Episode 60 Strictly - It Takes Two

Live from the strictly ballroom,

this is strictly It Takes Two.

Please welcome your host, Zoe Ball.

CHEERING

Mwah! Mwah! Oh! Get out of here you

are so gorgeous!

Hello and welcome to the last

It Takes Two of the series!

Thank you, Anton.

A thank you to our

gorgeous pro dancers!

Now we've got a bit

more room tonight.

We've taken over Strictly's ballroom

and for the next hour

we'll be looking back

at an unforgettable series.

For one last time I'll be chatting

to our four finalists

and on the Friday panel -

the boys are back in town -

Rufus Hound, Tom Allen

and Ian Waite will all be here!

But first, I can't do

a Friday show without him -

it's time to bring out my divine

stunt double - Mr Gethin Jones!

# He's the greatest dancer... #

How are you darling?

I'm good.

What

are you doing tonight? Eugh! We've

got the finalists and the rest of

the couples who have made 2017 so

much fun and really special. I feel

a bit like Ayman and Ruth, you are

Ruth! Let's meet our first

finalists.

This couple never fail to bring

a smile to our faces,

they've lit up the dance floor every

weekend with some truly

dazzling routines and we

have loved every step.

So let's put our hands in the air

one last time as we take a look

at Gemma and Aljaz's Strictly story.

I wanted to be a bit more ladylike.

That would please my mum, anyway.

The first downs of the cha cha cha.

Three, four, and one. It was cheeky

and flirty, and you produced the

goods on the night.

Well done. No

dance comes naturally to me at all.

I have just really struggled with

the steps.

You kept your frame up,

your head was up, very impressive

today.

It was full of character and

energy, and I thought it was

brilliant.

I'm loving being part of

Strictly. I really am starting to

fall in love with learning to dance.

I really and truly loved it. You

really are becoming a polished Gem!

Second, unbelievable. It is

incredible.

The front runners in

this competition need to start

looking behind them, darling.

Gemma

is the perfect partner for me. She's

pushing me as much as I am pushing

her. And we are halfway through. She

has a much talent, so much

potential.

There were some mistakes

and the beginning when you started

off, you got on the wrong foot.

I

didn't forget the beginning.

You did

forget the beginning. We are going

to come back fighting. I want to

graft and rap, and look back with

Alianza and say that we did it all

with a smile on our face.

Don't

think it, let yourself do it,

especially on the salsa.

Every

single week, I drive myself crazy

with anxiety, worry and fear that

something's going to go wrong.

I

have noticed a great difference in

your eye level, which was brilliant.

I never in a million years thought I

could put on a dainty frock and look

so elegant on the dance floor.

You

are getting better and better every

week. Fantastic.

The improvement is

out of this world. It almost looks

like it's not the same person. And I

love that, to see her going from

zero to hero.

I could not be more

proud of. We got a standing ovation

from Shirley, wow!

Two nines.

Really?!

I thought this dance

exposed your weaknesses, sadly.

I

feel sick every time I'm waiting for

the results. Praying that it stays

white, and then when it does, it is

the best feeling ever.

I thought it

needed to be a bit lighter, but I

love the theatricality of it all.

Everything I have done training wise

over the past living weeks has to go

out of the window for the rumba.

There have been some days when I

have cracked and have a good old cry

with Alianza, but he has got me

through it. He is so patient with

me. He has been great. I would love

to get to the pile. It would be a

big thank you from me to him.

-- get

to the final. The determination, the

passion, very nice work.

I never

realised how little Levi had it

myself until I started dancing.

Gemma and Aljaz, I am gutted for

you, as well.

To get this far and be

eliminated would be devastating.

Gemma and Aljaz. Gemma and Aljaz.

You are the winners. You are through

to next week's final.

We have come

so far in the competition. I've gone

from not ever taken a step in my

life in dancing, the being a

finalist either I am so proud of

Alianza, for helping me believe in

myself.

Hello, it is going to

happen.

How does it feel to watch that back

and just how much you have done?

It

is crazy, but what I love about

watching it back without finding it

ridiculous, we have laughed in

everyone, and the fact that we have

managed to get here with that

journey, having fun, I literally

could not be more happy and I am so

proud of you for getting me here.

You have dragged me, we have done

it! I feel more ladylike now. You

have had some peers, Alijaz. What

has been the best thing about

dancing with the skill?

