Episode 52 Strictly - It Takes Two

From London, this is Strictly It Takes Two. Please welcome your host,

Zoe Ball! It's Tunes-day - which means I'll be

getting my Jukebox out to reveal the songs our couples will be

dancing to in the Semi-Finals. But that's not the only

thing to be thankful for, take a look at who I've

got in my Green Room. Ready to give the weekend's

choreography a good looking over - Survivors of the Dance-Off and proud

Semi-Finalists - Ore and Joanne! And we have Strictly's Creative

Director of Choreography - There's so much to get

through tonight but before we meet that lot, let's dive head first

into the next thrilling instalment The Strictly paroled challenge is

back and bigger than ever. This year our pros are going to attempt to set

a Guinness world record for the most Kylie in 60 seconds -- Strictly Pro

Challenge. We will be looking for strong point it kicks. If they do

not bring the first back down, the step will be disqualified. There can

only be one champion, so they need to make every step count. This is

the Strictly Pro Challenge, 2016. Our next contender worked in a bank

for seven years before she gave up a life of finance to become

a full-blown Latin sensation. It's the one and only

Janette Manrara! CHEERING AND APPLAUSE. Hello,

gorgeous. You're Tony and Maria in West side story at the weekend was

amazing. Beautiful. I wanted to watch the whole thing from beginning

to end. How would you rate your 32-macro on a normal day? I think

they are pretty good. On that day, I was so nervous and I think my feet

even got stuck a few times -- Jive Kicks and Flicks. What kind of

intense training have you put yourself through? Making sure I can

walk and stay standing. Let's see how you looked in action. Good luck,

my darling. I think I'm going to have pretty good Jive Kicks and

Flicks. I am very small, that is good for speed and I am hoping to

redeem myself this time and it! Hello, Janette. How are you feeling?

And a bit nervous. Is there any competition between you and the

previous champion? Alijaz won it last time with Karen and he has it

in the house, so I am hoping to move it over and put a new one then. We

hope you will as well. Good luck. Please take your position on the

dance floor. Let's go! Good luck, Janette. I'll count you in for the

record. Go! Five, four, three, two, one. Stop.

Well done! Very good. Was it? It looked very good. How do you feel? A

little bit tired. I'm a professional dancer, I am exhausted! You're

really light on your feet, actually and I think you would give

Riverdance a run for their money. I have done ever think I can to get

the title from Alijaz and put in a new one, so fingers crossed.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE. That was so fast. Would you be up for a part in

Riverdance? Why not? Lets see the Leader Board as it currently stands,

in first place is Oksana with a score of 54. Alijaz is joint second,

your husband to be. What would it mean to beat him? I'm not going to

like, everything! That is it. Underlined.

Well I am legally required to tell you that after each

of the professionals had made their attempt, the footage

was watched back by adjudicators in slow motion to verify every

single step to make sure they were accurate.

Well the wait is finally over - Janette, I can reveal that in 30

58! CHEERING AND APPLAUSE. Yes, baby.

But... They didn't all count. You actually had four steps

disqualified, which still puts you... You are up there with Oksana

and you have beaten Alijaz. Joint top of the Leader Board. Janette

Manrara! Nice work. I've just had word that the Strictly

Musical reviews we've It's time to welcome Choreography's

fiercest critic, Karen Hardy. CHEERING AND APPLAUSE. Karen Hardy.

She can do unspeakable things with her legs. So much to discuss. We

will start with Claudia and AJ and they finally got their first ten of

the series. I was so chuffed, would it have been a ten from you? You're

putting me on the spot. Who knows. Most importantly, I loved, we are

looking for improvement and this close to the final, we have ask for

her body to be more fluid and free and we asked for them to be more

expressive and we got that. Looking at it here, as they go into the solo

actions of the salsa, the freedom through the body and the

synchronicity between them, I love those moves, I love those moves. I

just felt all round that there was a real energy and the great thing,

this is our Olympians and she will know how to control fear and stress

and those sorts of things as you near that final. I'm waiting to see

her lifted again one more time next week. Good girl and well done AJ.

You have something to show us. I do. I'm so excited. I know. Zoe, you

need to join me. Come and assume this position. This is a step that

we see regularly. I'm going to ask you to turn around and face that

way. We'll assume the position where we bend down into our knees. You

take the pelvis backwards and the chest is out and you lift the arms

up high. Everybody at home. You have to do the opposite, you have to take

your pelvis forward and your chest end. No, no... Let me show you.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE. That is the Christmas move of all mince pies!

