Episode 44 Strictly - It Takes Two

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

host, Zoe Ball. Much like a car that's

just passed it's MOT, we're in working order

and feeling revved up to go! So let's drive by the green room

and see who's joining us tonight They're the 'wheel deal' -

it's Ore and Joanne! Or is it the milk Tray man? Loving

the rocking turtlenecks. And joining them to launch

2016's Pro Challenge - a man who always gets our engines

going - Aljaz is here! Looks like he's taking this

a bit too seriously! But first, the Strictly costume

department went into overdrive last weekend - 121 sensational

outfits were created Let's find out what's

in store for this week - In the jumpsuit, we love it. 121

costumes, did it get a bit hairy getting them in and out of the

costumes is yellow it was a bit. All the departments came together and it

was perfect. Brilliant. A bit stressful going into the second

dance, putting everything on. Everyone's hairstyle is changing,

under skirts, the lots. Everybody fighting for attention. Possibly one

of the best Blackpool shows we have seen. We should talk about Louise's

costume, epic proportions. Here she is. Did you fear there might be a

Madonna kind of moment with these stairs? Slightly worried. We had a

centre front, centre back release, and the extra dancers were primed to

make sure they gave it a good go, as soon as it released. Talk us through

the detail in this dress. I thought the whole number from the backing

dancers to Kevin and Louise, I thought the whole thing was great,

the tone and colours of everything. Skirt worked really well. Louise

probably hated us for flashing too much of her legs. Beautiful legs,

she used them perfectly and got such a great score. Fabulous. Kevin loves

a paso. I forgot to mention yesterday, his guy-liner was

extreme. What can you tell us about Katia's outfit? My brief this week

was a catwalk kind of feel. I love it. Lord help us. Quite simple in

its design. The fabric is leading the way. Bright turquoise lining

through the whole dress. In the tango when she's moving, there's a

nice split on the left, we may reduce it but we'll see lots of

turquoise as a block colour and the print runs through the dress. All

the embellishment through the waste. There's a photograph of the material

we can see here. Quite busy, but I think we'll still end up with

sparkle to the detail. There's always a bit of sparkle. Claudia and

AJ doing and Argentine tango, this looks great. It's a traditional

colour and shape. I watched their directors take today. We've got a

high split at the back. As with Oti, we put more slips in when we saw

them in the dressing room. We may put slips up here. The front is

solid red with mesh on the site. A purple panel down the back so when

they are moving and turning we'll get lots of contrast. I think it's

going to be a good one. Onto Oti's sambar outfit. We were laughing, we

couldn't get it on the mannequin, she is so tiny, the mannequin must

lose some weight. Talk us through this detail, it is incredible. I

think this is one of my favourites. This was really born from Oti, she

wanted an Amazonian tribal things number this week. We looked at lots

of Prince. This is all done free hand so we had to take elements we

thought we could transfer and make sure it was symmetrical. It has all

been drawn on the base first. That's incredible. The stones do have shine

but they are a flat colour, not too much reflection. Coral, turquoise,

white Opel making an appearance again. Brown flare, lots of coloured

pearls in between. And that Ash, he must spend hours on it. He's just

absolutely fabulous. Ash, we love you, you should be knighted.

Something exciting for you this week. The mystery mannequin. This

one is covered up. This one is covered up because we're

going to be unveiling it for the first time to dancer

who'll be wearing it. Jo, you are doing the paso doble

this weekend with Ore. Is that what you are doing? Somebody else can

fill in. You had a conversation, what did you say you wanted? This is

why she is great because she knows us all so well. And she knows that

I'm the one pro who asks for the dresses to be longer rather than

shorter, even my rumba dress. It was like a ballroom skirt on top. So you

wanted long, it's paso doble, that's all we know. Ready for this? Drum

roll, please. Oh my gosh, I hate it! That must happen, though, does it?

It does, people aren't going to like everything. Is that shorts

underneath? It is shorts. As you can see its work in progress. We'll see

whether we put another layer in the lining. The skirt length, even

though Jo likes them long, we may angle it from here down. Keep it

closed. Not too much flashing. In the choreography they have a few

moments on a table, in a raised position. Sounds exciting. I thought

Jo would be happy if we had a placing underneath. Have you ever

worn a placement for a paso doble before? Not yet. Are you loving it?

