Episode 57 Strictly - It Takes Two

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

Zoe Ball! Hello and welcome to It Takes Two. We have so much to pack

in, we might need to undo our top button halfway through the show.

Let's see who is squeezed into the green room tonight. There is always

time for a choreography lesson. It's the one and only Karen, looking

gorgeous as ever. And the Strictly finalists Danny and Oti! And they've

been there, done that, former champions Darren Gough, Jill

Halfpenny and Tom Chambers! Look at those three! It is like a Strictly

Hall of Fame! My first guests tonight, on Saturday, they served up

two courses of delicious dance from a Cuban salsa to lonely American

smooth. And a place in the final was the icing on the cake, it's Danny

and Oti! Such intricate, fabulous lifts. It

lacked for me, figure of eight rotation in the hip. It was like a

Cuban evening, hot and steamy. I was totally and completely swept away.

It really was exquisite storytelling. That was right up my

street, I loved it! Danny and Oti! I love it but even Danny screamed

seeing that, as Oti took her life in her hands. Where do we even begin?

My goodness, two dances, a place in the final at stake. What was the

atmosphere like on Saturday, how were the nerves? Well, I was really,

really nervous, but it was so disconcertingly calm in the studio.

There was four of us walking around, everything was so organised, and it

was just calm, which was terrifying. I was completely ready did before

the show, and that was no fun. Everything was quiet. It was so

calm. It's the seriousness, the hugeness of the event. I love it!

And starting with yourself, it was just utterly brilliant, frankly. And

then Darcey said, it was not wild enough. She said, were you holding

back, I'm assuming, probably not? I definitely was not holding back, but

I was definitely holding onto all the choreography in my head. We had

half a week, and I'm used to having every hour of the week on one dance.

And we have half of that. And it was not totally 100% in my body, so I

was clinging on to every step praying it did not go wrong. That

was actually, mostly, the first time we got it all completely right from

the beginning to end. At the end I was so surprised, I was like, what

was that, where has this guy been the whole week?! There's so many

steps in it, I can't explain. I watched it back, and I thought, are

we still going?! And there's more! And normally, there is a huge sense

of relief, you finish your dance, you go and watch everybody else. But

this time you had to go on to the American smooth as an how was the

focus, to go from one to the other? It was really odd. That's the first

time we have had to do anything like that. But it was such a relief that

the first one went well. If it hadn't, you knew so much will be

riding on the second one. But thankfully we did it the right way

around. We got the salsa out of the way which was really busy in my

head, and then we could relax. Because the American smooth needed

to be calm, cool and collected. It was a bit of a rush backstage but it

was constant, there wasn't any time, which was quite nice. And not many

people look back handsome in trousers, dancing in a jumper! You

looked absolutely amazing, and it was stunning. Yes, thank you very

much! It really was something else. Darcey was talking about that lift

being slightly out of context. Oti, what did you make of that? Well, I

understand what she was trying to say - maybe it was not as smooth as

it could have been, but it was amazing, and it was different.

That's what we always try to do, something completely different every

week, just to bring a little bit of roughness into it! When you're doing

those, it's just brilliant! We have slowed it down for everybody to see

because it is so fast. Here's that amazing moment when you catch Oti as

she leaps down! I mean...! The trust, to do that! It's not

something you can practice loads come either, Oti? No, it was so

funny, because I always try to do simple endings, and he's like, come

on, jump! I am like, I don't know you that well to just jump in your

arms! He's like, Oti come just jump! And I'm like, he caught me! We've

got to do it over and over again! And he did it, it was amazing. I

kind of like broke my contact lenses. It's a long story, so during

that whole dance, I could not see. So basically you are jumping behind?

