Episode 39 Strictly - It Takes Two

Live from London,

this is Strictly It Takes Two.

Please welcome your

host, Gethin Jones!

CHEERING

Yes, I'm back. Welcome.

Unfortunately, Zoe's still poorly,

so you've got me again tonight.

Get well, Zoe!

Now, we're nearly ready

for our annual jaunt

to the Vegas of the north.

But who needs Blackpool?

We've got plenty of showstoppers

in the green room tonight!

She's a foxy lady

and he's hot to trot.

It's Jonnie and Oti!

CHEERING.

And we're still in a spin

from their salsa at the weekend.

It's Debbie and Giovanni!

CHEERING.

Plus, she's a busy bunny this week.

Look at her, she's still going.

It's Vicky Gill!

CHEERING.

But now, stop what you're doing

and get up on your feet,

it's time for a warm-up!

SALSA MUSIC.

Ian Waite, everyone!

CHEERING.

Are you ready for round two?

I sure am.

Are there any samba roles in this?

Sadly not.

Let's start with

Alexandra and Gorka.

They were joint top

of the leaderboard

for their Argentine tango.

Is their quickstep looking

like another chart-topper?

It might be top of the Pops. It

looks very light and energetic which

is perfect for Alexandra.

A little bit of gapping going on.

But still it is looking like a good

dance.

Might issue still...

A very quick dance for her.

Hold on one second.

I forgot the wand, Zoe will never

forgive me.

Get with it. You can make a direct

comparison. Still, I would like to

see her turn those feet out a little

more.

A little bit more. And stretch the

instep when she flicks and points

it.

Stretch it.

Something will Darcey will go on

about.

And with such a quick

quickstep?

Think about stretching your feet.

Mollie and AJ avoided the dance-off

with their paso doble.

Can their charleston

keep them safe in Blackpool?

Yes! Thank you for that. This is

another energetic dance for them.

They have great energy and attitude

as last week.

Let us hope that can save them. I

have my dentist appointment at the

top here, it is telling me... Just

ignore that.

What time is it?

A lovely charleston step there. They

are matching each other. I thought

we could do that together. As you

walk, you stick your hip out like

that.

Yes! No, with me. And you smack your

bottom at the same time.

I can only do it one way.

It has to be perfectly in sync.

Davood and Nadiya's Lambeth Walk

was the walk and talk

of the town last weekend.

Is their Bond-themed paso leaving

you shaken not stirred?

It is quite steamy.

Look at the extra dancers for

Blackpool.

He is getting into the character.

Nice and strong, shaped arms.

On a twist turn, he needs to make

sure, as you can see here, he has to

make sure where he is looking.

At the moment it is fine, but he is

looking at the girl.

In a twist and turn you need to look

like that.

His head is too high.

Looking in the distance. The ball is

coming at him. Be aware of that. --

bull.

Joe and Katya are dancing

a salsa to Ride On Time.

Dancing to a great song. I used to

dance to that in the 1990s, but not

the salsa.

It looks as if she's going through

the steps at the moment. It is

flowing nicely. He is building up.

Did you see that move. It is called

a body rebel.

Under arm, body ripple. We could try

that!

Yes! I am making full use of my

demos.

I am the lady. Over my head. And we

body ripple.

Let us try it again. This way. Turn.

And body ripple.

Not bad. It needs a bit more

finesse.

I think Jonnie and Oti will bring it

this week.

Loving your work.

Give it up for Ian, everyone!

CHEERING

Right, time now to

meet our first guests.

Despite transporting us

to a romantic night in Paris

with their foxtrot, they

ended up in the dance-off.

But, thankfully, they're

swapping the Eiffel Tower

for Blackpool Tower.

And here to dance another day,

it's Jonnie and Oti!

Tonight, you felt uncomfortable.

This dance is extremely hard to

lead, hard to control.

You were trying hard.

