Episode 43 Strictly - It Takes Two

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

If you're looking for a juicy mid-week slice

For starters, we have the delectable Neil Jones,

who has been learning all about Cossack dancing.

For mains, we have reading's finest dish -

Ian Waite - ready to guide us through all the week's

And for desserts, she's not broken character once since Saturday.

It's Queen Louise of the paso doble and her humble servant, Kevin.

But first up, there have been whispers around these parts that

But it's OK because I've found the perfect

APPLAUSE They love you. The crowd is in.

Wednesday is always busier than other days.

It is somebody's birthday today. I have got you a little present. You

shouldn't have. Beautiful wrapping. My very own wand. I've always wanted

that. What did you make of the weekend at Blackpool? I was at a

wedding, Kerry and Nick. My room was really close to the venues I kept

popping back to my room and watching Strictly. Let's talk about this

week's couples. A perfect score for Danny and Oti. They got the full

house. Could they be the first to get full marks for a samba? I would

not be surprised. This will be brilliant. He has that lovely bounce

action. His hips are swinging forward and back. We have never seen

before from a male celebrity. It is such a hard dance, the samba. I have

noticed a few things that could be better. Can I have the wand back? He

gives, he takes away. If he could bend into their front legs a bit

more, he could get a stretch out of the back tow. On the beat, you need

to bend into the beat. It goes one macro, two. One macro and two. These

are a bit tight but I've managed to do it. That is very important with

the samba. The bounce is cushioned with the hip action. Not so much

going up and down but more about the body action. Looking good so far.

Louise and Kevin, the Paso doe Bley was unbelievable. This week, the

knives, romantic waltz. -- doble. They are going through the

choreography here. It is difficult. He is really challenging heard this

week. She is stuck to him like blue, which is great. A few places I would

like to highlight. -- glue. The lovely details that Karen was

talking about on Monday. She keeps on looking down. It is Tuesday. By

Saturday I am sure she will be amazing. She needs to get their head

out, away from him. She has the contact. She needs to create the

flour in a vase. Onto Ed and Katya, bringing entertainment to the Tower

Ballroom. How is his tango looking? This gets me very excited. This is

Monday's footage. They are just going through some kicks in the

tango. I love that piece of music. It is going to be great. It suits

the tango really well. They are doing some continuous locks. I would

say she is doing this for practice, getting him used to the feel of the

dance. Some lovely heel leads. His hips are coming out a little bit

away from her. He needs to get his knees bent and his tail tucked

under. That is the polite way of putting it.

That is all the warm up we can handle in one go. Ian will be

helping me make a very exciting announcement soon.

Consider this an It Takes Two cliffhanger.

But first, it might be hard to believe but there's actually

a whole world of dance that exists outside of Strictly.

So, we sent Neil out to learn all about Cossack dancing.

This is brilliant. Traditionally, ten dancers, five Latin and five

ballroom. Today I am out of my comfort zone and learning something

different. I am here to meet a Cossack dancing group which I been

going since 1949. Cossack dancing is widely known as the national dance

of Ukraine. It originated in southern Russia and Ukraine. It

started as a way of men celebrating victories in battle. It spread to

local villages. That was amazing. I am Neal. Nice to

meet you. Tell me, apart from legs of steel, what do you need to do?

You need strong legs. You need balance their confidence. You need a

full costume like this. Could I give it a go? Definitely. Looking good.

What is first? Clap like a Cossack. Stand with your legs apart and stick

your chest out. Then clap. That is quite easy. Cossack dancing is not

that difficult. Now for a step which andray will demonstrate. -- Andre.

No problem. Let's try that together. OK.

That is difficult. That is really hard. How would you describe Cossack

dancing bosom and who knows nothing about it? A powerful combination of

high kicks and splits and sometimes even sword fighting, but not today

for that do not worry about that. This next step means twist and jump.

I like that bit. Can we go with that bit at the end that I will give this

a go. How being and we will do it together. Three.

I feel that on the legs. OK. I have had a great time. We have not

finished yet. Now for the most difficult step I can think of for

you. It is where you're going to squat down and kicked out your legs.

Watch out for the extra move at the end! And finish. What do you think?

That looks really easy. How long does this go on for? Let's

add the clap into it. I think I almost got it. Excellent. You have

all the moves. Let's put them together in a big routine. I think I

am ready for this. You all look confident.

Thank you so much. Thank you, guys. Respect. I don't know how you guys

do it. I did tell you you need legs of steel, didn't I? I am taking an

ice bath. Good effort. I love the white acts. This is hardly but

here's my runner. He is amazing. -- white hats.

Go, Harvey! CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Now, it's almost time to welcome Louise and Kevin.

But first, let's have a quick reminder of the moment Louise

claimed her rightful place on the Tower Ballroom throne.

All hail the new King and Queen of Blackpool!

