Episode 31 Strictly - It Takes Two

Live from London, this is Strictly

Takes two. Please welcome your host,

Zoe Ball!

CHEERING.

Hello, and welcome to It Takes Two!

What...a...weekend!

Tracey from EastEnders has seen

some drama in her time.

But nothing could've

prepared her for what happened.

Davood gave Nadiya a bum lift.

It's a technical dance term, people!

Craig Revel Horwood got down

on his knees and worshipped

at the altar of Flexi McGee.

And, in an absolute shocker

of a result, Aston and Janette

were knocked out of the competition.

I know. We are all devastated. But

today we will bestow much love on

them. Here they are to night, we

love you.

CHEERING.

And they're back on solid ground,

it's Ruth and Anton!

CHEERING.

Plus, she's here to take over

Choreography Corner.

The wonderful

Joanne Clifton has returned!

CHEERING.

But now, they've blown us away

with some incredible

routines this series.

Before we say our final farewells,

here is Aston and

Janette's last dance.

# It's why I'm leaving.

# I'm easy like Sunday morning.

CHEERING.

Aston and Janette, everyone!

Can I just say that we are all

heartbroken. I had a mammoth cried

watching last night, my friends

protecting me, saying, do something!

How are you feeling? Honestly

gutted. You know what? You have to

take it on the chin, this is such a

brilliant show. As I said from the

first day, I'm just happy I got to

do it in the first place, and with

Janette, such a pleasure. I am happy

it has happened.

We are happy to

have watched you.

For the paso, you scored 38.

Was it a shock to find

yourself towards the bottom

of the Leader Board?

It was a shock to us.

It was a little bit. When we got the

four, I think I laughed! But,

honestly, it was just, to me, it

didn't even feel as bad as that. OK.

And then.

Well, there was outrage online

when you received a four from Craig.

He had never given

you less than a seven.

What did you make of that?

Everyone is entitled to an opinion.

Those schools, and the critiques of

opinions. I do not agree at all.

Did you agree with the four?

Furious. You have to respect his

opinion and his thoughts and take it

as it comes.

Brilliant answer.

Well, you had so much

support online.

Ferne McCann tweeted this.

"Not going to lie,

I'm devastated that

Aston Merrygold has

gone from Strictly.

I loved

watching him dance every week.

How has this happened?"

And our very own

Ian Waite said this.

"Sad to see Aston and Janette

leave Strictly tonight.

Just goes to show no-one is safe!

Make sure you vote

for your favourites"

I hate to do this to you.

Here is your Strictly story.

I honestly looking for the shortest

partner because I am not the

tallest.

The girl driving this Aston will be

Janette.

We are perfect pairing.

Mr foxtrot has arrived.

Cool, confident, stylish. I think

you are going to be the one to

watch.

I am so proud of you.

I like the fact Janette is pushing

me.

There are opportunities that I could

drop her.

My life is in his hands.

I hope we can keep on top of the

Leader Board.

I have never seen such a difficult

sequence of lifts in a salsa.

I loved it and loved it more.

Nine!

You really need to work on your

feet.

Ankle out. When it sinks in I start

to come alive a little bit.

When you dance, the whole place

comes alive.

You are very good, aren't you,

darling?

Brilliant.

Quick step is the hardest dance.

My feet are on fire.

I am so, so sorry.

These guy is the limit.

I loved the routine, outstanding.

With the waltz, it makes you sweat.

Slow dances are harder because they

expose every single step.

Beautiful. I could literally watch

you all night.

You have to use the wrist and the

arms in the paso doble.

This is a serious dance.

You owned a this dance.

It was amazing!

My favourite routine so far. I am

just loving every minute of this and

the fact I get to share the whole

journey with Janette is perfect.

We have high expectations for you

but when you are in hold the energy

dies.

Some things don't always work out,

darling.

As head judge, with the casting

vote, who are you going to save?

I am going to save Mollie and AJ.

I don't think I am ever going to

have the opportunity to dance with

someone who is so talented.

CHEERING.

That is it. Did you feel the

dance-off might be coming?

We did a little bit. Listen, when

you are in that position on the

scoreboard, you go, OK, I am ready

to do it again if I have two. It is

fine. We got to do it twice.

Harry Judd said, we are never going

to see you Showdance. What starts

were you looking forward to doing?

Could Janette could teach you on the

side?

The jive and the charleston, even

before the show, I was thinking,

these could be my ones that I could

really do, bring a bit of justice.

He was looking forward to doing a

paso. The jive if all went to plan

we were possibly going to do at that

pool.

People, see what you have done.

We have a pact we will do it anyway.

Can we watch that? Do it in my

lounge!

That is absolutely fine.

I hope you keep dancing.