You kept your elbows up. Some of the

footwork was OK but it needs to

really improve.

CHEERING

Jonnie and Oti, everyone!

What a weekend.

Have you recovered now

from the dreaded dance-off?

We have to put it behind us. I loved

that dance so much I wanted to do it

twice.

But he was a picture, you looked

gorgeous.

As a professional athlete, do you

find yourself in a weird way

thriving on that

sort of competition?

It is the first opportunity you get

to use what the judges have said.

Before your once you have no idea

what the judges want. -- before your

performance.

This gives you an opportunity.

I felt it was a better run through.

The judges all voted to save you.

That must've been a relief?

That is the tricky part of it, not a

nice part of the show. It is a

double edged sword.

Not nice either way.

Two foxtrots in the dance-off.

How do you think Jonnie did?

I was really happy we had a foxtrot,

the first dance we both really

enjoyed. If we were going to do any

danced twice it should be this one.

Because you clicked together?

It felt relaxed, we were able to

tell the story and work off each

other's energy.

In the dance-off, we said to enjoy

it. I was so proud of him, these are

really difficult things without

complaining. That is what I really

loved. I was so proud of him.

Athletes always want to get better.

Well, as ever, there

was lots of support online

from the great British public.

Lorna wrote:

"Would have had to have

stopped watching in protest

if @JonniePeacock & @OtiMabuse

had been voted off.

Thankfully, we're not in such

a state of severity yet."

Thankfully not, Lorna!

Those comments must mean a lot to

you when you are working hard.

That was a weekend when we really

needed those.

It felt like a really good week,

like it was going well. Like it

would be a strong dance. Then you

find out it wasn't, it is the

moralising.

Sorry to remind you, but Craig

thought your foxtrot was...

"Dull, dull, dull".

Oti, you are laughing.

You choreographed the routine.

What do you have to say to that?

I have no reaction, listen!

He is allowed to have his opinion

and I always value his opinion. If

he didn't like it, it is OK. We had

Bruno who understood the story. One

judge said, I get your story. Thank

goodness someone understood it.

The most constructive piece of

criticism all week.

Well, Strictly stat time!

Craig last said this exact comment

to Natasha Kaplinsky

back in the first ever episode

of Strictly - and she won!

Not a problem.

Bruno said he felt like you've

lost your va va voom.

Are you ready to take

it up a gear this weekend?

I think we will step it up, give

him, hold that bum out, he likes

that.

Well, watch out seagulls, there's

a Peacock coming to Blackpool!

You're dancing the tango

to this stomper.

MUSIC: "Sweet Dreams".

Do the face!

Is that a tango face?

That is Giovanni's face.

The inspiration for this dance.

Are we looking at a sweet dream

or a beautiful nightmare this week?

We have been working at this number

and I really enjoy it. I like him

when he is a bit dark and sexy and

pulling that face, I like that.

I always pull that face in training.

To bring out that character.

How has training been going?

It is going good. After last week, I

don't know any more. Last week felt

good as well.

You have one of the best next to

you.

Feeling confident.

Are you cracking the whip more than

usual?

I am louder. He is deaf on one side.

I am trying. We were in the

dance-off, it isn't nice to be in

that position. I want us to come

back with a strong number and show

people he can do it and he wants to

do it.

We have a question from

one of your fans, Sue.

She wrote online:

"Hey Jonnie, will the sprung floor

in Blackpool help or hinder you?

Probably like an indoor track?"

Indoor tracks are quite hard.

Sue.

But a good question. I can see what

she is saying.

The blade can be springy.

Are you wearing a blade on Thursday?

The blade is there to help dancers

but for the tango it will definitely

hinder. You need a hard impact to

rebound off. For this, no.

What can you tell us

about the routine?

It is a futuristic, fun dance, done

under neon lights. Vicky has done a

wonderful job, yes, I love it.

It makes a big difference.

We are being teleported into the

ballroom.

You can't give it all away.