It was dynamic, strong and passionate throughout. I love the

drama. You are very natural and confident. Beauty, artistry, power.

Fabulous! That Paso was of epic proportions. I

know how scared you are about how huge it was last week. Craig, what

did he say? I am so chuffed. It was fast and

technical. So many nights I went home and said, I do not think I can

do this. I will have to get Kevin to change it. To have done it and not

mark-up or tread on you, I was so happy. It was unbelievable. Kevin,

Bruno said she was so in charge and she was leading the other dancers

and stuff like that. She really did command the floor. I was so excited.

It has been a different Louise. Throughout all the weeks you have

grown and grown in confidence. You never could have done a number like

that even a month ago. I said to her, soak up the atmosphere in

Blackpool and you will know if we have got it right because you will

be lit from the crowd at the end. She was going for it and banging

around. I felt the floor shaking. I could have cried for that she was

amazing. Last week I was talking about the atmosphere. Did you feel

it? You get a huge amount of goodwill. Everyone wants you to do

well. The audience is with you. I think I was fortunate I had such a

great set and the throne and the concept. Kevin had put together an

amazing dance and choreographed it. It was such an honour to even be

included in that number in the Blackpool show. Something I will

never forget, ever. 38 points. Joint second on the leaderboard.

Congratulations! The highest Paso doble score so far. The staging, the

throne, the dancers. All of those things must surely add to the fear.

I think it added to the fear. Absolutely. I kept thinking, if I

mark-up, I have mucked up for everybody, not just myself. Ruined

the whole thing. I know I said this on the night but everyone says that

Kevin is the best with the cathode doble. I knew it was the night I

needed to deliver. -- the Paso doble. I can remember thinking, just

let me get down the stairs. I think the whole nation was with you. Darcy

was so impressed. A lot of people are web thinking about Cape fear.

Madonna with the Cape and the stairs. I would have had a long way

down. One of the extra dancers hopefully would have run over and

Paul B. I know. -- pulled me. The admitted it was possibly one of the

most difficult routines you choreographed for a celebrity. It

was. I put so much into it. I think the pressure of doing a Paso at

Blackpool. Every year it becomes a big dance. When we were told the

Paso doble was the next dance and it was Blackpool and you get the extra

dancers and we were coming up with the concept I was thinking, we have

to go big and be epic. We cannot play safe on this one. I really

pushed her. I know you were saying it was an honour to be in it but it

would not have looked good it had you not gone out and smashed it. You

are working it. It was so good. Your ex has been in touch, Frankie.

@LouiseRedknapp @keviclifton @bbcstrictly everything

I don't think about the score going in. You can't complain about getting

two tens and two nines. Obviously I'm biased, and I would have given

you 40 if I was judging. A lot of Kevin fans into night. This week it

is kind of all change. Back to ballroom in a different way, the

wasps. -- the waltz. Have you missed that, and how are you finding it so

far? Pretty stressful. I struggle being back in hold, because I've

been doing a lot of side-by-side, more in charge. I can tell he's

watching, cringing. You know what Ian Waite was saying about you

looking down. I know, I know. You were just learning it. I have given

him a small meltdown. It's just that confidence of getting back into

hold. And to make it look good is so awkward and uncomfortable, and you

are on a weird angle, and you ballroom dancers are crazy people.

But what I love about this week, you've got to get into a character

and that's always a bit of a challenge. This was quite funny.

So you are, like, madly in love with me, right? You have surrendered

yourself into me, wrapped yourself in the coming you lucky girl. Make

yourself the hero again. At the beginning of this section. I really

want you? Yes. Thought so. You find me ridiculously attractive. OK.

Kevin loves this life. That's what people call me, Kevin, the bad boy

of ballroom. Actually nobody calls me that. That's one of my

favourites. Kevin, the bad boy of ballroom. I've gone red for you. I

always cast myself as the hero. We can understand why and I don't know

why she's laughing at you, like it would be really hard to fall in love

with you. How is it going, though? That has made me laugh. It's so

cute. How is it going? Do you like this one was yellow I just think

I've got to get myself into the new character, it's completely

different, I've got to bend my legs, look up, looking at the ground, huge

problems, crossing my feet. I think if I don't see them they don't see

me. We can all see you! You know it's like every week, I will go out

there and do my absolute best. I'm loving doing this. And I feel like a

different person from and I started. So yeah, I'm just going to give it

my best and see what happens. And just be in love with Kevin, the

stud. Obviously, yes. Ballroom's bad boy, I love it. Keep doing what you

are doing, Louise and Kevin. They may have survived

Blackpool but, on Strictly, What makes run the difficult, it is

a very slow dance. The faster you go, the more steps you have to do,

but it's about quality. Because this dance is slow you are a lot more

exposed in your technique, and so the technique has to be really,

really good. Still must be sharp on your feet at fill out the time with

your other body and make it flowing. We've got four judges who don't miss

a trick, they will really see if something goes wrong here.

