Episode 56 Strictly - It Takes Two

Live from London, this is Strictly It Takes Two. Welcome your host, Zoe

Ball! APPLAUSE

We're still recovering from the semi-final.

Ore went hell for leather on a motorbike.

And Oti throwing herself at Danny had

But, after one of the most competitive

dance-offs in Strictly history, Claudia and

AJ were sadly eliminated from the competition.

But don't worry because we've got them

Prepare yourself for another emotional farewell.

We're saying goodbye to a Strictly legend.

Plus, the amazing Olly Murs will be singing us out

But first, we couldn't let Team Pocket Rocket go

without sending them off with a big bang.

On a scale of one to ten, how gutted are you to be

I am really gutted but to be honest everyone is really good, the

standard is so high, I did the best I could. I really tried hard on

those dancers, the rumba was out of my comfort zone. We did very well.

I have loved all my time here. Obviously you didn't

want to go home, but The quickstep was your

highest scoring dance yet! So much content in there.

How hard was that? It was really hard actually. In training I was

getting really stressed. It was a quick, the timing, there was a lot

of time when it was like this. Like a Carousel waltz. As soon as it

came to the night, with the training before, it came together. I started

to enjoy it, I really loved that dance.

It made me so happy. I am so pleased. Our height

difference made it very hard. That quickstep could have easily won, it

was exceptional, I don't think you realise how amazing that was.

Well said. Len gave you a lot of credit.

Len mentioned how you overcame the height difference

Has that been difficult across the series?

We have to work hard to make it technically perfect. There wasn't a

single part where there was a gap, it was exceptional.

I was so happy to see it again. Or, in Len speak, the bit

where you were cocking your leg up. Your rumba, however, was the lowest

scoring dance of the night. I thought it would be a really

difficult dance to find that emotion, and everything connected. I

secretly really like it. Everyone gets afraid with the rumba, moving

the body. I had to change a lot of things. Being a gymnast, it was hard

to change. AJ got me out of that and I worked really hard.

It all came together, the music was beautiful.

I loved it. Your custom -- Your costume was stunning.

Let's take a look at your Strictly story.

Claudia, you will be performing on the floor with AJ!

Really excited to be with AJ, time to start dancing.

Are you ready for your first chance, a Cheeky Chuck Chuck?

I don't know anything about dancing. -- cha-cha.

You are adorable to watch. The waltz needs to be very calm and

slow. I want to go on that floor, the

elegant. Not like a gymnast as I normally am.

Good hold, good movement, you lit up this ballroom.

I have started to realise I am becoming a dancer, learning

something new all the time. Technically I have to say there was

absolutely, it was aptly brilliant. It was our first time getting those

scores and I was ecstatic. We have a foxtrot. Will it be slow?

It will be a challenge. It lacked semi grace and elegance.

Craig wasn't too happy about our routine come he didn't like it, so

this week I want to get above 30. The Samba, we have two free that

body, the gymnastic training has two vanish.

I want to get it right. I have to say, a brilliant

endeavour. And eight from Craig! He is a

perfectionist. I want to get it perfect before I go

out there. So does he.

It was a really top notch performance.

Pocket Rocket. It has not been amazing.

Let us get this done. It is so tough being 19. No more Olympics.

You are so dynamic, both of you, like exploding fireworks.

So excited to do the Viennese waltz. You have to be graceful. I have to

find my inner loveliness. I am really truly loving this,

gorgeous. Such an amazing place, Blackpool, it

will be incredible stepping on that floor.

One tiny mistake but still a spectacular performance.

Being in that dance-off was really heartbreaking.

I do not want to be in the dance-off again.

I am really excited to do the Argentina Tango. Such a call dance.

I thought it was a knockout bid team, you did a great job.

Claudia is such a lovely person inside and out and we are having a

blast in the training room. You captured the flavour of salsa,

hot, spicy, a lot of hip action. Tonight, you let your hair down,

like a Spice Girl out there. I was so happy we got a ten family.

I love every second of being out there.

We have two dancers which is stressful because the rumba and

quickstep are completely different. We have worked so hard in the

training room and loved every minute.

I have so much more confidence and I will go for it.

I would have liked a bit more hip action here and there but you are a

lovely dancer, you really are, beautiful control.

You were like a ray of sunshine out there.

Fabulous! Judges, it is time to decide.

I would really like to save Danny and Oti.

Danny and Oti. Danny and Oti. You have been amazing, you have

really pushed me and boosted my confidence and it is all down to

you. Did you think you'd have

such a good friendship When we first met, I was quite. When

I met AJ, I thought, this is going to be weird. We have made a massive

bond. It has been incredible. You really have pushed me to the best I

can. I am becoming a dancer. It's an amazing journey, it is thanks to

you, the public, they have been so supportive. To start on the show, I

don't know. I had this feeling where I am just going to be... It is

really hard. I am just a gymnast who has been training for 12 years on

and on and finally to do something different and really enjoy myself, I

said I am not going to cry! It has been an incredible journey.

