Episode 57 Strictly - It Takes Two

Please hook your host, Zoe Ball.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE.

Hello and welcome to It Takes Two!

I can't believe I'm saying this...

But it's the last

Tuesday of the series!

But don't be sad - we've still got

a few more shows left!

And if that's still not enough

to brighten your mood, then take

a look at tonight's green room.

Don't say we don't treat you.

They survived their first dance-off

to become Strictly finalists,

it's Gemma and Aljaz!

And they've been there, done that,

and even won the Glitterball.

It's a trio of former champs,

Ore Oduba, Tom Chambers

and Chris Hollins!

But first, for the final time this

series let's pay one last visit

to my favourite corner.

Taking the reigns tonight,

it's 2016 champion Joanne Clifton.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE.

Can you believe one year ago? We

will start at the top of the

Leaderboard. Alexandra and Gorka.

After having six dances score 39,

they finally achieved a perfect

40 with their salsa.

The judges loved it -

what stood out for you?

When everybody saw the Tina Turner

thing, it was like, wow. I let out a

wow to myself when she went in for

those lifts. She is a force of

nature. Absolutely fearless. Such a

performer. If she has Latin in the

final, do exactly the same thing in

your performance and concentrate on

the details of your Latin.

On to their Viennese Waltz.

Words used by the judges

included "graceful, soft,

dreamy and exquisite" -

did you agree?

Absolutely. Alex is able to capture

the essence and character of every

dance. It was beautiful. Emotional

to watch. I think if she gets

ballroom in the final, she has to

concentrate. She has to work on her

right rib being hooked to Gorka's

right rib. Imagine his morning

breath. You can't just turn your

head to get away from it, you have

to move your rib cage. Not that I

would know what Gorka's morning

breath is like!

We all know what

goes on around here!

Flexi McGee's jive now.

Overall, the judges

comments were positive.

Although Craig did compare her

facial expressions to Judge Rinder.

Did it get you excited?

I got so excited I wanted to dance

with them. He was just saying that

because Judge Rinder was in the

audience. But Debbie was really

enjoying it, really going for it. If

that's what comes out when you enjoy

it, then so be it. For somebody of

her age to pull it off with energy

to the end was amazing. If she has

Latin in the final bend sheet should

be precise. Do her leg lines and arm

lines. Everything she does so well,

and get that performance on top of

it.

Quite a bit to cope with.

Moving onto their foxtrot, Darcey

said it was incredibly technical.

But Craig deducted a point

for the time spent out of hold.

Was Gio's choreography breaking

the rules in your opinion?

Well, no. They did the whole routine

in hold and then broke cat the end.

-- then broke at the end. They could

have gone into a little entrance,

then hold them finish, but they put

it all at the end. It kind of

balances out. I think Debbie's holds

is one of the best ballroom holds

I've ever seen on Strictly. She

understands the two curves and the

head position. In ballet... And demo

time.

Yes please. It's Christmas

demo time. In ballet you hold

everything together, your thighs and

everything, it's great for Latin,

but in ballroom you have to open

your legs. My teacher used to put a

handbag between my legs so I was

used to swinging them open. Also

driving across the floor. For every

step forwards there are five actions

you need to do. You have to lower,

but your body Mike Ford, control the

step. -- put your body weights

forward. Slide back as far as you

can. Bush and recover. -- push and

recover.

Onto our dance-off survivors Gemma

and Aljaz, they kicked

things off with a rumba.

Shirley liked the advanced

choreography in the second half,

but felt it "lacked musicality".

What's your take?

I think Gemma in that rumba had one

of the best leg and heat actions

I've ever seen. It was so beautiful

to watch. I think what surely meant

was she needed to continue that

music up into the upper part of her

body. So if she has Latin in the

final, keep that leg action, it's

amazing, but feel like a snake

slithering around every single organ

in her body.

It sounds scary, but it

works.

It will move you and fill out

the music.

Think of the snakes.

Let's switch it up and talk

about their tango.

Craig said it needed more V-shaping

but liked the attack.

Did it have enough attack for you?

I agree with Craig for once. It had

more than enough attack. She had the

passion and character, that was

great. A little bit more out to the

left with the V shape. But going

backwards, she has to do that. From

underneath your bra down to your

waist, should be as straight as

possible, don't let yourself go, so

fit perfectly with your partner.

Imagine an invisible pole going

through your back where the bra

strap is, through the front and tip

it up. You get more of a V shape.

I

will stand like that all the time in

the supermarket looking strange.