All I saw was a blue figure standing there, and all I knew was, nobody

ever gets to jump abridge into Danny Mac's answerable how was it to hear

your name? I was gutted. Of all the weeks, you do not want to be there

in the dance-off. And everyone was so good. You thought your time was

up. I just thought, that is so typical, we get to the semis, and

that's it, done. It had all been so smooth, and we'd been so fortunate,

even when things did not go so well, we still went through. Definitely we

deserve it at some point. And actually in hindsight, to come out

of it and to be on the good side of a dance-off, it is a great lesson to

learn. And it's a great feeling to know you've achieved that. And at

least that's part of the Strictly experience. You've had the full

experience, you really have! So, this weekend, the final. Three

dances for you, including the Showdance, the judges' pick and your

favourite dance. What have you chosen and white, Oti? WE have

chosen the samba! Why in particular, and was it a decision that you came

to together? Yes. You know what? That dance was just so much fun, it

was us letting go. I think if that's going to be the last dance that we

ever get to do together, it has to be just a fun one where we get to

release and go wild and have it be memorable. That for me was like the

biggest achievement that I've had on this show for so many reasons. We

always said Oti had to give me a character to go out and play to get

through it, to detach myself from being on that floor. But that one,

she went, it's just you and me, and we threw everything at it. And I

felt like I was enjoying myself for the first time. That was me out

there having fun with my best friend. It was just a dream. Stop

it, I'm very emotional wreck already! We will find out about the

music in a moment. Oti, you've blown our minds with your choreography all

the way through, so your Showdance, is it going to be like nothing we

have seen before? I hope so, I hope we can bring in some new elements of

dancing on the show. So, the judges' pick, are you happy with what they

have chosen? I am allowed to say? I do not want to say too much but I am

very, very happy with it. I am so pleased we get to do it again. We

cannot wait. Good luck in training. We will see you on Friday. Your

amazing, Danny and Oti! I can barely compose myself to make this next

introduction, because for the last time this series, we are putting

choreography in a corner - it's Karen Hardy!

Dame Karen Hardy, everyone! I'm going to miss that music week after

week! Such a brilliant semifinal, so much to discuss. We're going to

start with the top of the leaderboard, with Ore and Joanne,

their first dance, the liver clad quickstep. Despite giving them an

eight, he said that Joanne had set a very high standard of amalgamation.

What did he mean? I love it nothing more than when our professionals can

smell a trophy. They know it's just around the corner, and we got, from

Joanne, she upped the choreography. Amalgamation means quick and slow,

up and down, even a potential mannequin moment. So, this fabulous

piece of Collier % up in the corner, the kicks and clicks, and they're so

confident in what they are doing. Just freeze. And let's show off with

the confidence, a wink in there as well. Again, scattered with a few

errors, the gapping and things, but my goodness me, I never saw that

coming in a million years - it was fabulous. I do believe you have a

demonstration for us? I can't even get away with it on the last day!

It's going to be a long winter! We have done pendulum swings before,

but I thought we would do one in combination with a woodpecker.

Because of that wonderful quickstep. A pendulum is swing, if everybody at

home puts down their cooking utensils, and swing the legs, we get

a nice bounce going on and we just tap the tow behind. Now, we combine

the two, lonely amalgamation. A swing and a! There we go! Let's look

now at their mesmerising Argentine tango. Rumour did not know if he was

watching a lion tamer or magician. What did you think of it? For me it

is not a Strictly semifinal without an Argentina Tango. This was

fabulous. The energy, the assertiveness. The synchronicity

between the two of them. Look at the perfection of the foot timing

together. But on top of that, the assertiveness that he has learnt

across the weeks. We had our front runners and we've got our slow

burners. That has got to be the best final we could ever ask for. The

teamwork between these two is sensational, equal now to the

others. Masculine, leading through his own body, which he has learned

throughout the weeks, and only because of that leading, he can make

the woman look so amazing. OK, thank goodness, Danny and Oti surviving

the dance-off. The judges were loving the lifts, what did you make

of it? This was sensational. The music, the choreography, the

performance element full stop but rightly so, Craig pick up on the

essential element, which was the hip action. But I have to pick up on the

choreography. These two have not stopped from beginning to end. They

have pushed boundaries. We would say potentially Danny was one of our

front runners, but towards the end, he has not held back anything. Have

made the choreography more and more complex, and I absolutely loved it.

But you must get technique, choreography, musicality and

performance to raise that trophy. Just those for things! And their

American smooth rich was stunning. And reversion, Darcey scored lower

than Craig for once - was she just being picky? Go, girl. You've got to

say what you feel as a judge. This is what I call a Marmite Downs, you

either love it or hate it. They brought contemporary elements into

it. Plus a clever, more difficult piece of lift work. Darcey is always

meticulous with a lift work action. However, the quality, the beauty, as

they went into the extra terms. However, and this was kicked up on

by Len, he did not do the reverse turn, and he did not do that picky.