Save something for Saturday.

Tell us everything.

We will appear like this. You have

given it away!

I am sure it will be brilliant.

Good luck on Saturday.

CHEERING.

Now, it's not just our

couples working hard

for this week's big bonanza.

Strictly's wardrobe department

has been put into overdrive too!

Let's find out how

they've been getting on.

It's time for Puttin' on the Glitz!

Vicky Gill, everyone!

CHEERING.

You'll have to bear with me for

this.

You've got to bear with me!

We

will be great! You will have doomed

as me through this one, be gentle,

let's talk about the weekend before

we move on to Blackpool, is an

amazing outfits on the dance floor,

in particular, catty of the Rumba,

did it turn out how you wanted?

It

did, she is quite adventurous wear

costumes are concerned so if we are

going to try anything different, she

is always a good one to try things

on.

They get excited by the outfits.

She is tough on me sometimes,

though.

But Katya looked the part.

Amazing, not for everyone but it

helped us to show more of her

body-line. Joe was in a darker

colours that we could see the shape.

Was that on purpose of the Rumba?

Yeah, because I feel like we need to

have a good, solid backdrop and the

positioning they were in and away

the dance was moving, it worked

really well in the end. Maybe a

little much to the viewers.

It was

amazing for me. Blackpool is such a

mission to you guys to get up there.

What is different this year, more

work than ever?

It gets bigger every

year, on Saturday they said I had

Blackpool-itis because they were

doing a main show and I was thinking

about Blackpool, so we were running

the major thinking about that at the

same time, pretty intense, we've got

about 140 looks for the show, moving

towards 160.

Because of the extra

dancers?

Yes, and each Group Dance

is much bigger and the main show

dances are bigger. We love it but it

is intense, quite a lot but we're

going to make it!

We are!

You've brought some into the studio.

This is Nadi's paso doble dress.

We

are lucky because again with Nadiya,

she can wear most things. She is a

bond girl this week and had lots of

traditional dances like this we need

a strong colourful Blackpool because

it is not like being in a studio,

not lots of colours did invent with

even screens work like we normally

do in the studio. I thought a strong

emerald green woodwork on the floor.

As always, it is not completed, we

fit it on Friday and this section

will be embellished and the straps

will be worked out and configured

and maybe more.

Sounds like a lot of

work? There's been quite a few paso

doble's on the show so it makes it

difficult.

Everybody likes a

traditional paso because it is like

a comfort blanket and they

understand it and they know what

they will be faced with on Friday.

With this, they are coming to us and

they are thinking, "What are they

thinking? This is not a traditional

Passau".

But it looks beautiful.

This is the traditional is -- the

American Smooth and again not a

traditional dress for JAMA.

We're

not listening to any traditions this

week!

You rebel!

It might come a bit

unstuck on Saturday but I hope not.

This particular number, we are

leaning on the Blackpool theme, so

in the screens and the concept as

well, with Aljaz and Gemma, they are

in Blackpool and we are using the

illuminations, using block colour

through the dress to work with what

is happening in the studio.

In terms

of design, they have lists in the

American Smooth and you have to take

that into consideration.

Yes, we

will probably end up with a split

but not any fewer layers because I

think you need it to form the dress

but with the American Smooth, they

do lists so they don't want much

interference with the frocks are we

have to be careful.

They will look

beautiful on Saturday and I know a

few other ladies that will be.

Alexandra's dress, what can you tell

us about this?

For the quickstep, it

is separates, two lots on the base

and the same volume as a normal

ballroom skirt -- culottes.

Culottes

are trousers, for you guys out there

like me, not a skirt, trousers, does

it help in the quickstep?

I think

so, the quickstep is energetic and

in Blackpool, it takes on a

different form because of the extra

dancers and working with them so

hopefully it will give her more

freedom and feeling like I'm being

able to really move her skirt. Lots

of beading on the hips, white,

predominantly black on the shoulder,

moving into gold and silver through

this detail and I think I will make

a new belt. The team don't know that

yet.

