Episode 43 Strictly - It Takes Two

Hello and welcome to It Takes Two!

If the budget has given

you the blues, half an hour

with us is time well spent.

CHEERING

And we've certainly hit the jackpot

with tonight's guests.

Shake your money-makers,

it's Mollie and AJ!

A nice shimmy.

And that Christmas bonus has come

early because Mr Pritchard will also

be launching this

year's Pro Challenge!

It had better be good!

Plus, here to teach us the Jive,

she always puts her money

where her beautiful mouth is,

it's Janette Manrara.

Eurocard stop the! -- you can't stop

her.

But now, like a wise man once said -

the best things in life are free.

Has anyone told Ian we're not

paying him for this next bit?

It's time for Waite's Warm-up!

Ian Waite, everyone!

Hello, gorgeous!

I've got my

friends, Jason, Ian! So lovely to be

back.

I've missed you.

You too.

What

is your verdict on Blackpool?

I

loved every minute of it, the

opening, the group dance, I loved

it, the concept seemed to get better

and better.

It was joyous. Fire up

the magic wand.

Are you ready,

everybody?

Let's start with a

couple of quicksteps.

First up Joe and Katya.

They closed the Blackpool special

with a '90s rave, but is it

a rave review for this?

Yes, well, there's a lot of

choreography in promenade position,

this running and flicking.

Energetic.

To be honest, the actual

body contact is absolutely

fantastic. Any space between them...

They have complete contact

throughout, which is fantastic. The

only thing I see, if you look at the

frame he has here, we've stopped it,

if you look at it there, he's a bit

low on her back. OK for the tango

but not so much for the quickstep.

If I get hold of you, little demo.

He's holding her there. If he could

hold her a bit higher, get the elbow

out and hold her under the armpit.

I

can feel that.

That's it, there! See

what I mean?

I see.

A bit more space

between them.

Beautiful. Another

quickstep from Mollie and AJ.

CHEERING

Yes. They are here tonight, very

excited.

Cheering for themselves!

You've got to do that!

They also

have some running steps in

promenade. Look at this, skipping

and flicking, in promenade position.

INAUDIBLE

Actually this is yesterday's

footage! Needs to be a bit more body

contact. I noticed a few places

where she should match him a bit

better, Mollie. When they do a hop

or instance, look where AJ's foot is

and look where Mollie's foot and

knee is. When you do the hop it is

like underneath you.

Got that,

Mollie?

Yes!

A bit less of that and

a bit more of that.

It's like an

extra private lesson.

A bit high in

the shoulders.

Stop it!

I'm giving

them tips!

We need these.

Onto Gemma and Aljaz,

who are riding high

after receiving their first tens.

CHEERING

Will they be on a roll

with their samba?

They start off with the first shadow

role, as Shirley said. It's a little

bit... I sense that she's a bit

sluggish forced up seeny is to pick

it up. When she goes forward it is

like somebody has tapped you in the

stomach and said, touch it up and

under. It is a bit dropped. If you

look here, she's having a sleep on

Aljaz's shoulder.

It is part of the

choreography.

I'm told it is part of

the choreography.

It is.

Not be

remnants of Saturday's after party.

Which come I hear, is mild.

Next up, Susan and Kevin.

They're dancing the American Smooth

to Beyond the Sea,

is this looking like

a classic to you?

Yes, this is a foxtrot American

Smooth, very classic. I lot of stuff

going outside of partner and losing

contact all the way through. It is

today's footage so they should have

got it right. Let's have a look in

slow motion. I noticed something

else, she isn't releasing her toes

at all.

Very important.

Staying on

the floor. When she goes backwards,

yes, Susan must release her toes but

hopefully by Saturday she'll have

that sort.

Onto Nadiya... Actually

this is Debbie and Giovanni.

They found themselves

in the dance-off at the weekend.

Can their Argentine tango

revive their fortunes?

For me this isn't looking as

comfortable as previous dancers

although it is only Monday's

footage. On paper you'd think that

Debbie is going to be perfect for

the Argentine Tango, she has those

lovely legs and arches in her feet.

She should be able to finish off the

line beautifully. Not working at the

moment from the footage I've seen

but by Saturday, obviously. I've

seen this lovely step, Zoe.

Oh,

dear.

Let's try it.

We have a lot of

leg to lock here.

I go forward like

that and you lock your leg back and

then I go like that.

Ooh!

Exquisite...

One, two, three.

Perfect, see if she can do it better

than that. Ouch, you trod on my big

toe.