We would need a combination of everything in that final. Right,

Louise and Kevin, Tango for them first. The judges were impressed

with the detail. What stood out for you? Remember we said previously, I

thought everything was a little bit too simple. So I have picked up on

this lovely bit of choreography. They're dancing down the floor. We

have got the flicking action, the pivot turn with the kick. They're

adding more detail, they've made it more complicated, which I really

love. It was scattered with errors, we can see the gapping. I would say

the top line was too far forward in the Argentine tango. The

international Tango should be a lot further back. Four pieces of the pie

for that final, and tech is one of them. But I love her, we have all

fallen in love with her. Onto the Samba, Len could not get

enough of the maple. We love bringing back a step like that. Well

done, Kevin. Maybe it will not mean much to the public but this is the

maypole, which I liked the lady. He has been clever in making her the

centre of attention. The song was Brazil, which we all love as

dancers. She brought a lot of energy. She had her eyes down and

she looked nervous but her personality, that we have all fallen

in love with as the weeks have gone on, together with this choreography,

I cannot wait to see what the final is going to be like. I cannot wait

either. Karen Hardy, you are godless and I will miss you over the next

few months. -- you are a goddess. I adore her. The goodbyes keep on

coming. Before we pop the jukebox into storage, let's will it out one

last time for a special edition of tunes on Tuesday. # Let's dance...

It is almost time to say goodbye, old faithful friend. I have one last

dime, so let's make it a good one. Hit me with my first show dance

tune. Adele! Yes, her smash, set fire to the rain, which spent a

whopping 23 weeks at number one. I tell you. It backed her two Brit

awards and six Grammys. Hang on a minute. I know it is bad luck

indoors. The accolades have been pouring in ever since. Her latest

album, 25, is now the fastest selling album of all time on both

sides of the Atlantic. Who will be hoping to set the dance floor like

with this song on Saturday? -- set the dance floor alight. Are you

ready? OK. Danny and Oti. It will be a beauty. Let's see what is on next.

# I got rhythm... It is the popular Gershwin brothers song, I've got

written, performed by some of Hollywood's greatest musical stars

from Judy Garland to Gene Kelly. He tap danced along to this classic in

the Oscar-winning movie, an American in Paris. Much like Thom here, John

chambers! -- Thom chambers. I love it when he does that. That is

amazing. Who will be channelling their inner Gene Kelly on Saturday?

Here we go. Ore and Joanne! Thom Chambers! That means that it just

leaves the wheeze and Kevin's show dance song. Here we go. # I want one

moment in time... It's Whitney Houston's One Moment In Time. . It

was recorded for the whole of in Seoul in 1988. The finished line is

in place. Whatever happens, they are guaranteed a place on the podium. To

find out more about this weekend's songs, head to our website. All that

is left to do is just enjoy these two ladies reaching for the finish

line... I love it. All that is left to do now, sadly, is power-down the

jukebox. 94 the memories, my little friend. On Saturday, Danny, the

wheeze or Ore will the famous butterball, joining an exclusive

club of Strictly champions. Here to reveal the secret to getting your

hands on the trophy, Darren Gough and Thom Chambers. That was class. I

am telling you. The amount of detail in your work is extraordinary. The

winners of Strictly Come Dancing, Jill and Darren. You have danced

beautifully. The Incredible Hulk of the competition!

I loved it. All I can say is wow. The winners of Strictly Come

Dancing, Tom and flabby. -- Flavia. Amazing hairdos. Give it up for our

winners last. Great to see you. It was amazing to see that. It takes me

back. It was a long time ago. A bit of sun in in your hair. Those tips.