There has

never been a dull moment. I have

said that a million times. Every

day, there was never an old joke, is

always something new, something

funny. And we say Merry Christmas.

Traditional! As much as I enjoyed

doing the show here in the studio, I

enjoy the rehearsals. And one of the

highlights was doing It Takes Two

every week. We have had so much

fun...

Put your hands up! I will

never be able to stop that! How has

preparation gone today?

Rehearsals,

three dancers. It has gone well...

Very well. I genuinely didn't think

that it would because we had a bit

of a wobble on Wednesday. But we

have got here today, with a

different space and lighting and

people watching, it is like, we did

the first dance fine, the showdowns,

fine, the second dance, some things

we need to work on, we have watched

it back and it is good to watch it

back.

I feel like I still have the

slippers on.

It is perfect.

Can you

believe that it is 116 days ago that

you first met, back in August. Do

you remember your first impressions

of each other back then?

Yeah, I

remember thinking I was going to get

on with him because straightaway, we

thought, we're going to have fun. I

was like, yes. But I said to my mum,

when we did the training, I said,

height wise, there is one of them,

Aljaz, I got on with him and I think

I would have a laugh with him. That

is what I said to my mum. And here

we are.

Speaking of your mum, it is

not just Aljaz it was very proud of

you. There are some special people

who have some lovely messages for

you.

Jimoh was always a tomboy. She

always wanted to be on a go-kart, or

in the garage with her grandad. She

was very lovely and caring, a lovely

girl.

Gemma is good fun. Always

there if you need her. She is a

brilliant sister.

When I saw Gemma

stepping out on the first night, it

was like, use this?

Because it was

fabulous! Just watching her, it

absolutely blew me away. She just

looked like a superstar to me.

It

was emotional.

It was.

She got her first pens, then and I

was so proud of her.

She is so

focused, she keeps going and she

wants to do everybody proud.

If you

had said to me 12 months ago that

Jenna would have made the final, I

would have laughed at you. We have

seen her develop, this duckling,

into this swan. And it has been a

fabulous journey, and we are very,

very proud of her.

We wish you loads

and loads of luck for the final. You

can do this, you have been

absolutely amazing.

Good luck. Good

luck, auntie Gemma, you can do this.

We love you loads.

Everybody is

really proud of you. See you, Gemma,

bring that trophy home!

That were so

lovely. So sweet. What do you want

to say to all of your amazing

supporters?

Just thank you. I know

that it has been tough for my

family. Here, we have put on a brave

face, and we do it, but when we are

home, if I had a tough day, it is

them that I'm on the phone to,

everyone at the radio station,

they've given me time off to do

this. And last but not least, to

you, you have changed my life, kid,

you have taught me how to dance.

Thank you.

I could not have been

happier. You knew what, that is the

easiest job I have ever done,

teaching you to dance, every single

day. And look at us, if you watch

back that first downs and what is it

to happen tomorrow, it does not

matter how it goes, what the end

result is, you have achieved so much

in such a little tired. We have

achieved. You have achieved!

It is a

family, you have brought as so many

great memories and semi last. We

have loved having you on.

CHEERING

We're so close to the

Strictly final now.

It is 24 hours, 16 minutes and 54

seconds away.

I'm feeling excited -

but how are the class

of 2017 feeling?

Let's head over to Gethin who's

with some of them now.

It has been emotional.

Look who I've found.

It's Chizzy, Aston,

Charlotte and Jonnie!

Welcome back!

How does it feel returning

to the ballroom?

It is lovely, and having no

pressure! It is really nice. You're

missing brewing. He had a stand-in,

today, like a mock with his face on.

We will miss you, Brian. What has it

been like hanging out with the class

of 2017?

We went out for lunch

yesterday which was brilliant. We

were so lucky this year. We have had

such a laugh from start to finish. I

cannot wait until tomorrow.

We have

not seen you for ages. Have you been

keeping up with dancing?

No, no. If

anybody knows Pasha's address, let

me know, we're running out of time.

I love this bunch of people.

It has

been a great time. Jonnie, you know

a thing or two about finals. The

nerves that kick in. Are you looking

forward to tomorrow night?

It is

going to be a great night. Crazy

that it has come round is quick but

everyone is going to be so excited,

they just have to go out and have

fun and enjoy it because it'll be

the last time they get to do this on

this stage.