Finally, it's Joe and Katya.

They opened with their

American Smooth.

We all know you're a ballroom baby -

was this a winner for you?

I loved it. It was so suave. He's

such a performer, so musical.

We

love that face.

If he has ballroom

in the final, I would like him to

work on two things. The left elbow

has to stay back and really angular,

not forward and around it. The other

thing, demo time...

The thing he does well is swing

through the music. And drive across

the floor. Swing is free movement

from a fixed point. We don't have a

fixed point because we are moving

around the dance floor, but to

create the illusion of swing, it's

through the knees and compression of

them, so you can go down and create

the swing, which he does well. You

can also do it through swaying, and

that creates the swing. I need him

to improve his rotation. Cut the

body in half. Redcar and blue car.

Are you following, people? Keep up.

When you get to the point of

rotation, he puts the red car in

reverse and the other goes forward.

That stops the swing.

I think we can

follow that. But there is more.

To

carry on going forward, the blue car

needs to go a little bit faster.

It's incredible. I have the car and

the snakes. It's all going on.

Let's talk about their

Argentine tango now.

It blew everyone's minds.

That thing

at the end, I don't even know what

to call it. I think it's a Katya

special or something. I bow down to

them. The core strength they must

have for that. I can't understand

how they've done that. And it's gone

viral, all over Twitter.

My dad,

Jonnie Ball, he was doing it in the

kitchen at home. He has done himself

for mischief.

Point your toes

sometimes.

Always great to see you.

Joanne Clifton!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE.

Right, time now to

meet my next guests.

On Saturday night they let us see

"beneath their beautiful"

with their rumba, and went

on to reveal themselves as two

schmokin' hot tango dancers!

Surviving the dance-off and heading

straight to the final -

it's Gemma and Aljaz.

You have a beautiful set of pins,

particularly for this dance.

Correct, sensual but not smutty.

Even grandma would approve. Very

good.

I loved it.

The determination,

the passion. Very nice work. Very

happy.

Hands in the air everyone -

it's Gemma and Aljaz!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE.

Congratulations on surviving

the dance-off, and more

importantly welcome to the final!

How are you feeling today?

I feel so happy and grateful, lucky

to be given the chance to be in the

final. It's crazy.

You did the work,

and it's so deserved.

Two dances.

A place in the final at stake.

What was the atmosphere

like in the studio on Saturday?

The atmosphere is the same every

week regardless. Everybody knows the

stakes are high because you are

working towards it. For us, it's a

case of getting through each dance

each week. On Saturday, it only sunk

into my head it was the semifinals

as we were about to dance. Then you

think, help, oh my gosh, I've got to

go for it. It's like that every

week, for me every week anyway, I am

nervous every week.

It doesn't get

any easier. You think it will, but

it doesn't.

You'd managed to avoid the dance-off

up until this point -

were you surprised to be

in the bottom two?

You always surprised if you are in

the bottom two. As soon as we

were...

Give him a second.

There is

a big Christmas tree right there.

Nothing is going to jump out, I

promise!

Looked at that!

It's final

one.

Amazing. And it's easy to read

as well.

Simple things, everybody.

You always surprised when you're in

the bottom two. Especially in the

semifinal when the stakes are that

high. As soon as we heard our names,

we went backstage and we really

composed ourselves. Let's just go

out there. I thought the tango on

Saturday was so good.

Amazing.

I

love the way it went. You say to go

out there and do the same, but we

had to push because it was the

semifinal. To get to the final you

have to do your absolute best.

You're talking about it really

seriously and we are giggling to

ourselves.

In the words of Julie Andrews,

let's start at the very beginning,

it's a very good place to start.

Your semi-final started with a dance

dreaded by many, the rumba.

I thought on Saturday I did as best

as I could. It's a very hard dance

to do. Straight from the rehearsal

room, I was struggling to get it.

But I think it went OK on the night.

It went incredible!

Everything he

told me to do, when we watched it

back, I loved it. And it was a great

song. It was weird is doing it with

Aljaz because he's my mate!

And you

looked the part.

We did crack it.

It's one of those, I always try with

the Rumba, you don't really practice

the romance in rehearsal. You want

to make it real. You don't want to

act it. As soon as we heard we were

dancing the Rumba, Jenna has that

one particular person that it always

switches her on when she hears the

name. All I have to say it is Tom

Hardy! As soon as I said that she

just... You know.

He said, for this

dance I'm Tom Hardy. It was easy.

