, making it difficult -- don't rush. The control

must be difficult. Some kind of control! Not really, though! How is

it going so far? It is going good, yeah. Good! A lot to do before

Saturday. There is a long check list to do first. Your dad, Paolo, who

has his own online fan club after the show, is he going to be giving

you another ten? Hopefully, probably even if I trip, he'll give me a good

ten. My friends will put the watch me which is really nice. We love him

and you guys are fantastic, good luck with the waltz, it's going to

be so different. Claudia and AJ! APPLAUSE

Time to welcome back eight Strictly legend, the judges may have had

their say over the weekend but there is only one opinion I'm bothered

about, it is time for the choreography corner.

let's hear it for Karen Hardy. APPLAUSE

I've missed you. How was your son and how are you? Fabulous, amazing

summer, not much sun, but enough -- your summer. How good were they?

Amazing, from those gorgeous little children who opened up for us, to

the beautiful new professionals, to the ending of the celebrities

stepping into the great ballroom. You know me can I get excited! We

are slightly hysterical! We are going to talk about Friday's dances.

We must start I think with Judge Rinder, because my goodness, and

Oksana, the cha-cha, I was expecting greatness but nothing as good as

what he came out with. Facial expressions, did you like them or

not sure? Slightly disturbed me. A sickly we are dancing which means

communicating through the body. So if I do this, I'm saying hello, but

look how good he is. Actually very good, apart from the little slip at

the end he is very good. I love this! The faceless potions, maybe he

was nervous. But in something into the ballroom hold, where he's going

to be limited, with that -- with that ability we may seek some great

things and welcome to the new bombshell. Oksana, she is so hot.

Ore and Joanna, 27 points, the brilliant tango. Batsmen, I was

watching and I thought he was going to moan -- Len. I am more towards

Glenn, I like seeing them dancing together. -- Len. It is the

partnering of two people together. Look at the body contact. Normally

we have gaps. This is the first week! A dynamic duo when two bodies

become one. The more I see, the stronger they will be later on. It

is the first week, a bit of fun. I like his kicks. Natalie and the

jive, 26 points, loving the energy. Bruno mentioned, not a paragon of

precision, how precise do you have to be with the jive considering it

is the first week? Week one, but I like the danger zone, I like it to

be a bit vibrant. I love this, we get the jump and this is his thing,

he needs the crowd, getting the Olympic Stadium going, but his

delivery was fabulous. There was a little bit of a wobble. Why am I

looking at that in week one? Bless their cotton socks, they've just

started! I thought it was fabulous. Well done, that boy. Leslie and

Anton, the waltz which was classic, Sheila very demure. Craig brought up

posture, she's going to be nervous, so the shoulders came up -- she

looked very demure. Her flair and gracefulness were stunning but what

was a challenge for her, the clip I've got here, she has to dance into

the hole from the turn and straight into the action. To be honest,

that's very hard to do. As we carry through, the choreography, the

movement is great but Leslie, first impressions, you want the glorious

elegant top line, elbows in front of the body, shoulders relaxed and

allow Anton to come down to her. Bring Anton down to you! Sheela

Gowda like a monkey hanging in a tree. I like that -- she looked like

a monkey. The unenviable task of opening the show, it must have been

terrifying. A couple of judges mentioned about her legs. This is a

cha-cha thing, you've got to lock them stop. Shall I do it? It would

be rude not to. Mums, dads, children, very quickly, which

Camara? Take your pick. A very simple step. I always say that hip

and knee our family. They must be working together. We do a little

move from side to side, straight, bend, straight, Ben, straight,

straight, bend. Have we got that, everybody? That is why she is a

master. Giovanni must be careful, a lot of the choreography is needed to

be danced on Bent legs. He must get the balance right as well. Point

taken. Nagger and Pasha earning 23 points for their waltz -- Naga.

