Episode 46 Strictly - It Takes Two

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

Zoe Ball. Strictly history was made

with the first-ever But tonight, we pay tribute

to the dance career of Edward Michael Balls,

who last night graced the Strictly And to make up for such

a devastating loss to the dancing world,

I've used my Strictly Time Machine to bring back not one -

but two - old favourites. It's former Strictly

Professional Dancers - And as the Strictly Pro Challenge

continues, Joanne Clifton is busy warming-up for the biggest day

of her professional career so far. But first, over the past ten weeks -

they've reinvented Laurel and Hardy, The Mask, and even Gangnam Style -

and thanks to them, you'll never look at an American Smooth lift

the same way again. Before we say our final goodbyes,

let's have a quick reminder of Ed # Keep smiling, keep shining.

# You can always count on me. # That's what friends are for. That

was the perfect June to dance out too. Hello, my beauties.

Now that you've had some time for it all to sink in -

That brings it all back, after the show with all our fellow contestants

and punters, it was really magical. I thought maybe I would not like the

end but it was so nice. It was like a celebration. Both lifted into the

air. I said to Katya, do you think that we should do the lift again and

she said no! Just to be clear! Perhaps unsurprisingly,

there was a huge outpouring of love Former PM David Cameron said

'Well done @edballs - #Strictly won't be the same

without you.'. We should sign him up for next year!

Why was your relationship so special, Katya, you have been such a

good partnership. It has been a total front! All a sham! Do not come

in early, I need a bit more time! Honestly, I have come in and maybe

did not really know who Ed Balls was. But maybe that was better

because I got to learn about him as a real person, fun and smart, I

learnt so much from him. And being my first year, it could have gone

either way. Neither of us knew how it was going to go but it was just

so fabulous. My favourite part is where training, coming in and seeing

how he was improving and learning. He totally changed and opened up to

this crazy world of Strictly. I think that is what we all loved,

watching you fall in love with all this. And you worked so hard as

well. That's the truth! It only worked because he did what he was

told! And that lovely moment when Craig admitted that secretly he has

really enjoyed your dancing. Did you suspect that all along? In the end

Craig is about to play Captain Hook in the pantomime. It is all about

those lines. This has been my life for the last ten weeks! He knows it

is about entertainment and fun. And we try to do both, we never

compromised on trying to get in some dense content but we also wanted it

to be fun. And it was fun. It has been so much fun. And you're one the

best people to have been signed up to the show in the past ten years.

Let's watch your Strictly story,. When I found out Katya was my

partner I thought fabulous, I knew that she would be a great teacher.

Good morning, partner! I'm really happy with the walls for my first

dance. It is hard to remember everything at the same time. We had

glimmers of an elegant gentleman. You are what Strictly is about and I

congratulate you. From the Sabine walls into a wild

and energetic charleston, you have just got to go for it. It is good to

see the funny side. You have worked so hard, I can see. The samba is

really hard, I'm totally outside my comfort zone. It is so stupid. You

could not have given more impacts to that performance. You're not the

best answer but definitely the most fun. This week it is the paso doble.

The arms are everywhere, it just needs more precision. A true epic

tinged with tragedy. Mostly because of the shaping. You are mincing

around as if you are in an episode of some mothers do have them. I

think Ed is determined to get the dancing right. We should lift in the

right place. I'm not sure that she appreciates my choreography

suggestions! It was a rotten shame that your big spectacular moment

went a bit pear shaped. I'm worried about doing the cha-cha-cha but I'm

just going to go with it for Halloween. Horribly fabulous. Your

best to dance. I'm looking forward to this

quickstep. Lite on your feet, not always how people have talked about

me. I was worried about going out in the first week and to get to halfway

is beyond my wildest dreams. You were actually improving. This week

we're doing the salsa. OMG! That will go down in Strictly history.

The Jolliffe requires so much energy and I must say he is keeping up with

me. -- the jive. I did not think we were going to get to Blackpool and

somehow we have made it. I love that you're committed assiduous. She has

taught me everything I know. Over, over. Go. The most bossy ever! The

support has meant I have been able to do things I never thought I would

be able to do. You're not always the number one choice for the judges but

100% you are the People's Champion. It is time to decide. I would like

to save Judge Rinder. Judge Rinder. If people watching have had half the

fun I have had learning to dance with Katya they must've had a great

time, it has been fabulous. My first series, I could not have wished for

better. Thank so much. Get the tissues out! You have come a long

way. Are you happy that Yvette and Jeremy Vine managed to convince you

to take part? So happy and they were right. Jeremy said to me in August

throw yourself into a completely and at the time I had no idea what he

meant. With the charleston I began to understand. You've just got to be

committed and go for it. I've learned much. And the spray time!