The public keeping us in for that long. I have loved every single

moment. You have deserved it. You make me

laugh, you are one of the best gymnasts in the world.

You reached the furthest out of the newbie pros.

Are you happy with how your first venture into

How grateful are you to Claudia for such a brilliant year?

We have done so many dancers, you are so accomplished, ballroom and

Latin, truly fantastic. For me to get so far because of how fantastic

you are, it is amazing. Thank you, obviously.

You guys, you are not the only ones we have loved watching.

So have your gorgeous family, have a look at this.

Well done, Claudia. We are so proud of you.

Love you lots. Claudia, come back to Bristol, we miss you.

We love you so much. We love you, Claudia.

Oh, you're amazing family exhibition mark your grandma. I am devastated I

never got to meet your mum and dad, which then Merry Christmas from me.

It has totally taken over their lives.

They will be glad to have you back. They have been so supportive. Very

proud of you. We are in pieces. We have loved watching you.

Give it up for Claudia and AJ, everyone!

I am a wreck and we haven't even started talking to lend yet!

Now, I think we can all agree the Strictly semi-final

Let's take a look behind the scenes at how it all came together.

The semifinals. This is it. Last weekend, we were in

the dance-off so tonight we are determined to come back stronger.

This game is not over yet. Everybody wants to be in the final but one of

us will have to leave tonight. I can't believe I have made it so

far. I have loved every minute of it and

I will do everything I can to stay in the competition.

Doing two dancers will be extremely tough.

I have never felt so much pressure. Let us do this. We have had an

exhausting week. Semifinals stage so we need to keep

going 100%. See what happens. I am keeping my

eye on my brother and Louise over there.

This is the hardest dance, your hips have to be going down and around, I

don't know. And sometimes they go up and out!

As long as they are moving! It is nice to shows people a

different side of me, a romantic side.

Both dancers we have, we have lifts. Lots of trust is needed.

Oti is still in one piece. He is trustworthy.

No pressure! As you know, I won the challenge and

now I want everybody to know. Do you know who won the challenge?

Kevin Clifton? Beautiful, good looking, Italian,

good dancer... Kevin is not Italian.

I feel like maybe I was the people's champion.

Kevin! That is why you aren't in the main, edition anymore!

Semifinals on Strictly macro, it is so quiet backstage it is every.

It has got weird now. Everyone is nervous. It is great to still be

here. Everybody will be good today. We are down to the final Vo, we will

try our best and hope it is good enough.

How long until the start? Do you know?

Five minutes. Good luck. Semifinals! I cannot believe we are

quite here. The excitement backstage is enormous. The nerves or enormous.

I want them to go out there and give it all they have got. It's the last

chance. Live from the BBC, this is Strictly

Come Dancing, the semifinal. He's been our head judge

since the beginning of time. And, over the last 12 years, he has

not only given expert critique but has also entertained the nation

with his wit and charisma. Earlier this year, he announced

this would be his last here's Mr Len Goodman

in all his glory. Let's hear from our head judge, Len

Goodman. If you don't get 410s from that... Yarm, Yarm, pig's bomb! You

gods like Ike -- you dons like I cook, just hope for the best! -- you

dance. Seven! Seven! Fabulous! A knockout, well done. Hello.

From Len, a ten. Shut up, close the door and call me Mary! Your best

dons. -- your best dance. It's like looking in a mirror.

Please welcome the one and only Len Goodman!

MUSIC: It Don't Mean A Thing If You Ain't Got That Swing.

Welcome, welcome! What a treat to have you here. Did you enjoy that?

Oh, what a lovely... I never knew I was that good!

But what has been the highlight of Strictly for you?

I'll tell you what, what I'm going to miss is turning up at the studio

and the expectation of what's going to happen, you know, and meeting up

with the other judges. Because we get on great, even with Craig, you

know, it's been wonderful, with Bruno, we have such a laugh. It's

just that going in, the expectation, wondering what's going to happen,

that's what I will miss. And as much as I'm sure this is the right time

to go, I bet when next year comes around I'll be sitting indoors

watching it and thinking... I was daft! But you know what I mean. It's

the right time. Did you have any idea when you first

started that the show would still be going strong

12 years later? I was convinced it wouldn't work, I

really was. I thought, you know, it was 2004, Bulbring. Sing wasn't at

the pinnacle of its popularity. -- ballroom dancing. You know, I think

the celebrities, I didn't think they would be able to dial is to such a

high standard. I think the pros did a brilliant, wonderful job. What I

admire with the BBC, if I had been them, I thought, we'll do it on a

Wednesday afternoon and see how it goes! But they went Saturday night

Live, its huge band, the singers, Bruce, you know, they had such nerve

to do it like that. And it has truly been a phenomenal, hasn't it? It

really, really has. This series has been a particular treat. Could we

have expected them to be so, so good? Any standout moments for you?