The tango was absolutely epic.

Normally you come off and relax, you

had to change. Did you love that?

Anything like that, for me, it is

the same as the paso

Anything like that, for me, it is

the same as the paso, a chance to be

yourself. The more dainty ones I

find harder to do. The tango, being

strong, you can use your physicality

more, I feel more comfortable.

You

smashed it. The judges saved you

unanimously. That is incredible.

Onto the three dancers. The

showdowns, the judge's choice, and

your favourite. Was that a unanimous

decision?

We actually still

fighting! Straightaway, yes. Did we?

Yes, we did.

I am not allowed to do

what it is.

Which one is it,

actually?

They will be cross with

me! The judges have chosen a dance

for you to do again, which one?

Ole!

With three we did the paso and got a

high score. We got the high school

for that week. It was physicality. I

love Coldplay, I love the

choreography.

You got 35, can you

get more than that?

We have to! We

have no choice.

We are definitely

going to push that number.

We are

going to reveal your show dance

tune. This is when you shine as a

choreographer. Is this going to be

the showdowns to end all show

dancers?

It's going to be very good.

It's going to be all right.

Whether

I do it good or not is another

matter. How he has done it, the

concept and everything, straightaway

I thought that was going to be

amazing. He showed me bits today.

It

is the first one she actually likes

that I have choreographed. If you

are lucky enough to get to the

final, choreographing the showdowns

is very special. It is paying

tribute to Gemma, the best bits from

the series, trying to make something

special. Hopefully it works.

I can't

wait! Gemma and Aljaz!

The last one!

Now listen up.

When I say "Tunes on",

you say "Tuesday!"

Tunes on...

Tuesday!

Tunes on...

Tuesday!

You guessed it -

it's Tunes on Tuesday!

Very good!

It's a showdance special tonight -

let's warm this baby up!

Come on, some encouragement!

It's One Day I'll

Fly Away, by Vaults.

This dreamy ditty was of course made

famous by Randy Crawford.

Now as you might have gathered -

we really care about dissecting

the true meaning behind each song.

This one is apparently

about the emotional bondage

experienced in life

and the longing to be free of it.

Deep.

Let's see who will be

spreading their wings

to this on Saturday.

Here we go...

It's Debbie and Giovanni!

Right, let's see what's next

on the showdance playlist.

It's Show Me How You Burlesque,

by pop princess Christina Aguilera!

This fierce number featured,

funnily enough, in the film

Burlesque starring

Christina alongside

Tunes on Tuesday fave -

Cher!

She's here tonight... She's not!

But despite such tour de

force leading ladies -

the filmed was panned

universally by the critics.

Who will hoping for better

reviews this Saturday?

It's Gemma and Aljaz!

It's you!

Right, let's see what's next

on the showdance playlist.

Hello!

It's only one of the greatest

musical songs of all time -

There's No Business Like

Showbusiness!

Three of the finest champions of

Strictly Come Dancing of all time.

Although some are questionable!

This song is of course synonymous

with the undisputed First Lady

of the musical comedy Ethel Merman.

But Ethel wasn't always

in line to be a star -

before hitting the big time

she was a stenographer.

Which is a person who transcribes

speech in short hand - fascinating!

But who will be dancing

to this on Saturday?

Help me, boys.

It's Alexandra and Gorka!

Thank you, champions. Thank you.

Don't mind them.

Right, that just leaves Joe

and Katya's showdance song.

You Make My Dreams

by Hall and Oates!

Dreamy stuff indeed!

To find out more about

this weekend's songs,

head to the website.

On Saturday, another member will

join the exclusive club of strictly

champions.

Here to reveal the secret

to getting your hands on the trophy

are three former winners.

That wasn't brilliant for an

amateur, it was brilliant for a

professional!

The winners of

Strictly Come Dancing...

Quirky,

dynamic, animated, all of those

wonderful things.

This is turning

into the best final ever.

You are one athlete, the stamina.

A

star is born.

Give it up for our Winners Panel!

Look at them. Glory boys they are.

Where do you display

your Glitterballs?

It has just this minute come out of

the toilet.

What was it doing there?

It was safe and my two-year-old

likes playing with it. So it has

gone into the study.

Practising

speeches, I like it.

You won series 6

with Camilla Dallerup.

I still get goose bumps when I watch

that, do you have fond memories?

It

is a dream that you would want to

repeat, but you would be too scared

to do it. It is the most humbling

and wonderful experience. You look

at it and it feels like someone

else. Did we really do that?