Yes, and its black-and-white, and last time we wore black and white

was the drive. Do you like the turtleneck and the stones? I do. How

much will it change before Saturday? A bit, the waistband may change and

we'll have more embellishment. The lines will be much sharper and

hopefully we'll get a white edging on the hem. We will see. I think we

should do mystery mannequin more often, I love it. I think this is

going to be my Christmas tablecloth. Well we know our couples are going

to look the part on Saturday night - but are their dance moves

looking as fancy? Let's see how Danny and Oti and Ed

and Katya have been getting along The tango is not only sharp, but

also quite low, driving and stamping along and I'm still in the foothills

of learning the tango. In tango we say it's like a Ferrari, so it's low

but very powerful. He's quite a tall man and big frame. So to be able to

drive that across the floor will be important. If I can find my inner

tango style I'll be OK on the night. OK. The sambar is a very rhythmical

dance. It's fun and it's all so very, very technical. I need to

throw all my energy at it and really enjoy it, because when I do it is so

much fun. Come on, don't stop. This is one of Oti's favourite styles

says she is really throwing everything at this and she wants to

have a great routine, which I hope I can help her with somehow. Why are

you so stiff? Why are you fighting me?

Those gorgeous four on the show tomorrow.

Now, our Strictly pros thrive on competition.

In previous years we've tested them on Botafogos, Kick ball changes,

But this year will see them face their greatest challenge yet.

It's time to launch the Strictly Pro Challenge 2016!

The Strictly pro challenge is back and bigger than ever. This year our

pros are going to attempt to set a Guinness world record for the most

jive kicks and flicks in 30 seconds. Judging alongside me, top

choreographer, Richard Marcel, and Guinness world records adjudicator

Emma Davies. The kick and flick is a quintessential jive step that

requires a lot of energy and conviction. We'll be looking for

strong, pointed kicks with a fast retraction and then the feet

returning to the floor after the flick. If they don't bring the foot

back to the resting position then the step will be disqualified. This

will be a challenge of energy and endurance. There can only be one

champion so they need to make every step count. Welcome to the Strictly

pro challenge 2016. Thank you, Ian. Time to welcome 2016's first

Pro Challenge contender. He's 5'11 tall, has size 9.5 shoes

and likes to eat squid. Slovenia's finest export,

Aljaz Skorjanec! What an entrance, fine sir. Welcome,

my dialling. You're going to be the first, how exciting.

So Aljaz, you are the reigning Strictly pro champion

with Karen Clifton, together you set the world record

for most New Yorkers in 30 seconds, 39, back

No Karen to help you this time, can you be victorious again?

No. OK. Was it just a lucky shot last time? I think it was all down

to Karen, I was just in the shot doing it with her. But yeah, I was

never the fastest in jive so I always knew it was going to be a

tough one, but I did practice loads. I was going to say, do you prepare

at home? Pretty much since August, seven hours a day. Just one hour of

training with Daisy and the rest is this. Takes this very seriously.

Your fiance, Latin sensation Janette Manrara, came last

in the previous pro challenge, she fell over.

Obviously she is livid, she has never lived it down. Is it

competitive between the two of you, bit of an atmosphere? Yes, a bit

stressful at home since that pro challenge. No, you know what, mainly

it's mostly fun. But obviously all of us want to do well. Quite a few

couples can be competitive, it's brilliant. Are you nervous being

first? Yes, I'm literally sweating. I never consider myself being good

in kicks and flicks so I think the biggest rival in this challenge is

going to be myself. I just hope I don't cramp up. That would be bad.

Hello, Aljaz. Hello. Welcome to the pro challenge. In the last pro

challenge you set the world record with Karen Clifton. Have you got a

plan for this, have you practised? I've practised loads, pretty much

since I left Slovenia. Good luck, we hope you do well. Please take your

place. Aljaz, good luck. I'm going to count you down for the record.

Three, two, one, though. Five, Faulkner three, two, one...