That could stay! You have been the People's Champion, you've won the

hearts of the nation but the question now is, what you do next,

are you going to make a return to politics, open a dancing school,

what is the plan? I'm not sure about being as a Zoolander male model if I

was thinking about going back to politics! I do not know, I'm just

recovering from an amazing few months. And looking forward to what

is happening next year. Maybe going on the tour. So good things still to

come. Who knows. It does not matter. Well we were hoping that you would

leave us with one last memory of Gangnam Style. Just one more time.

Ed Balls and Katya, please take to the floor!

# Sexy lady! Here we go!

# Gangnam Style! # Sexy lady!

I loved it! I love them. Ed Balls and Katya! And

do the left! They're not doing the lift. Brilliant. You will all

agree... They're going to do it! So good. They're just going to carry

on. Now, I think you'll

all agree it was quite But whilst all the magic

was happening on screen, what kind of funny business

was going on backstage? Morning. Exciting! Strictly week

ten, let's do this! It is lovely coming back after

Blackpool, it is like coming home. So nice to still be here. Hopefully

we will put on a good show. Another challenge. What is going on with the

table? We go under it, around it. Anyway you can use the table, use

it. I love the dance and I get to be moody which is great. Practising my

male model Zoolander face. This is probably my most challenging dense

yet. I want to try to get it right. Is learning a new routine was not

hard enough, this week we have the charter challenge to content with.

Mind scramble! We picked a number out of the hat to see which place we

would go. We're starting here! Right in front of the judges! All know! We

are not dancing to the music we practised to soak focusing on the

rhythm will be a challenge. Ed Matt, feels good because out of the corner

of my eye I can see Ed dancing! Did you see that? There is a lot more to

think about and a lot more to worry about. Ellie Goulding is here

tonight and it's going to be amazing. I am singing a song and

Kevin and Karen are dancing to it which is awesome. I love dancing

with Kevin, it's great because the chemistry is there and you don't

have to work hard for it. It just feels right, I feel safe in his arms

so it a pleasure to dance with him. Shut up!

Can I get all of the celebrities and the pros to the studio floor.

Everybody the studio please. And then there were five. Last

Thursday the seamer Pro Challenge roared back onto your greens with

reckless abandon! -- with the Strictly Pro Challenge.

Before our next competitor faces their Judgement Day,

let's have a quick reminder of the all-important rules.

It's back and bigger than ever. This year the pros are going to attempt

to set a Guinness world record for the most jibe kicks and flicks. We

are looking for strong pointed kicks and the feed returning to the floor

-- jive. If they don't bring the foot back to be resting position

then the step will be disqualified. They have to make every step count.

This is the Strictly Pro Challenge 2016.

It's time to welcome our third contender of the series.

Born into a family of dancers, she started competing at the age

of three and some say she's waited her whole life

for this very moment - please welcome Joanne Clifton.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE You look absolutely gorgeous!

This is your second attempt at the Strictly Pro Challenge.

Back in 2014, you were paired with Brendan Cole for the New Yorkers

challenge and finished a disappointing fifth

Brendan held you back obviously! A little bit, he's older!

On a scale of one to 10, how competitive are you feeling?

I had a chicken dinner before I did it so I'm not sure I did that well!

It might have given me the energy. How much training did you put in?

Did you neglect Ore? No! A bit. Maybe in the jive week. She has not

put any practice in! With both Kevin and Karen winning

the Pro Challenge previously - I imagine you can't go home if you

mess this up? I am the favourite child! I always have been so it will

be fine! If I don't beat them they will consult me. That explains so

much! Lets see how you got on. Kevin and Karen have both said world

records so I'm the only Clifton that hasn't but today it is my time to

shine. Hello. Welcome to the Strictly Pro Challenge. You did an

amazing jive with Ore. Do you think it'll set you apart from the rest of

competition? It could do, I'll give it my best shot and I'm the only

Clifton who has not set a world record so I'm in it to win it. Good

luck, please take your position. Are you ready? I think so! Three, two,

one, go. Five, four, three macro, two, one.

Wow. Do you think you've done all right?