You got nothing else, --

nothing else on a draw. And Mollie's

Charleston dress, where is the rest

of it? What is that?

Quite brief,

this one, we ran out of fabric and

did not have enough beads so we

thought we would keep it small! Job

King, we have got some feathers that

will be on the back of the dress for

Mollie and again with her backing

dancers, the nice thing is, the lady

who does the feathers for us is

based in Blackpool so we are working

with local trade and things like

that so hopefully she will have fun

on Saturday.

We really take over

Blackpool. Good luck, I know you got

so much work to do so thanks for

taking the time. Vicky Gill!

APPLAUSE

So, it's a dead cert that our

couples are going to look the part.

But will their routines

be as snazzy?

Let's head back to the training room

and see how Alexandra and Gorka

and Davood and Nadiya

have been getting along.

I am so, so excited about the

quickstep.

I've got so much energy

so I feel this might be the one

where I go, OK, let's rock and roll

with this one.

One, two, three,

four... No, you're doing something

weird in the phrasing. Blackpool is

perfect for the quickstep because it

is a big flaw. Slide. Alexandra is

becoming very quick. Now.

It's

making me giggle because of how fast

it is!

Quickstep.

This week is going

to be a killer. I need to make sure

I get in the gym and start running.

I actually have really looked

forward to the paso doble, it is a

strong guards and it means you can

get the energy going but it is so

different to any other dance we have

done and it is something that I

really want to get right lost all of

it is difficult at the moment.

One,

two, three, four. It is not an easy

dance so we are concentrating on the

choreography so he the steps right.

And later, we will try to make it

work.

I'm hoping that once I get the

steps down, I will be able to own

the style. Not quite there. Not yet!

Right, let's chat to

our final guests now.

Their salsa was hot and spicy

and definitely lifted our spirits.

Who am I talking about?

Let me just read...

D-E-B-B-I-E...

Debbie!

And her partner Giovanni!

Whatever your own, darling, I want

some. That is absolutely ridiculous!

Everybody does the cells are like

pushing side to side. That had the

fluidity.

Oh, my goodness, how you

made it look graceful, incredibly

impressive.

Debbie and Giovanni, everyone!

APPLAUSE

Congratulations!

Another sensational week for you.

Were you happy with the way

your salsa turned out?

Not quite! But I had the most

fantastic time.

To the point where

people are John Dean your name.

They

are.

What a feeling it must be!

It's

fantastic, where ever I go, children

addictively are going, "Debbie!

Debbie!" Then I get to the rehearsal

room...

Debbie!

Shirley said it was on its way

to becoming a championship salsa,

but there were mistakes.

What went wrong?

I lost my concentration basically!

Basically, yes.

It's only a minute

and a half, come on!

I was having

such a good time that I lost it all.

You won't do it again.

I didn't buy

my way back.

What do you do then,

Giovanni, do you know she can get

back? Are you worried?

Interesting

question, I was hoping she would

carry on and do the routine, we

missed the hands at some points, but

for me, the good thing is because

she performed so it is a good thing,

when you enjoy the moment. But at

this point in the competition, we

really need to focus because like

you say, it is 90 seconds and we

have to deliver the best we can.

Yes, time to enjoy but in the same

movement, we have to do a good

performance.

It easy for us to sit

and this week we Peter Blick, Debbie

getting back on track with the

dance. I saw you rehearsing on

Friday and the lifts were not quite

there, some stressful moments on

Friday. Were you worried?

No, not at

all.

Good.

We know how to do them.

It was tricky, though.

By Saturday,

we had got them perfectly but the

dress rehearsal was fantastic and

that is probably why I lost my

concentration on Saturday evening.

But they are so difficult, they are

professional level.

We could have a

go!