Stop. How does it feel? Horrible! What do you think, Richard? I

thought he did really well. Really stylish, had good posture, looked

great. I think you're in for a good chance. Thank you. Even if I don't

get it, that was stylish! I have to say, I find this really difficult.

It's very hard on your legs. I could not turn you how it went, because it

was kind of like an out of legs experience. I have had a few of

those as well, actually! How do you think you did? I don't know. I got

halfway through, and... You only have the left leg and the right leg.

Generally, yes! But I have never had simultaneous cramp in both of them

at the same time! I know! But it was worth it. You fought on, even so!

You are used to doing jives, kicks and flicks, but never that many at

the same time? , never. After each of the professionals have made there

tempt, the footage was watched back by the adjudicators in slow motion

to make sure that every single one was accurate. Did you see any

mistakes, looking back? No, none whatsoever. Perfection. Around 300!

Interesting you should say that, because I can reveal that you had

two steps disqualified. I know! The tension is unbearable, ladies and

gentlemen! You money for the moment of truth? In 30 seconds, you

completed... 52! Which puts you at the top of the

leaderboard! Don't get carried away, because you're the first one. You

are obviously also the bottom of the leaderboard. And in the middle,

which is a dangerous place to be! We have 12 other pros - who do you

think is your biggest competition? I think as I said in the video, it's

just myself. We have some new pros, they're all incredible, young and

fast. It's going to be interesting to see, especially when we do it

just as individuals. We will have to wait and see. Thank you for being

first, Aljaz! Isn't he gorgeous, everyone?

Time now to go behind the scenes for an exclusive look at this

This weekend, we are taking the ball into the athletics field. Let's go!

The concept of this dance is charleston, based on an or fashion

sports day. Egg and spoon races, sack races, things like that. It's

going to be fun and energetic, with a lot of things going on. We are all

doing lots of different activities, including the piggyback race, and

even the tug-of-war. And I beat all the boys! As soon as we heard there

was going to be a Strictly Sports Day, we realised it would be silly

and funny. Doing it with the charleston, you get a lot of

character in. It's great fun. I'm definitely going to win the Strictly

Sports Day. Some of it not what you would expect at a regular sports day

event. This is Strictly, of course! Who would have a real life sack race

one I think Neil does not have a chance. The most challenging part of

this routine is the timing trainer things happen very quickly trainer

one thing passes into the next thing. Hopefully we will connect

everything together and it should be a fun routine. Right, it's time for

you to hop, skip and jump out of here. Me? No, them! Seeing Neil to a

caterpillar in a sack, that is a first.

On first impressions, our Strictly pros may all seem

But get them in our Booth of Truth, and a whole other side is revealed!

Which pro is most addicted to their phone? Without a doubt, Pasha. It's

100 cents Pasha. I would have to say it's Pasha. Here we go. He just

ignores you when you're talking in the middle of a sentence. He's

always playing games. Pasha loves the phone. Which pro is the

grumpiest in the morning? I love this lady but it would have to be

Karen. I think she would admit it, she's just not a morning person.

Karen, she will kill me for saying that. I think it would be Karen,

because sometimes, she can be a bit grumpy. If I haven't eaten, don't

talk to me. But that only happens a few times. The most grumpy pro in

the morning, who is that? It's definitely Brendan Cole. He has

something to say about everything. Me!

Now, our final guests' Viennese Waltz blew the socks off

the judges last weekend, with Darcey, Len and Bruno

If only Craig would have scored higher!

# That's life! Cool, sophisticated, slick.

Brilliant! You just fall into the style so easily. I loved it. I

thought it was a fantastic performance.