Jonnie has had a haircut

specially for the final! Extensions!

Zoe, back to you!

Right, let's bring out

our next finalists.

This couple put a spell on us

from the very first moment

they hit the dancefloor.

Whether wowing us in ballroom

or turning up the heat in latin,

there's only one word to describe

them - magic.

Let's take a look at Debbie

and Giovanni's Strictly story.

I still pinch myself every day when

I get up, I can't believe it's

actually happening to me.

It's

Giovanni.

He is the partner I

wanted, all my dreams came true.

First dance is going to be a Paso

Doble.

I love it already.

She's got

moves.

You are on fire, Debbie!

Whatever Giovanni has done to you,

darling. It's working, because you

are dancing like a 20-year-old.

It

could not be lovier, my dear Debbie.

Amazing!

Top of the leaderboard.

I

still can't believe that. Giovanni

found out I was ticklish.

No, I will

not. Every time she got it wrong...

It's a nightmare.

I love that

classic Hollywood style.

I felt it

looked like a barbie doll doing this

particular dance.

Doing the

cha-cha-cha I knew that I hadn't

quite got it, so in my head you just

have to do the best you can do,

girl. We got through it.

Absolutely.

He was brilliant. Both of us.

I have

never seen a standing leg as

beautifully straight as your

standing leg.

Giovanni darling!

Debbie, darling, I love, love!

Well

done. Beautiful.

I had quite a lot

of low moments. On some of those

days where all I want to do is cry,

Giavanni will make me laugh and say,

come on, we have to do something.

Clean, precise, absolutely

incredible.

How you produce those

crazy lifts.

I am going to give you

my Queen of Latin Crown. Because you

deserve it.

From now on I have to

call you, your majesty?

Flawless.

You gave me tingles down my back.

Four tens! Can't believe it!

I am

really proud of Debbie, every

Saturday she delivers the best

performance that we could ask for.

Whatever you are on, darling, I want

some. That is absolutely ridiculous!

I am really proud of that lift

because no one else has ever done it

on Strictly and we're going to

Blackpool.

Thank you for bringing

girl power to the tower!

It was a

little bit spiky, a little bit

stiff.

It was lacking in energy by

the very end.

When it is your light

that goes red, your heart just

sinks. It's just that fear that

you're going to go.

Debbie and

Giovanni.

It was such a relief. You

just want to get through. I felt my

age today, I am really tired and I

am just not very good at relaxing.

I

have never seen balance like that,

you are outstanding.

Your legs were

like a paintbrush in the hand of a

great artist.

Quarter-final!

Ready

to go?

Absolutely.

It was just

beautiful. I am purring with

delight.

That dance I think will always stay

in my heart because it was so

beautiful.

My experience of Strictly

has been nothing but happiness. And

mostly because of Giovanni.

We have

one of the most beautiful

relationships, it's just been great

from the beginning.

Your agility,

how crisp those kicks are is

extraordinary.

It was a sparkling

jive.

It's given me the opportunity

to show that I have had my own

talent.

It flowed brilliantly, I

loved it!

Having had two very sad

years, where I really felt I had

lost my sparkle, Strictly's brought

my sparkle back.

She's just a lovely

lady and she deserves the best in

her life. Debbie and Giovanni

welcome! Everybody's getting

emotional today and I am not

surprised. How does it feel to watch

that back, Debbie?

It's just

amazing. It's been such a fantastic

time. You know, the fact that the

viewers have voted us and we are

through to the final and watching

everything is just, it's just been

so special. He's been so special.

He

is quite special. Debbie, you are

pretty special too! Debbie has

literally bent over backwards to get

to the final. How proud are you of

this wonderful woman?

Well, I keep

saying this every day, I couldn't be

more proud, because it's not just

about dancing. I think, now she's

better as a performer, human being,

when you start she was a little bit

less confident than what she is now.

She's as a friend as well,

friendship is really nice and

spending every day with her in the

training room has opinion just

great. The best time of my life. I

am really, really proud.

I think we

have seen that, your friendship

grow. Debbie, so close to the final,

how are the nerves, have you felt

any different today than before? Am

I not helping!

We don't want to

think about nerves. No, at the

moment we just really enjoyed the

rehearsals today. We love the dances

we're doing. It just feels such an

honour to be in the final. I just

want to have a wonderful time.