Ore,

you know how our finalists are

feeling. What is going through their

minds?

All of the clammy

nervousness, compiled to the series.

I told them when I was there at the

weekend, make sure this week is the

best fun you have had all series.

They are in an exclusive club

already, it is the best way to see

it off. If you can remember, when

you are trying to remember five,

six, seven, eight, have fun.

You

might never get to do it again.

Let's talk about the finalists. Joe

and Katya.

Now Tom you're an actor,

you've starred in Holby City,

you've won Strictly.

See where I'm going here.

Do you think Joe can

follow in your footsteps?

He was a dark horse that came

through. The turning point, I loved

him in his cabaret experience. He

has found the essence, which is so

important for the audience, the pure

joy. It is so hard to contain the

nerves and think about the judges

marking that, I went wrong there or

there. Just remember that dancing is

a joyous expression and he has found

out.

I want to write that down!

Essence. Ore, you described him as a

unicorn. What are you calling him

now?

I think the unicorn is still

sitting. They have gone everywhere.

That cabaret number, that is where

it all came together. You found a

guy that was so comfortable in that

space. They have been such an

amazing partnership. I am going to

buy that unicorn for Christmas. I

think they are still in stock.

Now onto dance-off

survivors Gemma and Aljaz.

They had a tough ride

at the weekend, do you think

they can bounce back?

Of course they can. I have just been

speaking to her. She is so

refreshing. She is the one that

seems to enjoy it the most. Come on,

give it some. That is what my old

mate used to say, give it some of

that and then you never know what

happens. She has got through what

can be the worst thing, the

dance-off. Now there is nothing to

lose, the final week, give it

everything you've got. She looks

fantastic and I like her music for

the show dance.

Let's talk about the comeback kid

Alexandra and Gorka.

Consistently high scores from these

two - are you excited to see

what they'll deliver in the final?

They have been so consistently high

throughout. If you can't bring it to

the final, when can you? The salsa,

the scorpion kick, I don't know what

that was but it was spicy. I've no

experience whatsoever of that, I

just made it up. They have so many

tricks in their locker. Because of

this, that they have done over the

last few weeks, that has been low,

and they know that they have nothing

to lose. I think we are going to see

a firecracker.

It's going to be like

that!

They are performing their showdance

to There's No Business

Like Show Business -

do you have high expectations?

Is it a good number?

I think the

final will be won and nothing else

but the Showdance. It's got to be

good. The music has to be good, the

crowd, the audience at home have got

to embrace it. If you can't get

going to There's No Business Like

Show Business, don't switch on on

Saturday night. For me, that is the

number one track that will get

everybody going. She is amazing, I

love her. She has had terrible

social media responses. I think the

way she keeps coming back is just

brilliant. I wish her the best of

luck.

Next up is Debbie and Giovanni -

often found lurking around

the top of the leaderboard.

Are you a fan? Are you under her

spell?

In the words of dear Brucie,

she is my favourite. I love the way

that she looks at every single

moment you can see how grateful she

is to be there. Her aura is oozing

out. Seeing her at the front, nobody

putts Debbie in the corner.

The judges have chosen

Debbie and Giovanni

to revisit their week 8 Salsa.

They scored 35 points,

do you think they can top it?

I think they totally can. Giovanni

has been in the final as well

before. The two of them have such

amazing chemistry. The salsa was

phenomenal already. They are just

going to bring it. I love the two

them together. Like I say, they have

amazing chemistry. Facial chemistry,

they look into each other's eyes.

There is a real connection, a real

essence.

The time has come.

Down the line - who do

you think is going to win?

We can do that.

So cruel. Joe is hot

favourite, but I'm going for young

Deborah, Debbie McGee. I no longer

want to be the oldest champion.

Tom?

I am going Debbie as well. But I do

love Joe. It is about come on the

night, anybody's game in the final.

It's about the dancers and the

music. The combination of those

factors, anybody's game.

Can I be

diplomatic? You know I love them

all. Last year, going into it, it

was anyone's game. We had an amazing

night. Like you said, it could be

anyone that pulls it out of the bag.

You are not getting anything out of

me.

Biggest night of the year!

Thank you so much for joining us,

give it up for our Strictly champs!

That's all we have time for tonight!

Thank you to all my guests.

Make sure you tune in tomorrow for

a catch up with Alexandra and Gorka.

Ian Waite will warm us up one last

time and TV's favourite double-act

Tess and Claud will be here!

I can't wait.

Until then - goodnight!