Sorry!

Davood and Nadiya now.

They've had a great few weeks,

how is their waltz looking?

Not as easy as it looks.

On the

pivoting here, he needs to step more

between Nadiya's legs because he

isn't getting around very well. For

me, I donated its because they are

walking through it, but his body

posture, here's elbows are too

dropped -- I don't know if it's

because they are walking through it.

Over the last couple of weeks he's

been so good, it must be brilliant

this week. At the moment his

shoulders are sagging and he must

get them up and forward.

Show us.

More like that and like that than

that. He is dancing like that.

Isn't

he good? He's very good, isn't he?

Very good indeed.

And finally, Alexandra and Gorka.

They're dancing a rumba

to Beyonce's Halo.

Is it looking heavenly to you?

I think this dance may be a

challenge for Alexandra this week

because it's not about speed, it's

more about the aesthetic of a slow

movement required for the rumba.

It's going to be more difficult for

her. There are places where I think

she could get a better yesterday in

her legs and feet, if she did this.

-- a better aesthetic. We have two

points. If she takes too big a step

like she did there it will actually

compromise the usage and action of

the feet and legs. If she can take a

smaller step, get her body weight

over it she can go like that.

OK, we

understand.

Another lovely warm-up.

I think you'll agree. Ian Waite.

A

big thumbs up for rent a crowd over

there!

They are good!

But that's not all that's been

keeping you busy, is it, Ian?

Ladies and gents, you're looking

once again at the head judge

for the Strictl Pro Challenge 2017!

Are we in for a close contest?

Well, do you know what, it's a

really technical step and no one

will have an advantage. It's the

step, it's difficult to do. Yeah,

it's going to be very close this

year.

Very, very close.

Well, without further

ado, let's find out

what the challenge is this year.

This year's Strictly Pro Challenge

is going back in time to the roaring

20s, where the pros will attempt to

set a Guinness world record title

for the most charleston swivels

steps in 30 seconds. Judging

alongside me will be award-winning

choreographer and charleston expert,

Bill Deamer, and official

adjudicator: Sophie Greening. The

swivel step is essential in the

charleston and as the Strictly

judges often stress, if it doesn't

have swivelled and it isn't a

charleston. In order for the step to

qualify the pros will have two

complete one Ford Mack and one

backward step. If there is no swivel

in the feet and ankles or if they

don't complete the Ford Mack and

backward steps, then the step will

be disqualified -- forward. This

step will be the hardest and most

technical that the pros have ever

faced but only one person can claim

the title. Welcome to the Strictly

Pro Challenge 2017.

Thank you, Ian.

Looking divine in that outfit. Time

to welcome the first Pro Challenge

contender.

He hails from Stoke on Trent,

he has a shoe collection

to rival my own and Mollie King

introduced him to his first

curry.

It's AJ Pritchard!

What an entrance!

I'm ready.

You

are, looking ready to go.

Now, Italy's Giovanni Pernice is our

reigning Pro Challenge champion

for doing the most Jive kicks

and flicks in 30 seconds.

But that's so 2016.

I was ill last year so I couldn't

take part.

You must be keen this

year?

I was excited, very nervous,

it was nerve-racking.

It is a huge

honour, dancing in front of an

Olivier award-winning choreographer

and charleston official yobbo, Bill

Deamer.

We love him.

And Ian

watching you.

He put the pressure

on, suited and booted, with his

notepad.

How much rivalry is there

between you?

We're all very

competitive, we want to win all the

time so when it comes to this, we

don't put people off on purpose but

we have a competitive edge.

I've

seen you at it! Let's see how you

got on.

This is my first Pro

Challenge, feeling very nervous and

excited. I just want to win, it's

quite simple.

Yes, it's a day.

Hello, welcome to this year's

Strictly Pro Challenge. You are the

baby of the bunch.

It's true.

Do you

think you have an advantage, you are

on your side?

Yes, short legs as

well, keeping reloaded the ground,

low centre of gravity.

Keep focused,

keep your feet tight.

Please take

your position on the dance floor.

For your official attempt, beginning

in three, two, one, go.

Keep going, stop laughing!

As good,

that's good.

15 seconds.

Consistency.

Keep going, keep going.

Faster. That's it, keep the swivel.

Five, four, three, two, one. Stop.

That's good.

Yeah that was good.

Pleased with that?

Yeah. I don't

know why I'm out of breath, I

stopped breathing halfway through.

Just one tiny stop but you picked it

up again. That was good. Really good

dog blue well done, AJ, thanks for

taking part.

For me it went fantastic, I had a

stumble in the middle but I picked

it up. Nervous now, I can't do any

more, it's happened.

I've never seen

you nervous before. That's quite

funny.

You said your low-centre of gravity

might give you an advantage.

How do you think you did?

It did help but I did a stumble. I

started laughing, I forgot that.

Like a maniac, were you nervous?

I'm

very nervous now.

I like this.

The Strictly judges have been quick

to point out the swivel,

or lack of in this series.

How tricky was it to

do it at that speed?

I don't want to say any more. I have

come over all nervous.

Well, after each

of the professionals

had made their attempt,

the footage was watched back

by adjudicators in slow motion

to verify every single swivel

to make sure they were accurate.

Even with that little

stumble in the middle,

how well do you think you've done?

I'm going to say I did OK, I am not

going to give a number... I can't...

I can now reveal you had three

steps disqualified...

That is OK... I can take that!

Well, with that in

mind, we can't keep

you in suspense any longer.

AJ Pritchard, in 30

seconds you completed...

17 Charleston swivels,

which puts you at the top

of the leaderboard!

And the bottom!

Kind of difficult to know...

Because...

Only three disqualified,

I take that as a positive.

I made

that little stumble in the middle.

Are you happy with your score?

We've got another 14 pros to go.

Who will you be keeping our eye on?

I think Jeanette. She is keen, she

is good, she knows it, she is good.

Well done for being the first.

Give it up for our current

Pro Challenge leader AJ!

Now, as we've seen,

our pros love a challenge,

so we've invited none other

than Latin sensation Janette Manrara

to show me, and you lot at how

to dance a Strictly favourite.

Look alive, cos it's time to jive!

Janette Is here. She has already

started, you have had a lovely data

data, you have been at the Palace.

We curtsy.

-- we have had a lovely

day today. Why have you chosen the

jive?

Because I am a pocket rocket

Latin sensation. I am little, you

have to be fast on your feet.

The jive has always

been a fan favourite.

Why do you think the viewers

enjoy it so much?

Even if you are at home on the

couch, you say, I love this song,

you cannot help but move, anything

that gets you do move even while

sitting on a couch has to be

exciting to watch.

Can you give us a

history lesson?

It came about in the

1920s when jazz music became very

popular in America, it was a bit

naughty, older dancers would not

like it, too much going on, to fast,

they even banned it because they

wanted to do the slow anticlockwise

dances, they did not like jive. But

when the American GIs came over to

Europe they brought it over here,

and even then it was still quite

naughty, they did it only in

underground nightclubs. It was not

until the 1950s when it became swing

and jitterbug and Lindy hop and all

of that and boogie-woogie, that is

when we liked it.

Now, Alexandra has the highest

scoring jive of the series so far,

giving us an instant classic

with Proud Mary.

But of course we've seen some

fantastic jives over the years,

from Jill Halfpenny's gamechanger

in series 2

to Ore's runaway winner last year.

Amazing, amazing, Ore, so much

stamina, needed kicks and flicks all

the way through the routine.

There

was smoke coming from his feet!

But in between those

two lies Jay and Aliona's

Pulp Fiction-inspired jive.

If online views are anything to go

by it's Strictly's most

popular dance of all-time,

having been watched over

three million times!

3 million people! This is my

personal favourite, he does kicks as

he is turning, and in perfect

synchronisation with Aliona,

incredible stuff, kicks are hard,

incredible stuff.

Lovely to chat.

But I feel like we should learn some

moves. But first, we need this!

We are going to skip that

We are going to skip that basic...

We will move on, we will start with

a drunken sailor... A lot in the

name, so think of your head being a

little bit woozy, after a few drinks

in the club, and you will go across

behind, side step. Cross behind,

side, step.

And now do it with a little bit of a

bounce, yes. Make sure you have that

sensation, that drunken sensation.

And then... It is in the name, Tony

Heal

that macro toe heel swivel. Toe heel

swivel. Toe heel swivel twist!

Finishing with kicks, the trick for

this, act as though you have a

little string tied from the back of

your heel, to your behind, retract,

retract quickly. One, and switch and

switch... Knee is up, knee is up. --

knees up. Keep up. Shall we do it

together, here we go.

Drunken sailors. Five, six, seven,

drunken sailor.

Heel, so, so he'll swivel -- toe

heel swivel.

So good, I feel light-headed. That

was so good, you did well.

Now, my final guests

of the night were the first

on the bill in Blackpool,

and what an opening act it was.

They're waiting in the wings,

it's Mollie and AJ!

What a way to open the show in

Blackpool.

Much more confidence,

much more strength, great

improvement.

No turnout in your

swivel but I thought both lifts were

an absolute

triumph.

Mollie and AJ, everyone!

What a performance!

Was it those wings that made you fly

or the sprung floor?

My goodness, it was just the hire of

being in Blackpool. Amazing, opening

the show... Such a privilege, it

was... Men so much to us. It was a

real honour. The high of being in

Blackpool. We all know the going

first...

Something like that, it

must've been terrifying.

It really

was, and AJ said to me, don't let

the nerves get to you, I know that

they will get to me but I thought,

you know what, this will happen only

once, I have got to go out there and

love it. The crowd were amazing, we

could hear them... They were really

encouraging, you could tell the

crowd wanted you to do well, so the

minute it started I thought, I am

going to love this.

You could see

that in your face, both of you

looking incredible.

Of course you got to see Nana King.

What did she make

of your charleston?

She loved it, absolutely loved it,

we went to Hull to visit her, gave

her the preview...

We took it to her

front room! Some of the lifts we

could not get into the living room.

Unless you take down the ornament!

She could not believe how much we

had come, from the beginning.

She

said, the Charleston, that is a hard

one, and she started doing it. She

said, that is a hard one.

Of course,

AJ, not your first rodeo.

We found this little

pic of your first visit

to the Tower Ballroom.

So cute! Are you wearing a

medallion? How old were you?

I think

I was 11...

How did you do?

Not very

well...! I think it was the first

ever major competition for Chloe and

myself, walking into town, a bit

like Molly, so nervous but excited

at the same time, cannot believe

that.

Look at you now. Bruno really

knows, he could see the confidence

in you, are you feeling more

confident as the competition goes

on?

Definitely, and having that week

avoiding the bottom two picks you

up, no doubt, being in the bottom

two, it does not your confidence.

Being there in Blackpool, I never

expected we would get that far. Just

to be there, this is amazing, and

how far we have come, how far I have

come from the first jive, to be in

Blackpool, just incredible. It does

help your confidence grow. You just

have to take it in at that point.

Those lifts, so impressive. You did

Tom Daley crowd, the way that you

dived into it, look at you go, and

back up... Look at that. Absolutely

beautiful.

In rehearsals, we had

only manage them about twice.

That

was the second time we completed it

properly.

You must have been quite

scared.

Very scared, understatement,

we practised it in the dress run...

Had not really... A lot more my

fault, than AJ's, because I was

like, just grabbed me! But thank

goodness, on the night.

And he did.

Incredible stuff. Also, Darcey

always keeping an eye...

Shoulders...

Shoulders! But you get

so tense. You just want to get

involved.

You do want it, I am going

to get involved so much, so much

more energy, and you think, give me

energy but...

LAUGHTER

Perfect position.

Make it sound so

easy. This weekend, quick step...

MUSIC: "Umbrella" - The Baseballs

The quickstep is one

of your favourite dances,

what is it you love about it?

At home they can feel your

excitement, able to smile as well,

Molly loves to smile, we love to

smile, so we can put personality

into it. -- Mollie. We can channel

the energy, I am always full of

energy. Throw more here, run a bit

more here, you can always add in

more. It is not like, it is a bit

too much, no, more, more, more. It

is always better.

If I don't move, I

get walked on, literally, I have got

to get moving, he is not slowing

down, he says, if I don't get you

moving, then I am still moving

forward myself. There has been a few

crashes, my trainers that were white

are now Brown.

And your toes, I

should imagine. Also, the paso

doble. It got you through to

Blackpool. How are you preparing for

this?

So excited, I keep saying to

AJ, I cannot wait to be out there.

We are going to be out there...

They

are not even inside, we have

blinkers on.

That is fighting talk.

Nobody puts Mollie in the corner!

Nobody puts Mollie in the corner(!)

you get through to...

through to...

Your face is always a picture

when you get through another week.

What will you do if you make it

through to Musicals Week?

Jazz hands!

Good luck on Saturday,

Mollie and AJ, everyone!

You are doing brilliantly. Thank

you.

That's all we have time for tonight.

What a fun show!

Join me again tomorrow at 6:30

when I'll be chatting

to Alexandra and Gorka,

Vicky Gill previews this

weekend's glamorous garms

and the Pro Challenge continues!