You know, if I going to leave and glad it's on this series. I think it

has just been fantastic. And the get go, right through now to the final,

no clue who is going to win -- from the get go. Such a wonderful mix of

celebrities. Ed Balls, he was so much fun. And yet trying to dance,

not just larking about. Judge Rinder made me is by smile, the first week

with the treasured chart -- made me smile. It has been a lovely, lovely

series -- with the cha-cha-cha. Let's stop faffing about - we're

heading to the final stretch now. What are you looking

for in the finals? Any advice for our finalists, Danny

and Oti? I don't want to individually pick them. What I would

say is, if we won, somebody had said, look, you may not win it but

we guarantee you'll get into the final, will you take it? I'm sure

all three of them would have said, listen, I'll be happy to get to.

Getting to the final be fantastic. Accept that, go out and enjoy it as

much as you can. Because, whatever happens throughout these three

celebrities' lives, they will never forget they got into the final of

Strictly. So sometimes, you know, happiness is in retrospect. They

will say, wasn't it a good night we had last night? You've got to be

aware of it at the time. And I hope they become aware that they are in

the final, it's been a wonderful series, just go out and enjoy it,

try to hold your nerve as much as you can and just get out there and

give it your best. If -- give it some welly! Howedes think it has

changed? It has got more razzmatazz. -- how do you think. I remember

earlier on, props, are you sitting on a swing? If I were to do that

sort of stuff now I would be doing it in every single one of them. It

has got a little bit more proper, it has gone a bit away from strict

ballroom and Latin dancing. And it has gone a bit more razzmatazz and

Hollywood. Which, you know, I don't think is a bad thing. A television

show, it's a bit like a plant, it leads a little pruning now and again

to keep it healthy -- it needs. You don't want to pull it out by the

roots chop them off because they would die, but a little prune keeps

it healthy and I think that's a good thing. That is what we're going to

miss! We're going to miss your

metaphors and Len-isms. We've got your first appearance.

Look at how he was! We've rummaged in the archives, let's have a little

blood! Let's hear from our head judge, Len Goodman, one of the most

respected ballroom boxing judges in the country -- ballroom dancing. The

cha-cha-cha, along with the other dancers, there is a ball. The rule

is that they mustn't lift the partner off the floor. And in the

cha-cha-cha, I look for three things I'm a rhythm, rhythm. Why, why, why?

Did I lie... You got better looking with age, Len! That was during my

staining my hair to look younger period! This ain't working. What are

you going to miss or not miss about your fellow judges? You know, we got

on so well, we really do. I know I have a pop at Craig on occasion, but

we get on so well. You know, when Darcey joined the gang I thought,

oh, no, she's going to be all posh and lardy dial. But she's just such

a charming, lovely lady. I'm going to miss definitely sitting next to

Darcey. I'm not sure about Bruno trying to knock me out! I will just

miss them because it was like a little gang and we had so much fun.

What about your replacement? I know they haven't started discussing it

yet. What do you think, what's your take? My take is, whoever they pick

is good with me. But I do hope they pick somebody from the world of

ballroom and Latin. Whether it is Ian Waite or Karen or Anton,

whoever, I just hope it's someone. Because the balance would be

spoiled, you know. We have dossier from ballet, we have Craig from

musical theatre -- we have Darcey Bussell. We have Bruno from pop

videos and choreography. I think we need somebody, you know, to spot

those things. Len Goodman, you the dawn dams, which we sorely missed.

And don't be a stranger - you're welcome back anytime.

Join us tomorrow at 6:30pm, where we'll chatting with dance-off

Karen Hardy is back for her final Choreography Corner of the series.

And former Strictly champs Jill Halfpenny, Tom Chambers

and Darren Gough will be here to discuss our finalists.

But now, singing us out with his new single Years And Years,

# When I'm alone, in the dark And paint a picture inside my mind

# Of all the things that I want But I never thought I would find

# And it blows my mind Because there you are by my side

# But life always goes so fast But while you're mine

# Yeah, it feels like time's on our side

# I take every second of every minute

# But we're close maybe once or twice

# We got burned but we learned not to listen to bad advice

# Cause it feels like time's on our side

# This feeling will never get old, or will never be over

# Years and years, forever young Years and years, yet to come

# I take every second of every minute

# Long as you're in it, you know I'm winning

# And now remember we're all so clear

# You signed your name on my heart Saying you were here

# This feeling's never ever getting old

# I take every second of every minute

# You signed your name on my heart saying you were here

# I know this love will last years and years

#. APPLAUSE