I tell you what, I would love to

have a go with crash mat, check this

one out. It is a phenomenal image

but you look kind of happy, Debbie,

but if we roll it slightly, is that

a smile? What is that?

It's

interesting you are still smiling.

It means you trust me.

I trust you

totally.

There has to be trust

because there are very difficult

lives. We love the judges reaction

to that list, as you go into it.

Just look at the judges.

And Craig Garissa right in.

Brilliance to watch -- carries on

writing. Brilliant to watch and we

loved it. Other series note, start

off the series, did you think you

would be sat here now, halfway

through, going to Blackpool?

Not at

all, I thought if I was lucky, I

might get through to week four and

possibly five with a bit of luck but

I did not really ever expect to get

back pool.

Due out before the battle

before so are you looking forward to

going back?

Yes, I -- it is special

to me and that will people know

showbiz so it has with got the bars.

It does not get much more show

business than this. In the words of

the Spice Girls.

# Hi Si Yah, Hold Tight.#

You're dancing the samba

to a Spice Girls medley!

If we seem a bit quieter night,

compared to normal...

We are tired.

We've been laughing all day. She did

not stop all day smiling and

laughing. I don't have any energy

left.

Good to know.

He did laugh at

me for half an hour nonstop at one

point.

I feel like you two are

getting quite delirious?

We are both

tired.

So you have got a Spice Girls

medley, can you tell us which when

you are going to be?

You can't.

No,

but I'm very spicy!

You have just

made up one over the weekend. Which

one of the Spice Girls would

Giovanni be?

All of them,

altogether, that is me and I'm going

to be, what surveys...?

LAUGHTER

What is she called question mark

anyway, I will be all of them, posh

Italian Spice, Sicilian Spice Girl,

altogether.

I practised my Sam Olver

suite with Ian.

We saw it yesterday.

-- I was practising my Samba all

week with Ian. What were they

looking like?

On Monday, a bit like

a sausage.

De samba role is always

one of the most difficult things you

can do.

Looking good and another

great outfit.

Thank you.

But it is

difficult to master because you

either ballroom dances but these

Latin ones are difficult.

I struggle

with wiggling my hips.

She's getting

there, and we still have 24 hours.

I'm really enjoying the samba roll,

now I can feel the movement of it,

when it works, it feels ready good.

It does not look that great yet,

but...

You still have time!

Anyone

else here who can dance?

On Monday,

we said you were the frontrunner for

this year's Trophy. How do you make

sure she stays in the competition,

Giovanni?

Getting rid of the other

1's!

Very Sicilian!

No, just keep

doing what we're doing, every week

is a different dance and I always

say, we just have to focus on what

we do every week because it is a

different dance and technique, just

focus on Monday until Saturday and

do the performance and it's fine.

Can I ask you about Blackpool

because we talk a lot about

performing there and you have been

there before but dance there, put

into words how special it is will be

celebrities?

It is a beautiful

place, amazing, especially when we

do competition than things. I think

you will enjoy dancing there, and

hopefully will deliver a great

performance and it is a bonus if you

get good scores.

In terms of the

Samba, the size of the dance floor

is much bigger in Blackpool and the

judges look out for that.

Absolutely

because we travel a lot around the

floor. We have samba roll, we have

zigzagging, we have twists. We have

a lot of things so we will travel a

lot.

Sounds like he will be

travelling a lot more by the sound

of things, best of luck on Saturday

and always look forward to seeing

you.

And well done you for filling

in for Zoe.

Yes, let's out she's

better soon. Debbie and Giovanni!

APPLAUSE

That's all we have time for tonight.

A huge thank you

to all of our guests.

Don't forget to tune in tomorrow

at the earlier time of 6pm

for an hour-long special.

Joining the Friday panel

are Nikki Fox, Jason Manford

and Kelly Brook.

Plus, ahead of Children

in Need's Strictly special,

Blue Peter stars Radzi,

Mark and Anthea will be here!

They are delirious!

Goodnight.