Ore and Joanne! Hello! The Prince and the showgirl! And you two had so

much fun in Blackpool. Tell me more about this night? It was

sensational, I was not really sure what to expect because the pros had

talked about it all series long. But you go in there, it's overwhelming -

the history of the place, the roar of the crowds when we got

introduced, it was like going into a Roman Colosseum. Does it go to your

head, all of the adoration? You've just have two it. And welcome back

to Ten Club! You are back full stop so close to getting A40. What did

you make of Craig giving you an eight? Let's concentrate on the

tens! We did not expect that at all. We were just really happy to have

got through the routine cleaning and to be so happy about it, because

everything was just so incredible about it. So, to add tens, and did I

mention it was my birthday last week as well...? Happy birthday, by the

way! Thank you very much no more surprises, I can't take it! Jo,

Craig said he was a bit bothered by the top line and it was a little bit

Skippy around the table. I say Jo, I should say Marilyn, actually. What

did you think about that? Hold-wise, I've got to disagree. We worked so

hard on it, and looking back at the video, yes, the elbows have to be in

line and they were in line. I thought the hold was really, really

good. Good boy! The skipping... Just around the table at the end, because

the ballroom is so big and we had to get right round to the other side,

we really had to move. But that's all right. Also, you skipped with

joy! And anyway, who cares what the judges think? Really, it's all about

your mum, Ore. Your mum Fola, what was her feedback after this one? Can

I be honest only I have not spoken to my mum all week! That's

outrageous! Terrible! Fola, call in, we will put you in touch! Hi, mum, I

just wanted to say, Blackpool was really brilliant, I will call you

after the show! You're in so much trouble! We were trying to count but

we got really dizzy, you did so many. It was absolutely beautiful,

we had never seen anything like it before. How did you carry on,

though, after that? To be honest it was quite difficult, because at the

point that we stopped, you can see four images, all slowly merging

together! And you're like, OK, now I can see! But it was amazing. And

Clifton's choreography, she has been in this Blackpool situation before,

she knew that if we carry on... It gets bigger and bigger. I was like,

use that! I must say, Karen Hardy said you took a risk with those

moves, but it really did pay off. You've got to do things like that I

surmised at this point in the competition, Jo? Yes, as I said I

knew it was something that worked, I wanted to put it in. It is really

hard, I remember doing it in competitions, and my neck could be

like, my dance partner... I was like, he's strong, he can do it.

Last week, I thought, no chance, this is the most ridiculous

choreography I have ever seen. But it all came together. You thought

that was ridiculous - this weekend, the paso doble. Jo, have we got any

more firsts, the most legs crawl more than we have ever seen, or

anything? We have got a table. Love tables, you two, don't you? This one

is rectangular. All the shapes! Next week, Triangle table! With got bits

underneath the table. I say, that sounds very racy! You are dancing to

Everybody Wants To Rule The World. Everybody wants to rule the

leaderboard at the moment, how do you get to the top this week? Our

paso will be slightly different, in the sense that it is not

traditional, the music starts off really, really slow. So we're just

going to be really intense. I like it! I've been sweating this week,

rarely moving, standing and sweating. It that intense. And Len

said, doing nothing is very difficult. There are some moments,

actually, we spoke about that waltz, some moments where you have just got

to stick your tongue back in, mate! I like you talking yourself through

it! Kevin, your Big Brother, did the paso last week, and it's following

on from that, which will be tough. Can you match it? I should hope so!

Don't feel the pressure or anything! It wasn't bad, was it? Why did they

do that to you? Strictly statistic time, because it's been a pretty

close series for the Clifton siblings. Let's compare your scores

so far. I feel like such a stirrer! We've got this nifty little chart.

You start at the beginning. You're in blue, Ore. And it all starts to

turn around in week four. And then as we move through the weeks, week

seven was Louise's Argentine tango. And then we get to last week, and

you are neck and neck. And then when we add them all that we can see that

you have... Only six points in it. And this week, the Cha-Cha-Cha

Challenge is an extra six points for someone. You have not done the

cha-cha-cha since week two. AJ was laying down the gauntlet saying that

they're can take everybody down. Any words for your opponents? I saw that

interview with AJ. AJ, listen up, OK? Beware, your space, a little

politeness goes a long way. But if you come in and have a cup of tea,

you're most welcome! Fighting talk for you? Push good luck this

weekend, you're both marvellous! That's all we've got

time for tonight. Join me tomorrow at six

for an epic It Takes Two! I'll be chatting to Ed and Katya,

Danny and Oti and On the Friday panel

will be Katy Brand, All that, plus - Gethin will be

reporting from Elstree and Who knows where

it's going to take me?