To be fair, I have loved it. I spoke

to a close friend and my girlfriend

and said, who is funnily enough

going to open a dance studio. I

can't wait to be a dad. And give all

this energy and wisdom Janette has

passed on to me. Now I am going to

give other people the opportunity.

Such a great idea. What will you

miss most?

How is the other half of the Studio

45 crew going to cope without you?

Will you pop into training to see

how they're getting along?

Yes! We will watch every week. To

make sure you guys are sticking to

the hard work.

I had to say, going back to Ian,

more than ever, especially this

season and seeing what happened with

Aston, you have got to vote for your

favourites, you can never assume

just because someone is a front

runner or is getting any kind of

scores, you have two vote, if you

love them, no matter what.

Well said. Can I say on the half of

everybody, especially as Lott on the

programme, you gorgeous, you have

been so gracious. I don't want to

say goodbye. Thank youth for being

so brilliant.

We're going to miss

you both so much.

Aston and Janette, everyone!

CHEERING.

Hands up. And with that being a dad,

lots of love to Sarah. I have to

pull myself together.

Now, after an epic weekend of dance,

we need some top-notch analysis.

So, we've called in

the reigning champ.

It's time for Choreography Corner!

CHEERING.

She's back again.

It's Joanne Clifton!

Well, things have certainly moved

on since you were last here.

One of the frontrunners has gone.

Could you believe it?

I only have another two things to

say, people, please phone. And,

judges, some of them in particular,

watch your scoring otherwise we will

have words!

She will be around!

Let's take a closer look at some

of Saturday's dances now.

Starting at the very top,

and where they've been

for three weeks in row.

Debbie and Giovanni.

They were dancing the tango.

Shirley said it was international.

Darcey said it was on par

with a professional.

Bruno said it was a masterclass.

Craig was on his knees!

Why was it so good?

It was brilliant. What surely meant

with it being international is it

was good enough to be on an

international dance floor for a

ballroom competition. Traditional

tango, extended back bends a

magnificent. She will have other

ballroom dancers, it is still early,

so I would like her to concentrate

on because I am nit-picking, it was

a little bit shaky when she was in

hold, she needs to keep her hips and

shoulders offset but parallel to

Giovanni. Be careful, like an axle,

if one is slightly askew, you need

to sort it out. It is not easy

otherwise to drive in a straight

line.

OK. We get that.

Mollie and AJ found

themselves in the bottom two

for the second week running.

How would you rate their foxtrot?

She actually danced really well. It

was quite beautiful, beautiful

footwork on the main show. Again, I

would like her to improve on her

core, a little bit more. Just

Halloween, so send aid which found

with which nails, near your belly,

pulling that in. Turn your hands

upwards. That is how you should feel

inside, without lifting your

shoulders.

Shoulders down.

That is the thing.

In and up. The second thing, she

tends to lose her left hip, instead

of keeping it in front of the man

and having that curve to the left,

that causes her to get around.

Brilliantly explained -- explained.

Next we have Gemma

and Aljaz's salsa.

The lifts were the big

talking point.

Did they distract from

what was a good routine?

Such a shame, she came out

confident, pointing, then the lift

went wrong, the timing or something,

then it blocked her. She didn't have

enough movement in her upper body.

Now, demo time!

Thank goodness for that. That is

what we need to cheer us up.

I was taught to isolate and move the

upper body, they put a broom on my

shoulders, held it like that,

looking in the mirror to keep your

hips still. Imagine your rib cage is

moving forward, backward, side,

side, round, then imagine a pin on

your red, half of an eight. Without

moving your hips, and in reverse.

There she goes. Do the same thing

with your hips.

Why can't I look like that!

And finally, Joe and Katya danced

a playful Charleston.

There was some very demanding

choreography in there.

Can you talk us through it?

Joe is smashing it every week, the

choreography was intricate, bits of

it where, when you rub your tummy

and Pat Morehead, the arms are doing

different to the feet, then the

opposite to your partner but in

sync. Then the charleston which was

steps and kicks and turns.

I really enjoyed it.

Well done. We will do the other

couples tomorrow.

Tomorrow, we'll be

talking about the rest

of our couples.

But we're not quite finished

with Joanne just yet.

All will be revealed soon!

Now, because we're all terribly

nosy, here's a look behind

the weekend's Strictly scenes.

Nice weather for the ducks!

Showtime! Showtime!

Remember,

remember, the 4th of November,

glitter balls, Mac pro to an

Foxtrot.

It doesn't really work. I know the

cha-cha-cha is the harder stance,

I'm enjoying it so much.

I'm sweating! The first time ever!

She sees me, she sees I'm

attractive, maybe I will give it a

test run!

A lot of acting involved,

clearly!

It's a painter and

decorator you would not want to

hire.

A lot more confident, I should

not be panicking, which will be

nice!