Trying not to get nervous and just

remembering that we have laughed for

this whole series and I hope that

tomorrow we will laugh through the

day as well.

That's what I keep

saying to Debbie as well. It's not

about tomorrow night, it's about the

journey. Tomorrow what will be will

be. That's how we say it, right.

That's how you say it!

Listen, if we

win, if we don't win, doesn't

matter, we are in the final. We

enjoy all the way through. I am glad

that I have met one of the best

friends ever I could ask for and

thank you, just thank you.

I will

say the public will want lifts and

legs from you two tomorrow. Are we

going to get that aplenty, have you

gone Fulham full foeshs ambitious

tomorrow

200%.

A lot of splits.

Don't give too much.

What are we

going to do when this is over! What

will you miss the most about dancing

with this gorgeous one?

The

happiness. As soon as he starts to

dance he makes you smile. Because

there's this kind of feeling that

comes off Giovanni as soon as he

starts to move and every day I have

felt that for the last four months.

So I will really, really miss that.

I understand. I understand what

she's saying.

You do obviously! Who

wouldn't feel like that! Debbie,

tissues at the ready. We have some

wonderful messages for you now from

your nearest and dearest.

Debbie was always very girly girly.

Loved pretty little dresses and

playing with dolls.

Ever since she

was a little girl she's enjoyed

entertaining and always wanted to go

on stage.

When Debbie did her first

dance I had tears. She went through

a really tough time losing her dad

and then losing Paul and for a few

months she was very, very down. Then

she got Strictly and the sparkle

came back.

What Debbie has been

doing at her age is amazing and it's

really, really lovely the amount of

people that I speak to who are

inspired to start dancing because of

it.

She's such an entertainer and

such a great performer and she's

doing herself proud.

If Paul could

see her now and how well she's done

he would be overjoyed.

Good luck,

Debbie, go out and grab that

glitterball on Saturday, we know you

can do it.

We love you so much, we

are rooting for you.

I am so proud

of you, lovely sis. Good luck on

Saturday. Love you to bits.

Debbie,

I just want you to know how proud I

am of you and I know your dad would

be doubly proud. So just go out

there and smash it love.

Oh! Wonderful. Your family. We have

all gone.

Me too.

Goodness me. What

has the support meant to you,

Debbie?

It's just been incredible.

All my family and friends, where I

live in the village. They send me, I

get 100 messages every Saturday.

Then wherever Giovanni have gone and

I have gone, the public have just

been amazing. That's been a huge

part of being on Strictly, is people

have shown me how much they love me

and that's something that you can

never buy.

No, you're absolutely

right. Giovanni, do you have

anything to say to Debbie?

As I said

before, I just want to say thank you

for being amazing partner, but most

important thing thank you for being

yourself and I love you lots.

So

much love in this room! Debbie and

Giovanni, we have loved it, we can't

wait to see the legs and all

tomorrow. Flexi-McGee, you are a

legend. Debbie and Giovanni!

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

Now, what do Susan Calman,

Darvid Ghadami and Ruth Langsford

all have in common?

Any clue?

They're in touching distance

to Gethin - lucky things.

Let's see how they're getting on.

Top it you lot! Tell you what,

tickets are so scarce for the

Strictly final that some celebs have

had to reserve seats right now.

Isn't that right?

We have had to

fight for these seats, I don't think

we are going to be moved. We are

going to stay here until tomorrow.

This is it. Ready to go.

The

finalists are now your friends of

course, have you lent them your

lucky socks?

They mean too much to

me. I want to frame them on the

wall. I might wear them myself.

You

will be here.

That's true.

The

question on everyone's lips is, have

you got a tattoo?

I haven't yet

because I am doing the tour, I

didn't want a wound on my foot. I am

booking it in for March, it is

happening, just not before the tour,

I want to dance well on the tour.

We

can not wait for that. Back with

Kevin, what's it been like

rehearsing today, back with him in

hold?

The most difficult part about

leaving the show was not seeing

Kevin every day. It feels like I am

back with my best mate today and I

have never been happier than seeing

his smiling face. We have had a

brilliant time. Yeah, it's been

great to see him again. I have

missed him!

Good luck with that

tomorrow. So many good dances to

look forward to. Show dances in

particular.

I love the show dances,

it's my favourite part of the

series, we all had to learn dances

but to see people doing their own

thing and they're always amazing.