There was an error halfway through, what happened. A tiny incident, she

is going down the middle of the floor and she slightly missed the

fall away action just there. Sadly she let the judges know that it went

wrong. What I would encourage Naga to do, you must make the judges down

themselves. I am wearing red today, Zoe. Of course you are! I didn't go

wrong with my choreography, I was fabulous, walking confidently to the

judges. And they say that you are up wearing red. It is like Jedi mind

business. Karen will be back tomorrow for Saturday night's

performances. She is wearing red! Our final guest made have lost his

seat in the Commons but he has gained a seat on the It Takes Two so

far, it is Ed and catty. -- so far -- and Katya. It was a bit

pedestrian. Glimmers of a nice elegant gentleman and by the end...

I was pleasantly surprised and I congratulate you. Well done, Ed and

Katya. Ed Balls, as I live and breathe, something I never thought I

would see happen and it is lovely to have you here. I never thought it

would happen either. A lot of balls in the room. How was it, the first

time out on the floor, did you enjoy it? In retrospect I loved it, and

the time it was totally terrifying! I know the feeling, Ed. I have to

say, so many people watching at home were pleasantly surprised, don't be

upset, but I think we all thought it could go one way but you were great.

Your bottom of the leaderboard but Len said you are the kind of

contestant that Strictly is all about. Was it good to get his

approval? Yes, we wanted to do a proper waltz and there was no

surprise that I'm at the bottom because clearly I'm a novice but

Strictly is about trying hard, having a go, learning and doing your

best. We will do that this week as well and see what happens. I like

your attitude! I am Zoe Ball and you are Ed Balls, confusing! What did

you think of his performance? What I said, people don't see the whole

process from day one until the performance, they just see the

performance. I said, the man who walked into the studio on day one

and the one who danced with me on Saturday, two different people. Ooh.

Such a transformation, which I appreciate and I felt it. Yes, some

things didn't go right but he is an amazing leader. Follow him around,

whatever happened, I just followed because he's really good. I hear you

have been practising with your wife, Yvette Cooper, MP, at home. What did

you make of your performance? She was in Liverpool with a room with 70

people in the conference hall watching. I spoke to her and I said,

I really sorry, I messed it up and she said they thought it was

fabulous and didn't notice. The point Karen was making come inside

you know you made a mistake but everyone else is seeing the good

bits. They don't see where you go wrong and afterwards I found out

that people loved it. I guess I loved it too. You have learned the

trick, if it goes wrong, you just smile and wave. I was disappointed,

I thought I was better in rehearsals but now I realise that was a silly

thing to say. He is learning already, Katya. Now to another power

woman. Welcome, Katya, lovely to have you. We want to learn a bit

more about Mrs Jones. I am Katya Jones, from Russia, I am

a professional show dance champion. I'm very dedicated to everything so

I'm sure I'm going to bring a lot of fire, energy and passion to Strictly

and the best thing is that I get to share my knowledge. All want to do

is to give Ed the best experience. I'm quite a strict teacher. Ed and I

both know who's in charge in the classroom and that's why he calls me

the bus. We can go all the way -- the boss. I love the fact that you

are very strict with him, that is good for him. We have some

statistics for you. Following other politicians who have been on the

show. Let's find out how they did in the first week. 2010, series eight,

and Widdicombe, getting 17 points. 2011, Edwina Currie, 17 points and

Ed, you got 21, very nice work! And now you have the Charleston. How is

it going? Well, the energy, the intensity, it is really hard, it is

a bit wild but actually, to do it well you must be disciplined and I

think we will have some surprises in the routine. This is good, it is

very different to the waltz. It is going to come through. In the studio

she is vicious! I can imagine. Darcey said that to get into your

character, Charleston is great for character. Can you tell us a bit

about the character you are going to play? What Darcey said is great

advice, it may be think of the TV show from the 80s, Worzel Gummidge,

his sad head and his funny head and I'm going to put on my Charleston

head. It is going to be Charleston -tastic. As long as you aren't

dressed as Worzel Gummidge! That's all we've got time for. Thanks to my

guests. Tomorrow, Karen Hardy will be back. Thanks for watching, we'll

see you tomorrow. Good night. Unparalleled talent,

unprecedented access. BBC Two takes a sneaky peek

behind the celebrity curtain. Go out there, grab it with both

hands and stick it in your mouth. Easy peasy, get yourself

a catchphrase.