That is a very mince the move! That was brilliant. Top of the Leader

Board again with their tango, Len was impressed by the choreography

from Oti. Once you bring in extra dancers, you have to be careful, it

can distract you and it can perfect -- affect the performance but the

way they used it was fantastic. Now as we are approaching the semifinal

and the final, we have to highlight things to take care of. We talked

about characterisation, this is a fabulous bit of tango, we have a

lovely attitude between them, they are down in the knees and that is

beautiful. What worried B was steps like this that turn more into

quickstep action. Semi-finals and finals get the character of the

dance right and the technical elements across to the judges. The

talent between these two is outstanding and I love it, but I'm a

little bit worried, take care. OK. Ore and Joanne, beautiful foxtrot

but they were in the dance-off. Len spotted a couple of unsteady

moments. I love them. I thought when this opened up, the most beautiful

production with beautiful flowers and as he stepped into the foxtrot,

I thought, amazing. If we look here, you can see them, they are scattered

across it. Very small errors. I was almost sad about it, last week I

picked up on his strength, his core, his balance, his control,

everything. It could have been because of the flowers or his

nerves, I don't know, but let's pull it back together because I love this

duo and I think they are amazing. Semifinals, get your focus, don't

get nervous, deliver the goods. Louise Hunt Kevan, their quickstep

to The Deadwood Stage, Craig loved that they weaved in different

stages. We were loving the stands, absolutely amazing. I have picked up

here where she is having a jolly up on the stage. Even that mistake

there, Kevin went to lead one way and she went the other but they

picked it back up and held OK. For me, I gain can but concerns, it got

lost in musical 's way, there was a lot of solo dancing. Their element

is when they are in partnership on the dance floor. Big top line, hip

actions, all the technique is that Louise has got and that she has

shown, this continued strength with her performance and entertainment.

It's going to be an amazing semifinal. It really is. I cant wait

to discuss it next week. Karen Hardy.

If - like me and Karen - you're already missing

the razzle-dazzle and panache of Musicals Week, turn

that frown upside down - we've got your back.

The day is Tuesday, you're watching It Takes Two and that can

only mean one thing - it's Tunes on Tuesday.

MUSIC: Get Down On It - Kool The Gang.

The Strictly Semi-Final is just four days away and the excitement

So, let's find out what songs our couples will be dancing to -

starting with.... It's 'Bleeding Love' by Leona Lewis.

This song spent a whopping seven weeks at Number 1 in the UK

and topped the charts in 35 countries, including the US -

where she became the first British female solo act to do

But who will be hoping for global success with this on Saturday?

Right, let's have another tune please...

It's 'Glad All Over' by The Dave Clark Five -

one of the biggest bands of the 1960s.

Fun fact for you ? before starting the band, Dave Clark was an extra

in over 40 films at Elstree Studios, the very same studios

But who's going to be 'Glad All Over' on Saturday?

Right, I'd like another tune please...

It's 'Vivir mi Vida' by Mark Anthony. Marc is a two-time Grammy

award winner and the top selling tropical salsa artist of all time,

but he really cemented his place as Latin royalty back in 2004

when he married Jenny from the Block herself, Jennifer Lopez.

Now Karen, do you know what Vivir Mi Vida actually means?

but who will Dunster this? -- dance to this?

Well done if you guessed that at home.

Now, eagle-eyed viewers may notice that we still have one couple whose

I for one am not going to let that happen.

Into resting. As a special treat, I'm going to let you queue your own

track today. I wonder if Levi's ors could be a hint. -- the vice of --

visors. As a special treat, I'm going to let

you cue your own track today. Be gentle with her, Ore.

Yes, these two will be dancing an Argentine Tango

to Kylie Minogue's 'Can't Get Did you know that this track,

released in 2001, is Kylie's But it was actually originally

written for S Club 7. They rejected it and so did

Sophie Ellis Bextor before it You two need to get ready

for our chat later. There was a little bit of Scots crab

coming in there. This weekend, our couples

will be dancing to not So if you want to know their second

songs too, head to the Strictly Right now, it's almost time to

welcome Jason Gilkison for a chat. But first, let's have a reminder of

some of his finest work this series. I actually yelped watching that

little montan should back. It was so incredible, Jason. -- montage. What

was the biggest challenge of musical week for you? We have almost done

everything, so we went old school, revisited things like Chicago, West

Side Story, and of course the big mega mix at the beginning that

opened the show., but I think we went to 19 different musicals. It is

incredible. You have got Annie at the front, Matilda, the Phantom.

Anton was singing. Was it like herding cats? It was weird, because

even during the numbers, things got changed. Chicago would be mixing

with Les Miserables. I would like to see the off the camera crazy stuff

that is going on. Can I say, West Side Story was so beautiful. I know

it is your favourite, it's one of mine. I won't put you through my

singing it from beginning to end. Karen as Anita. How do you put a

Strictly stamp on to something so iconic? Guillemot I have wanted to

do that particular musical for a long time. The music is so iconic. I

think our pros dance Latin so beautifully, I just wanted to let

them do what they do. The number came so easily. We all just started

working together, and we all felt really good about it. Beth Honan had

done the other routine, the Chicago one. We had that rehearsed, but we

were so proud of the West Side Story one. Normally we don't do a group

number at the end of the show, so it was really difficult and they had to

focus to get their mind on something. That moment when Katya

fell down onto the chair during the Bob Fosse number, magical. I want to

do the best for them. When we'll get in room together, we are so excited

just to work the process through, so it has to come from us all being

together. It is like a dream, even hearing about it. These are some of

the dances that inspired them to become dances in the first place. --

to become dancers. The thing that is special about Strictly is that it is

a family, we all come together - wardrobe, lighting, Nicky, the

director, we all communicate so closely. We are joined at the hip.