I messed up in the middle little bit but I reckon it was all right. What

did you think? I thought you did welcome really focused, a cup of

blips but good technique, really bouncy, good job. I hope I've done

enough to beat Kevin but I did mess up. I just hope he messes up as

well! I just want to win! Love it! Richard said there were a few blips

- how much do you think I'm hoping not. I thought I looked

quite fast. I surprised myself. And in those boots as well!

Well, after each of the professionals had

the footage was watched back by adjudicators in slow motion

to verify that every single step was accurate.

Let's see the leaderboard as it currently stands.

Aljaz is still on top with 52 points.

Do you think you've done enough to beat him?

The tension is just too much, so we'll now put you out

Jo, I can reveal that you completed...

59 jive kicks and flicks in 30 seconds.

This is all very well and good but I can now reveal

that you actually had seven steps disqualified.

Which gives you 52 and puts you joint first on the leaderboard.

I'm quite surprised but very happy. Fantastic.

The big question is, do you think big brother Kev has

No! He is older now! He's getting on, how old is he? 34! So old! Who

is the biggest competition out of the rest? Giovanni does a good jive

and probably the young ones, AJ and them. He is a mere child, so much

energy! Well done, a brilliant effort, Jo Clifton!

Right now, it's almost time to welcome two members

She's a ballroom champion, he's a Latin sensation,

and between them they've clocked up some of the best moments

Absolutely outstanding. There is a chemistry and magic between you. I

loved it! Perfection! Absolutely gorgeous. You

took my breath away. Both absolutely stunning together. It gave me groups

were -- goose bumps. It was a stunning, epic performance! The

winners of strictly come bunting are... Alesha and Matthew! --

Strictly Come Dancing. We were lucky at Craig's hair! Fond memories

looking back? We were so young! You both look young now! You must have

got a portrait in the attic! You and Alesha, that was absolute dynamite.

You had so much fun. It's quite difficult not to have fun with

Alesha! She was so full of energy and wanted to do everything

perfectly. We had a great time, I can't forget it, it is still in my

brain! I think we always remember her as one of the best winners. You

left in 2009, what have you been up to? I have been in England and I

have a dance school in Croydon which is going really well. I have been

judging and teaching and lecturing and doing the normal pro dancer

stuff. Erin, Miss Whiplash! Your little boy Ewan is two now. That has

done so far is Peshmerga so fast. His godfather is Anton Du Beke, you

are his mother, is it in the blood, could he be a future Strictly star?

Maybe, maybe as one of the celebrities! He is very rhythmical

and he loves music and he loves to dance. I haven't taught him any

steps yet but maybe that will come. You were on the show from day one

and you did it for ten years. How much do you think the show has

changed? Quite a bit, all of these props and backing dancers, it is

more of an entertainment show. When I first started it was just about

the dancing. It was very technical but they have brought in everything

else. I think the pros work extra hard because you have all of the

pro-numbers and stuff. It is sensational and every show moves on

as Strictly has. We should look back and enjoy some of your partnerships.

Matt, some of your partners, Siobhan, Carol Smillie, Alesha

obviously, Christine Bleakley. Did you have a favourite out of all the

girls? My favourite was Christine actually. Why was that? We had a

laugh. Alesha was more intense, Christine, I knew we probably

wouldn't win so we had fun. Just so fun to be with. It wasn't as serious

in a way. And Erin, you had so many, Martin Offiah, Julian Clary, he came

third. Colin Jackson come adorable: who came second, Peter Schmeichel,

Peter Shilton, Austin Healey. He was brilliant, his acid Oblak is still

one of the best. -- his paso Doble. I saw Colin we did a dancing show

together communities still got it, still snake hips and gorgeous to the

touch! That the great write-up! But all wonderful and I keep in touch

with a lot of them. I had ten very fine memories of all of them. They

were great guys. What do you make of this year's class? Good, very high

standard, the ones left are phenomenal. It could be anybody but

I love the public vote. I loved Ed Balls. I'm sad that he's gone. But

the ones left are so great, I think the public will play a big part with

who makes the final. What did you think of the Samba on Saturday? The

first time ever it has got 40. It is a difficult dance, especially for a

male celebrity to let go and that is what I thought was amazing, he went

for it. He wasn't shy at all. He really wasn't! That was what made it

so good, he let himself go. It is so lovely to see you, we have run out

of time. We haven't even talked about shaving Vincent on the tour!

Erin and Matthew! Join us tomorrow at 6.30pm

where we'll chatting to dance-off Plus, Karen Hardy is back

in Choreography Corner, to signify the Africans

who were here.