Dies, it is lunchtime. My

favourite time of day. You are in my

way! I'm skipping the light! A

little bit of everything would be

great! Look at this plate of food! I

don't so a lot and so I get to eat a

lot. Let's go!

Week seven, we've got

Jonnie. You miss something really

important, it pretty face.

Not as

pretty as Gorka. Sorry!

I love it.

Curly Sue!

My hair this week once

again will not be my own and I'm

starting to think my hair should

have its own Twitter page! Everybody

is asking me, what hair you having

this week!

I smile just so she gets

my cheekbones.

A little Strictly

wardrobe secret, I've my tie some to

my shirt so it doesn't end up

bopping around. I'm being stitched

into my costume. Every week, you put

it on and you can't get out until

the end of the show.

Me and Mollie

are about to surprise AJ with a

birthday cake for his birthday this

week!

I'm torn between getting the

urge to go... And also, it brings

back be up.

I think somebody will

say, can you bring a cake? So I've

being -- I've brought Brownies and

they are being eaten backstage.

Beautiful, thank you, darling.

Guys

come alive in five minutes!

Come on!

It is the halfway mark, darlings,

and, yes, it is getting serious.

Is

everyone ready for another weekend

in the ballroom?

It's time to bring

on our Scritly stars!

That is how they make the magic.

Now, some people call us the gift

that keeps on giving,

and tonight is no exception,

because it's time to reveal

the line-up for this year's

Christmas Strictly Special.

It's never too early!

Christmas Strictly Special.

I've got a list.

Christmas Strictly Special.

I've checked it twice.

Christmas Strictly Special.

But I still need some help.

Christmas Strictly Special.

Please welcome back Joanne Clifton -

our It Takes Two Elf!

CHEERING

Give us a little... I love it.

I love it.

Now, it's just like Christmas

morning.

What, or who, will we

find in our stockings?

Celebrity number one,

reveal yourself.

HO, HO, HO!

CHEERING

It's Jeremy Vine!

Yes, everyone's favourite man

with a swingometer was partnered

with our other Clifton gal,

Karen.

And who can forget the sight of ol'

JV on giant horseback?

How can he possibly beat that?

I

think just put him on a reindeer,

Rudolph.

Brilliant!

Let's see who's in

stocking number two.

HO, HO, HO!

It's perfect pins

herself, Katie Derham!

CHEERING

She reached the 2015 final

with Anton, proving to be quite

the ballroom sensation.

She will be partnered with this time

Brendan Cole.

Are you looking forward to seeing

the Proms queen back on the floor?

Definitely, I remember she did this

amazing Viennese Waltz with Anton

and I hope with Brendan she will get

a ballroom number.

I like it!

Let's see who's hiding

in stocking number three.

HO, HO, HO!

It's only Colin Jackson!

CHEERING

A legend on the track

and the Strictly dancefloor,

the former world record holder

was partnered with Erin Boag way

back in 2005 - my year -

when he fell at the final hurdle,

losing to champion Darren Gough.

This time, he will be partnered with

the lovely Amy. Could it be a win

for the Welsh wonder?

2005 was a

while ago so I hope he has still got

it! No, it's fine! He got his

highest score in the Quickstep so

something like that, I hope they

will do.

We've been spoilt so far.

Who could be in

stocking number four?

HO-HO-HO!

It's Robbie Savage!

CHEERING

Look at those locks!

Look at those locks!

Another Welsh sporting hero!

The footballer-turned-pundit

was paired with Ola Jordan in 2011.

This time, he will take to the floor

with Dianne.

This time, he will take

to the floor with Dianne.

We know he's capable

of some fancy footwork.

Do you think he can find form,

going into the Christmas Special?

I think so and I think the fact he

is a footballer and really

competitive will help, especially

with Dianne, they will be explosive.

Does he still have hair that? Yes.

Yes.

Who's next?!

HO-HO-HO!

It's our favourite

tennis mom, Judy Murray!

CHEERING

It is all Aston that it is also...

'S ex-partners!

'S ex-partners!

Judy made it to Blackpool

with partner Anton Du Beke,

even though they never got higher

than a four from Craig.

Her new partner is Neil Jones!

So

happy to see him with a partner,

amazing! Remembered Judy, Anton,

have beat hardly touched floor apart

from when he would chuck her and she

would glide on the floor! I remember

the plank move! Exactly!

Time for our final celeb now.

Who's in stocking number six?

HO-HO-HO!

It's Kimberley Walsh!

CHEERING

She was in the audience on Saturday.

A little tease perhaps?

It's Kimberley Walsh!

Partnered with Pasha,

the Girls Aloud star made it

all the way to the Series 10 final,

scoring three 40s along the way.

She will be reunited with her

partner Pasha.

She will be reunited

with her partner Pasha.

Can she take the Christmas crown?