You can see when it starts to come to fruition that we have all been

thinking the same thing, and I think that is why these numbers got to the

level they did. Lots of questions from viewers. Anna Maria wants to

know when you are choreographing group numbers, what is the process

and what is your starting point for a new dance? Different each time.

Sometimes it is a story we have, like Romeo and Juliet. We might have

an amazing these of music that we think, we've never used that on

Strictly, so we might want to do that. We might start with Brendan

and Natalie by Gavin, we would like to do something based on their

strengths, so it comes from different places. I can't say it's

the same way each time, and that is why we're so lucky and Friday are

also different. Different ways for each number. Can we make

suggestions? Katie says, if you were taking part in Strictly yourself and

you could pick any music and any dance, what would you choose?

Something really slow would be good. A nice rumba. When I danced, I loved

that, it was my favourite dance. That hasn't changed. I'd like to

many pieces of music to which lit down to the one, but the rumba is

fantastic. We can't wait to see what treats you have finished all -- you

have in store for the semifinal and the final.

Thank you so much for joining us tonight, and best of luck

Give it up for Jason Gilkison, everyone!

It's time now to welcome our final guests of the night,

who at the weekend won themselves a Golden Ticket to the Strictly

Semi-Finals after a short detour to the Dance-Off.

You brought back that pure ballroom style. It is a stonker! I am so

happy you are here. It was a dance you were both looking so forward to.

How did it go for you? The moment that I put on that outfit, the

transformation was complete. I have said before that he is such an

iconic character for me and so many people growing up. The costume

department did such an amazing job. I think the foxtrot was the perfect

dance for that song because it is so magical. It was just a shame that

there was a dance off at the end of it. We will come to that. The judges

said there were a couple of balance issues. Where you more nervous this

week? -- were you more nervous this week? We

were opening. The dance is so technical. Put a step wrong and you

could be completely wrong, and I was nervous about that being possibly

our last dance. I let it run through me, I think. It wasn't me, that we

can. I might say it was partly my fault. I choreograph the routine and

because it was the quarterfinals I wanted something extra, so I wanted

swing and suede. The step before, I wanted to swoop, and you have to

hover on your toes. From that swoop into hovering is quite difficult. It

was not your fault in the slightest. It is a beautiful thing. Whatever

happened, it was still absolutely stunning. The judges are getting so

tough now, aren't they? Still 36 - that's brilliant. It's amazing. It

was still good and I was extremely happy with that. It is the

quarterfinals, to get into the semis, so they have to be more

critical. Any excuse not to give ten, they have to. They said

unanimously, that is a lot of love in the room. Were you pleased? Yes.

He always pulls it off in the dance off, and this time he was probably

thinking, this could make or break me, and it has to go well, and he

went out there and danced really well. It was perfection lie. I loved

doing it again and doing it justice. Like I said, I didn't feel like I

was myself that how we can. I would have been gutted if we had gone

because we wouldn't have done ourselves justice, so I was so glad

we could do it and survived it. I know. And you are in the semifinal.

Your wife is there at the front every week. I guess it's the only

time she gets to see you because you are training so hard. How has her

experience been? It must be a roller-coaster. Our partners live

every second of it with us, don't they? She has lived the five-hour

door-to-door trip from Manchester to Elstree every Friday, but she loves

it. She loves the escapism, getting soaked up in it. She has been

welcomed. But she will have support this weekend, because the whole

clan... Is mum coming? Yes. But also my dad has rearranged a flight from

Nigeria to come all the way to watch us in the semifinal, so I was also

very glad that he is able to come. He will be front and centre. He just

turned 80, so I hope he doesn't pass out asleep in the middle of the

show. He sleeps a lot. It will be emotional. From the Argentine -- the

Argentine tango to Kylie Minogue. It was all sorts of weird. I love the

weirdness. Have you done any training yet? How is it looking? We

have done a bit of it. The music suits the tango. There is a little

twist on it. It is exciting. I was fearful of it at the start of the

competition because of the kick into the nether regions. It's dangerous!

Where a box -- visors. You are also dancing a quickstep to this. -- wear

a box. This is vast. We will be fast. I like zooming down the floor

and feeling the air going past. Wafting hair. It will be a beautiful

thing. This could be the first dance where the lady drags me round the

floor. I am looking forward to it. You have been looking forward to the

quickstep rages, and for that reason I have been anticipating it, so I

hope we can pull out a proper double show. What would it mean to get to

the final? Everything. Oh my gosh. You know what, it would be the best

way to thank everybody who has supported us, but especially the

best way to thank Jo. 12 weeks ago she picked me up as someone who had

not danced and she has been so patient. To get to where we are, in

the big showpiece, would be amazing. I want to do it for her. And for

Fola. She is getting so much airtime out of the show!

But don't worry, we'll be back tomorrow at 6.30,

when I'll be chatting to Danny and Oti, Ian Waite is here

for his weekly Warm-Up, Gorka the Corka faces

the Strictly Pro Challenge, and the Strictly Singers

I went on television in the January of 1975.

Welcome to Comic Relief! CHEERING