Whether you display your get butterball is? I am interested to

know. I have three format. I have lost count. -- three or four. It is

in my office, my study, whatever you call it. No cricket trophies, it is

all about Strictly. Where is yours? Beside my retro record player. I

knew I liked you. Beside the bedside table. I think my dad thinks that he

won it because he has always got it. In his office, he is a chartered

accountant, it is on the pavement, so that people walk past and do a

double-take. It is good for business, I love it! Jill, in the

audience on Saturday, when you were watching the show again, do you want

to get up and join in? Yes. It was such a good show. It was amazing. It

makes you want to do it again, it brings it all back. It was such a

good show. Absolutely spectacular. Back to steer is three, Darren,

there we were. You won and I have not spoken to you since then. Just

kidding! -- series three. He did not have the best start. You got 19 on

the cha-cha-cha and then he became the people's champion and you got

better and better. It was amazing. He did go on a journey. Who do you

think, looking at this series, has had the best journey? This is a

difficult one. How do you judge it, what to look for? Danny is the best

answer by far, in my personal opinion. But for the journey, I

think the wheeze. When it went down to two dancers, I thought she would

struggle. But now her journey, I think she has got better every week,

until last week, which I think was probably her worst week for a while.

Her journey has been fantastic. And everybody adores her. She is such a

sweetheart. And it is kind of anyone's game. The shocker of Danny

being in the bottom two. You were up against Rachel Stevens and Lisa

Snowdon, and amazing final. How do you bring it in the last Jill? You

get to a point, my wife told me that I needed to go up a gear because I

was not quite there. The others were overtaking me and I thought, right,

I have to really knuckle down. And it gets to the point where it is a

bit of a mystery because it is a really lovely atmosphere, and

everyone is really good friends, good support, and then it is like,

wow, we are approaching the finals, and you have to really focus. The

audience think you are completely in control but actually you are

entirely out of control. And it does not go, that fear. Any advice to

them, doing three dancers this weekend? What should they be doing?

My advice my dance like you have won it. The thing is with any type of

performance, you have to make the person who is watching you feel

really safe and believe in you. And Danny and Oti, they dance like they

are winners. But the other two are completely capable of that. They

just need to go out there and dance the way that they dance because all

of them will up their game. And I think that it will be a really close

final. Let's look at them all in a little detail. Starting with Danny

and Oti. The bottom two for the first time on Saturday. Did you see

that coming? He is by far the best answer. He has been greater since we

won. He has got better. People think is the best man ever, and I kind of

find that hard to believe. I think the one who came close was Tom. The

best show dance ever. I was not even the best in our show, but I won it.

And I can accept that. Colin and you, you were better than me.

Because it is a public show, I will take it, but I think Danny is by far

the best. That does not mean he will win. That is what I like about the

show. Louise and Kevin, she has really grown in confidence each

week. Have you been impressed by her progress? The reason why I love the

wheeze and Kevin is because all of their partnership. -- Louise and

Kevin. I think they have total respect for each other. They are

really good friends and I love the way that Kevin choreographs. I love

that he shows her off. I think she just needs to believe in herself as

much as Kevin believes, and she can do it. Talking about Ore and July

now, they topped the leaderboard for the first time this weekend. As he

upped his game at the right time? He really has. He is a man after my own

heart. He has really tried to get himself into that field of

performance, when it is make or break on the floor. Coming from a

sporting background, a sports presenter, without that feeling of

how you have to get your body into the moves and really believe that

you were doing it, it is really difficult. I think he is like Gene

Kelly. When he did to two singing in the rain, it was amazing. Bruno has

said he has joined the holy trinity of giants, along with you and Jade.

He is doing it again in the final. Could that win him the competition?

I think everyone likes the jive because it is a fun, dynamic dance.

If you can get the crowd on your side and get those people at home

excited about what you were doing, it is a real crowd pleaser. I think

it is a good one to do. It is the most energetic. You really have to

work hard. It is a real cardio work-out. Not for me. I was rubbish.

When I did mine, you said I looked like a wedding pony. Who is going to

win? I wanted Tameka to win but she is not here so I'm going to go for

the wheeze. I hope she wins. -- go for Louise. Who do I want to win?

Louise. Tom? I was the one Oti and Danny but Ore. It is so gorgeous to

see all of you. Who will be joining you with the glitter ball? Give it

up for Darren, chill and Tom. -- Jill. Thank you to all my guests.

Join us tomorrow for a catch up one last time. And for the first time

ever we will welcome TV's favourite double act to our sofa, Tess and

Claude will be here. Good night.