Very possible, and remember

Kimberley, that was the first time I

sat in the Strictly audience and

watched Strictly so I remember her

being amazing, especially with

Pasha, it will be magic!

You can find out who'll be on top

of the tree on Christmas Day.

It's just 49 sleeps away.

CHEERING

Thank you very much!

Now, Morecambe & Wise,

French & Saunders, The Two Ronnies -

just some of the greatest comedy

duos this nation has ever seen.

Well, you can now add

Langsford and du Beke to that

list, it's Ruth & Anton!

Ruth, you represent absolute joy,

I've never seen a paso doble so

humorous.

It is entertainment versus

technique.

When the paso did come

together, wonderful stocking kicks,

don't give up on a technique, you

are going somewhere!

It is just too good!

Ruth & Anton, everyone!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

What a Paso on Saturday!

I don't think we've ever

seen anything like it,

nor will we ever again!

Have you quite recovered?

Well, I've got a graze on my knee. I

went down and I got a bruise. Just

in case anybody thought we had put

that in purpose for comedy, we

didn't! It was an absolute ball

backwards.

It was quite spectacular.

We can probably see it again. Anton,

perhaps you lost your balance,

darling.

Yes! Showed the next bit! No, I too

get embarrassed.

What happened, exactly?

Well, she climbed on top of me!

Might beat were poking out the

bottom of her frog!

It was too

funny! It was a comedy moment and I

was trying to rescue the

awkwardness! I was feeling awkward

so I thought, let's have a comedy

moment, they will climb on top of

him.

It was such an amazing shot,

Ruth.

England legend and Premier League

all-time top scorer

Alan Shearer tweeted:

"That's a two-match ban

for diving, Anton Du Beke!

But you've still got my vote".

I might dance with him next year,

just for a change.

Do you know what

my husband said?

"The Curse of Strictly

before my very eyes!"

I was crying with laughter. I

imagine that is not quite what

happened in rehearsal. How had the

rehearsal gone?

Before that fall and

it was genuine, I thought I had done

a passable paso doble and I was

quite pleased. Although we had

comedy moments, it was a parody, but

we did do a proper paso doble.

Everything we do, whether we go down

the comedic road or the straight

road, it is based on proper content.

Otherwise, it is just a bit awkward

and knocking about and messing about

and that is no good at all. So it is

skilfully put together. With proper,

real content, real steps. On top of

that, we do something serious or

something comedic. The same as the

samba before.

And Shirley did say,

you did a really good paso, I'm not

sure she said really good! She

mentioned the steps I've done.

Which

is good. Exactly. And the crowd went

wild. For the entire dance and the

ending.

Take a look at this.

These are the faces of the judges as

you go down. They are laughing!

Craig is laughing and he goes back

to making his notes.

What do I've

the do to get more than at four from

Craig? It is and is tame

At this point, we have

to mention singer Hayley,

who almost completely

stole the show.

here she goes.

# La, la, ooh, ooh, ooh

# Ooh

# Ooh, ah

# The shady dame...

# From Se-ville...

# Ole #.

She is brilliant! She is amazing!

Wonderful.

She is and I love that

when you do have a, role, you play

so brilliantly.

Thank you. I'm less

nervous about that. I was nervous

about performance when I started

jazz hands and acting which is out

of my comfort zone, but you realise

the more you can sell the story and

you can act the story, the more

people enjoy it. If you look

awkward, people think it's a bit

awkward. I understand that now. And

he's the most wonderful teacher and

I want to say we do laugh. People

say, you have such a laugh together,

but he is a fantastic teacher, he is

so patient and kind and he never

shouts at me. He raises an eyebrow

sometimes and I cry! Then I cry and

he gives me a cup of tea. He

encourages me all the time with

kindness and here I'm, still,

standing, just.

She's incredible to

work with, I can't say more highly

of Ruth. She is right, we have a

great time and she has a wonderful

sense of humour. To do a comedic

dance, it is almost more difficult

because if it is not timed well, it

is exactly that, awkward and a lot

of nothing. To do something comedy

well takes a lot of practice and a

lot of skill and a lot of timing.

You have to pay attention.

Can you

tell, I'm getting impatient? I've 30

seconds to ask you about your

foxtrot.

How will you play this?

Straighter, it is the slow foxtrot,

the greater stands in the world.

There will be hats and Keynes? Will

there? Yes, I will let you know

about Wednesday.

There will

definitely be tears if I've a cane!

You work so hard, we love you.

Ruth and Anton, everyone!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

That's it for tonight.

A big thank you to all my guests.

Join me again tomorrow at 6:30,

where I'll be chatting to Mollie

and AJ, and Debbie and Giovanni.

Plus, Joanne Clifton returns

for Choreography Corner.

And Jason Gilkison talks us

through the perfect Paso.

Until then, goodnight!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE