Episode 54 Strictly - It Takes Two

From London, this is It Takes Two.

Please welcome your host, Zoe Ball!

APPLAUSE

Hello and welcome to It Takes Two!

We've got a chock-a-block show

in store for you tonight,

so let's head straight to the green

room and find out

who's on the line-up.

Make it rain for our "divinely

decadent and slightly

twisted" semi-finalists -

it's Joe and Katya!

So good, that samba.

Joining them, a lady more

than worth her weight in gold.

Taking on tonight's Pro Challenge,

it's Karen Clifton!

A pretty glam line-up,

I think we can all agree,

but before we talk to them I think

we can squeeze in

a bit more sparkle.

Let's put on the glitz!

I love that music.

Give it up for Vicky Gill!

Hello, gorgeous. Give us a shape of

your boots. Oh, look at those! The

critics have had their say and it's

official, musicals week was a smash.

Well done. To everybody involved.

Any last minute dramas or costume

changes or moments for you?

No

dramas but lots of change we are

always down to the wire. For

Giovanni's whiskered trousers were

being painted an hour before he went

on, and he was really calm, he was

like, OK. -- waistcoat trousers.

Yeah, don't touch anything, don't

get too close. So much love for

patio's outfit last week. I think

it's one of my favourites of the

series. Amazing. -- for Katya's

outfit.

Sometimes things come

together, the detailing, the styling

on both of them really worked. We

tried to get the flapper feel

through the site of the dress

because of the musical we were

representing, but then we put the

feather on the hem to get that samba

feel. It all fell into place.

And

Joe looked amazing. Now we are at

the semifinal, two dances. Is it any

easier designing for the couples now

you know them quite well and how

they work as dancers?

We know them

and designing for them is easier. We

are all in at 7am, doing early

fittings, because there are two

dances. But it's still the same. Who

knows, when they pop their frock on

on Friday morning, let's see.

Amazing or back to the drawing

board! Let's have a look at some

pictures from the weekend. This is

Alexandra, oh, Viennese waltz,

dancing to everybody hurts, the teen

arena version. Have you gone

traditional or are you mixing it up?

We are mixing it up, pick up a bit

is traditional, with a border and a

lattice embellishment detail, and

then a Chevron intelligent coming

through in the dress. We've for the

base and a 16 panel and, because it

stretches, it's moving all the time.

This was to give Ash, who does most

of the abolishment, a base to be

able to do the Chevron detail

through the top of the dress, but I

think the hemline will be

traditional. We are hoping to go for

a feather hemline but I left a bit

of cream.

That a lot of detailing.

I

think we are looking at ten packets

per frock, so that's 1144 in total.

It's going to be a good night --

long night. Gemma, dancing a rumba

Byker labyrinth.

A fitted body

converts, this will be with lots of

crystals, in silver. We want a

silver look to the overall dress but

it's on a pale pink base. We've got

a feather hem. It may go halfway and

it may singe in at the waist or it

might all go -- go all the way in.

We want softness for the rumba but

not too big and floaty for Gemma.

Incredible figure. I do believe this

is the foxtrot dress, stunning.

Platinum with nude, a nice idea for

Debbie.

We spoke about it with the

Argentine tango. I don't think that

Debbie sits solid black, but we felt

that black was needed this week

because we needed a neutral base.

We've got lots of silver and gold so

we were trying to spread that

neutral base across. We always want

some colour, so she's got a

colourful...

I wasn't expecting

that! I say!

I am sure, when she is

making the skirt work, we'll be

seeing a lot of that on Saturday.

Across here, Tom Mollie, and this is

her standard dress. Dancing to

Shakira. She'll get her hips going.

How was this going to complement

this dance for her?

This looks like

two dresses at the moment because

we're not sure if we are going with

a full hem and this detail, which

will bring some lemon up into the

dress, or whether we will stick with

the gold. You see on Saturday. I

think we'll probably go with the

gold was at the moment, gold on the

skirt, so that we are ready to be

able to alter the hemline or drop

it.

Higher or lower? It's a bit of a

mixed bag on the audience. How many

stones have you got? If so many.

We've got 30s, 20s, 16s and 12s

through the dress. They shine really

well. Trying to keep this one very

gold and then with Debbie we've got

gold and shadow. Everybody asks for

similar colours and tones but I'm

trying to meet everybody's wishes.

Like a fairy godmother. Joe, two

suits, American Smooth and Argentine

tango.

Lots of tailoring, he will

look really suave as normal, and

we've done some nice detail for

tomorrow.

Gorgeous Joe! Give our

love to everyone, especially Ash,

big round of applause for him. Give

it up for Vicky Gill!

APPLAUSE

Now, the costumes are almost ready

but what about our couples?

With two dances to learn, they

certainly have their work cut out.

Let's take a look

at how Gemma and Aljaz

and Mollie and AJ are getting along.

I'm nervous about everything in the

tango, the only thing that makes me

feel safe in the dance is that I'm

doing it with Aljaz.

The first thing

that makes a good tango is perfect

posture. Timing is extremely

important and staying in character.

The steps are in my head. Not quite

coming out of my feet yet, but I

just hope I can remember them.

I've

got to dances this week and the

first one we are focusing on is the

waltz, which feels so romantic.

Some

parts need improving in some parts

are kind of there. Very nice. We are

going to have to make sure that our

rise and fall is perfect, because

any little niggle is going to

notice.

Two completely new dances

and I'm trying to just work on one

thing at a time, but all the

information at this point is quite

overwhelming.

Yes!

Good work, guys!

Right, time now for

the world's ultimate dance

move-related challenge.

Many have tried, but failed.

It's Pro Challenge time!

This year's Strictly Pro Challenge

is going back in time to the roaring

20s, where our crews will attempt to

set a Guinness world record title

for the most Charleston swivel steps

in 30 seconds. For it to qualify,

they have to complete one forward

and one backward step. If there is

no swivel in the feet and ankles,

step will be disqualified. The

challenge will be the hardest the

pros have ever faced, but only one

person can claim the title. It's

these Strictly Pro Challenge 2017.

Please welcome our next contender.

She always wears odd socks,

has a cat named Samba and believes

getting her nails done

is a necessity, not a luxury.

A girl after my own heart.

It's hot lips herself,

Karen Clifton!

APPLAUSE

Mind the robot! Karen, AKA the OG,

original gangster, I had to look it

up, of the Pro Challenge. You have

competed more times than any other

female pro Foster does that make it

easier or nerve-racking?

It makes me

feel really old. Or experienced, I

guess. I guess it's a good thing.

But I've probably slowed down over

the years.

We'll find out. You won

2014's challenge with Aljaz. Can you

do it again?

Yeah, it's much easier

with a partner.

You never know.

Sorry to be a Debbie Downer, at the

last time you did a Charleston was

with Simon Rimmer in week five and

you found yourselves in the bottom

two. How is your swivel?

It's one of

my favourite dances, I love the

Charleston, I practised the swivel

every night, I do a swivel in my

sleep, I wake up and I do them, so

it's an important thing for

everybody to do a swivel. You should

be doing it right now, everybody.

Get up! Let's look at the Leader

Board. Languishing at the bottom, we

have Brendan, and sitting pretty at

the top, it's Katya, bathing in the

glory. Can you end her reign at the

top?

Oh, I don't think... I mean,

she's young and beautiful. Plus

she's very quick. Crossing my

fingers.

Lets waste no more time and

find out how hot lips got on. Here

we go.

Last year I came so close, I

was one way, but this year, I'm in

it to win it.

Hello, Karen, welcome

to the Strictly Pro Challenge. How

are you feeling?

Good, I love the

Charleston so I'm excited.

You have

done this challenge five times, more

than any other female. Do you think

it keeps you an advantage?

Maybe, I

feel at home here, so that's good.

We can't wait to see your attempt so

please take your position on the

dance floor.

Fix my hair, doesn't

look good?

Looking good.

It's

gorgeous.

For your official attempt,

starting in three, two, one, though.

15 seconds.

Come on, Karen, keep

going. That's it, keep it light.

Five, four, three, two, one, stop.

Wow, that was good! Well done. That

was a good attempt, really good.

By

legs have just turned like this.

I

loved your face, it was like this

all the way through.

It was all on

the front foot and your technique is

excellent because it's really tight,

not too much space between your

feet. Really good.

Thank you so

much.

Well done.

I love the

Charleston and I got great feedback

from the judges, so it was great. I

had a blast and I want to do it over

and over again.

CHEERING

Well done, Karen! You were smiling

all the way through. What were you

thinking about?

How many chicken

nuggets I did eat.

Always food with

this woman. Each of the

professionals made their

announcement and the footage was

watched back by the adjudicators in

slow motion to verify every swivel

to make sure they were all accurate.

How do you think you got on? Was the

golden hat lucky?

I hope so and I

had a golden skirt on today so I'm

hoping...

Carried on that theme. The

great Bill Deemer was completely

blown away, he was saying bravo, he

was so enamoured. I can tell you

now, Karen, you had zero steps

disqualified.

CHEERING

They were all perfect, which is the

same as current leader Katya over

there. This is getting tense! Katya,

come in and join us. Here she comes.

Best friends, that's what it's all

about. Katya, you are top of the

Leader Board. You have been top of

the Leader Board for over a week,

Katya. The score to beat is 19.

Karen, I can reveal in 30 seconds,

you completed...

21 swivels. Top of the Leader Board.

Top of the Leader Board. Katya is

smiling but she is devastated.

I am

sorry, I love you.

Katya, what do

you think?

You are the best. You owe

me chicken nuggets.

Karen, can

anyone beat you?

Yes, anyone who

hasn't been on cant beat me. We have

some great legs. All of the pros are

very quick. Obviously not the one

under me. Whoever is coming up next,

they will challenge me.

I am sorry,

I love you.

The pro challenge will

reach its epic inclusion. Until

then, give it up for Katya and the

swivel plastic, Karen. Love those

girls.

APPLAUSE

Right, no rest for the

wicked, it's time to

head back to the training room!

Let's see Alexandra and Gorka

and Debbie and Giovanni

sweat it out as they prepare

for the weekend's semi finals.

That's it, it's over between them.

It is a beautiful dance and if Gorka

and I can make sure we are in our

own little bubble again, it can

work.

We did the wall 's on the

first week, and it will help her.

To

allow the judges, I have to show I

can do all the turns and not fall

out of place.

It is a sophisticated

and soft, Alexandra. The jive is a

fast dance, it is about kicks and

clicks. Stamina has been one of the

most difficult problems for Debbie.

It is faster. I am glad I didn't get

the jive in the first week because I

wouldn't have had the energy. My

fitness has gone up since then but I

am still struggling.

Jive is my

favourite dance, so we will make

sure it will be fine.

It's going to

be one of the best semifinals we

have ever had.

Time now for another

Strictly exclusive.

We sent our cameras

behind the scenes to this

weeks group rehearsal.

It's an intriguing theme this

week, let's take a look.

Have you heard, this week we are

changing things and bringing

different styles to the Group Dance.

Really. I hope it is Morris dancing,

I love Morris dancing.

It is not

Morris dancing but we do have break

dancers joining us.

Let's get

rehearsals going.

The idea behind

the Group Dance was to take Indy

Harper and breaking and find a way

to blend them together.

I am looking

forward to seeing us because this

has never been done before.

This was

from New York in the 1920s. It is a

very bent posture.

Breaking started

in New York in the early 70s. A lot

of the influences have come from

Lindy hop.

There is no ballroom or

Latin and they have been game to

learn new things.

The most

challenging part of the dance will

be the tricks. The specialist dances

are top of their game. When they are

free styling, you just stand there

and watch them.

I held the waste of

my partner and then flip over her

shoulder.

When you are doing Lindy

hop, you are connected with your

partner. But with this, you are

connected with everybody at once.

Anything can happen.

If you enjoyed

watching the rehearsal, make sure

you hop back to meet us this

weekend.

Thanks, Chloe.

Now, what's the point

of sitting alone in

your room, come hear the music play!

Life was certainly

a cabaret for these old

chums at the weekend -

it's Joe and Katya!

The virally decadent and slightly

twisted, it couldn't have been

better than that.

Flexibility in

those wonderful shadow rolls, islet

of them.

It was incredible.

It's Joe and Katya, everyone!

Liza Minnelli would be proud,

what a sensational Samba!

Are you still on a high from it?

We really are, we really enjoyed it

and we were chatting to each other

throughout, which is a good sign. In

rehearsals, it was going well and

then you get into the studio and the

costume comes together that it just

really bolsters you and give you a

bit of energy.

It goes up another

level.

Then you hear the fantastic

music and it carries you.

Statistically, the highest scoring

samba of the series. Craig admitted

he was ready for this samba to fail.

He was wanting to hate it.

He loved

it.

Everyone online thought it was

going to be awful. Really?

Some

people said it was risky, but where

you always confident it would work?

I am always confident this one does.

I knew it would be special.

People

are not sure it was going to work,

because it is like a charleston, if

you listen to it. But I come to

everything with an open mind and

that is what helps me. I saw

straightaway, it was going to be

amazing so coming in with that

positivity when I came into

choreographed.

You are my life

coach.

She didn't know what fatigue

it meant.

I never had it, so it

doesn't exist.

Katya, what I am

right now, that is what fatigue is.

In the movie, what do you put a

samba spent on something like that?

I went with the music, it is great,

it changes the character constantly.

I did give you a few moments of

freedom and I said you can do your

thing.

Which was the bit where you

did what you liked?

One step was

mine, I will always have that.

It is

so much fun, if you listen to the

music, I think it could be a great

samba role. The basic things that

the character onto it and I knew he

was going to love it.

There you are,

in your element.

He was talking

German to me.

I have learnt some

German. I love you, I hate shoe!

This is fun, this show today. How

difficult is it to sell the

character and perfect the technique?

It just merged.

It wasn't like that

in the beginning.

It always is, on

Monday, you don't want anyone to see

it at all.

When I choreographed and

then play with the nodes in and out,

it came naturally. He had no idea. I

said now, you have to introduce it

and it was going everywhere. It

wasn't easy but you brought the next

level to it on Saturday. It was so

good.

Don't get used to it. We loved

you going to your old school.

Wonderful. Are you feeling your

fellow Scots support?

Scottish

people like to get behind their own

but you don't get to see the people

who love the show and watching it so

going up there and getting to meet

them and hearing how much they

enjoyed it, it gives you more energy

and enthusiasm get through.

Well they should be very

proud of you indeed.

Our Strictly stat department have

been totting up scores to find out

who is the most successful

Scottish Strictly contestant ever.

Let's see how you rate.

Third is Judy Murray, she left

in week 8 with Anton Du Beke.

Joint second it's Carol Smillie,

Kenny Logan and Susan Calman.

What a trio!

They all left in week 9.

Which means you've probably

guessed - in first place,

it's you, Joe McFadden!

You are the first Scot to make it to

the semifinal. But you are also the

only boy left in the competition.

That feels good. It is great the

girls are doing well, they are all

brilliant and it is about time the

girls redressed the balance.

We

shall see.

Well you have two

biggies, The Argentine

Tango and the American Smooth.

Let's start with

the Argentine Tango.

You're dancing to this...

Human by Rag And Bone Man.

How are

you feeling? I am feeling very

human. I am only human, she is

superhuman. It feels like the right

dance because it is the story of me

being here. I am definitely fallible

and it seems right.

Absolutely.

Katya, pleased how it is going?

It

is going well.

It has been going

well all week.

He is going

absolutely bonkers.

I am just happy

I am still here, it is hard to be

down when I am still here.

The

American Smooth as well.

What is

this song about? Random choice.

You

have met Mrs Jones. How excited are

you to dance this dance with her?

You know the dance, it is like the

great old movies, Singing In The

Rain. It feels like a nice one.

Loads of character.

Some familiar

steps.

Especially when you have to

pick up two. Katya, any great words

of motivation?

Don't let the

shoulder monster come out. We were

in rehearsal yesterday and it was

the biggest reaction and we laughed

for about an hour.

Good luck to you

both, Joel and Katya.

That's all we've got

time for tonight.

a huge thanks to all my guests.

I'm back tomorrow at 6.00

for an hour-long It Takes Two!

I'll be catching up with Debbie

and Giovanni and Gemma and Aljaz.

On the Friday panel it's

Lisa Snowden, Rick Edwards and it's

the return of the Mac,

Danny Mac is here!

All that plus Tom

Chaplin sings live.

Until then, Goodnight!