I'm really excited to do this dance, the tango, Extra Time, it is flicky,

such a cool dance. It's very difficult, she's got to control that

body and plus our heights are completely different. I've got to

come down to her level without catching her because our hip heights

are completely different. I'm worried about kicking AJ, I have to

do flicky things with my feet. I'll be pushing her even harder, this

dance is to take people's breath away. I can't wait.

Now, I can barely shake him off today.

Ian is back with me now for an exciting announcement.

Come on, people, it is very exciting.

Ladies and gentlemen, I can officially reveal that -

after a little time away - the Strictly Pro Challenge

is returning and it will all kick off in tomorrow night's show!

13 of our Pros are going to be tested like they've

to set a brand new Guinness World Record.

And Mr Waite here was there to oversee proceedings once again.

What can you tell us about this year's challenge?

I was adjudicating, yes. All I can say is there were 13 pros that did

the challenge, and they had to do as many jive kick and flicks as

possible. Can you demonstrate, so we understand? We do them individually,

so it goes one and two and one and two and. Look at the movement. He's

like a gazelle. It's incredible. I'm afraid that's not the only reason

I'm on the sofa. It is your birthday and I got you a lovely special

little treat. Birthday present for you. I wasn't expecting this. Thank

you very much. This is one of my favourite photos of me and you. I

love that picture of us as well. Bless you. Don't worry, that's not

all. Me and a few of your closest friends, we've made this little

video for you, so take a look. That's so sweet.

Happy birthday, Zoe, let's get this party started.

# Happy birthday to you # Happy birthday to you

# Happy birthday # Happy birthday to you. Happy

birthday, Zoe, my telly wife, have a great day. Happy birthday, Zoe, hope

your day is filled with smiles and sparkles. Happy birthday, darling.

Happy birthday, Zoe. Hope you have a lovely day. Thank you for taking

such good care of me on your show. Happy birthday, Zoe. Happy birthday,

Zoe. Happy birthday. Bye! Ooh, I love it. Thank you very much.

It's a pleasure. You know, we've got something else for you, I think.

Overlooked, my dad's here. Happy birthday. Thank you. I'm

definitely not 22, I love it. Thanks. This is amazing. Did you

make this yourself? Of course I did. Going to be celebrating later? Are

we all going out? Shall we stay in? Your next guest is very good and

very handsome. It's now time to carry on what we started earlier, I

have no idea what's going on. That's the best exercise I've had

all day. Thank you for that, that was a really lovely surprise, by the

way. Keep the hat on, we love it. Judge Rinder and Oksana are doing a

run but this week. I think he could be quite good at this. He's

certainly got fluidity in his hips, do you know what I mean? The only

thing is with Judge Rinder, I find that sometimes in his Latin he gets

so exuberant that the technique goes out the window and it begins to be

not so clear. What I will say is, couple of places. Have you lost your

wand? A couple of places, this footage from Monday. We can forgive

him for that. He needs to make sure one leg is straight, and also the

hand, as he opens up, he needs to keep the palm down to the floor. OK,

yeah. Straight legs, palm to the floor. OK, yeah. Palm to the floor.

I just like watching Ian do it. Next up we have RA and Joanne, they are

doing the paso doble. -- Ore and Joanne. His top half is great. He's

got that paso doble feel. I love the arms, really curved unshaped with

flamenco fingers on the end. What is doesn't so great is his leg action.

He needs to make sure the back leg is straight, and as you can see, he

needs to get a little more into that back leg. Let me just show you. He

can do a very deep lunch, ladies and gentlemen. Look at that action. My

Lord! I think I might have pulled a muscle, don't worry about it. We

aren't as young as we used to be, are we, darling?

Finally ? Claudia and AJ faced the Dance-Off last weekend.

Let's hope that does not happen for them again this week. This Argentine

tango should be well suited to her? Yes, there is not very much footage

here, just going through some of the essential steps. I do like, she's

got those lovely little compact legs, and I think that will be great

for the Argentine tango. The little flicks, and the intricacies. I think

that they could do well in this dance, it will suit her, and

hopefully she won't have a dance like last week, I think that was a

one-off, the jive. Just didn't suit her with the action. I think this

week is going to be a good one. Cha-cha-challenge, it could be

carnage and chaos, any advice for them? Just don't do it like you. You

wouldn't let it lie. Keep the snappy legs. Here he comes, like a

flamingo. Straight legs all the time, nice and snappy, but the heels

down. Keep going! Wind him up and off he goes. Just like that.

That is all our couples well and truly anaylsed now.

You are like my co-host tonight. Brilliant.

But don't worry, we'll be back tomorrow at 6:30pm when I'll be

chatting to Ore and Joanne, and previewing the best of this

weekend's fabulous frocks with Vicky Gill.

Plus - as mentioned earlier - the Pro Challenge is back,