Can't wait to see those.

I am going

to miss a show dance without you and

Anton. Everyone would have loved to

see that. Enjoy the show tomorrow. I

will get the snacks ready for

tomorrow. Cool. Thank you very much.

Lovely gang. Time to welcome my

final Friday panel of the series.

Please welcome Rufus Hound, Tom

Allen and Ian Waite!

OK, here we are it's the Eve of the

2017 final. Where will you be

watching tomorrow night, Tom?

Watching at my mum and dad's house,

that's where I live. And I will be

dressed as Debbie McGee.

Which era?

The exact outfit she will be wearing

tomorrow.

Please tweet photos. Ian,

you have been keeping a strict -

look at you all happy.

This feels

really weird to be sitting down not

doing something.

Nice of some of us

to make an effort, Ian!

I look like

I have a darts match on after.

Tough

competition, it's so tight.

They've

all got something. I love Gemma and

Aljaz. They've got this wonderful

relationship. Then you have

flexy-McGee who can do everything.

Alexandra so expressive,

unbelievable. Then Joe who is just

improved, he has gone on the J-word,

the journey.

Are these the four you

expected at the beginning?

No, I

think that's fair to say, don't

think anybody necessarily had these

four in the pool. We were all

expecting to see Aston. Forgive me,

because they're all brilliant and we

love them all, it's Christmas and

let's not be mean. But it would have

been lovely to see either a Susan or

a Reverend Richard or...

Maybe you

next year.

I amen's wife Ruth.

--

I'men's wife. Joe, last man

standing. -- Eamon.

He has impressed

me so much. Viennese waltz. It's not

just a biscuit turns out. Also he is

wearing that lovely Russian outfit

with a moustache, don't know about

you but I love to see Freddie

Mercury doing a waltz. Going to be

wonderful.

Ian, you were saying Joe

was a bit square in the first bit of

training.

Everyone loves a square

dance.

Weeks on you have seen

improvements.

The ballroom has

improved tremendously. He needs to

get his left side up in promenade,

if he can he will be amazing.

Holmes, Gemma and Aljaz, last time

we met you were loving the fact that

they were so bubbly.

Her big

improvement, she hasn't naturally

quite got the bounce, you look at

Joe and he has this natural bounce.

I bet though whether it is the

muscle strength or core strength

that improves but she has got more

like Paul Murphy, and again, the J

word, you can see where she started

and where she is now. Strictly is a

dance competition, but it is not the

best dancer, it is who do I like

watching dance the most, and from

where she started to where she is

now, she's the one I like watching

the most.

Lots of people with you on

that. The judges have picked this

from week four, the paso doble.

The

woman is a cake in the paso doble,

there's nothing nicer than swishing

around. Very powerful. The thing

about Gemma is, she has come on in

leaps and bounds. She has never

danced before. Can you imagine such

a thing? Think how far she has come.

That flaw is so shiny, it is more

shiny than my face! She has got to

keep her cool, and she has got it

all to play for tomorrow.

All to

play for, Alexandra and Gorka the

corker. What does she need to focus

on with the American Smooth?

It was

said that she didn't get the

standing ovation because she didn't

is an issue of her arms properly.

She takes direction so brilliantly

well. I am sure now she is using her

arms expressively. She does

everything brilliantly.

She has

improved so much. She has set the

bar. She's had the most tens across

the series. Can they top what

they've done so far tomorrow?

I

don't know that they've got to. I

see Alexandra dancing and I think

this is somebody who is incredible

at dancing. The Tina Turner

number... That is just edged in my

mind as being as good as this show

gets. I don't know that they have do

topic. Especially in the final, it

is the moment. If you seize the

moment, the mid-show moment.

Flexie

McGee, Tom, I'm coming to you. You

are slightly obsessed about this.

There is such love between a gay man

and a woman in her 50s with a strong

personality. I want to see personal

life anecdotes from her. I want to

see the arena tour, high-kicking and

dancing.

Coming to a city near you.

I love you. Can you tell me who's

going to win, Rufus?

I think Debbie

would be best for the show.

Alexandra the best dancing, Gemma

the best, and then Joe might be best

because the only man in it, and he's

from Scotland.

Tom? We can say who

we like, it is going to be one of

them! Say it is going to be me he

says, but it does not work like

that. Debbie McGee, of course, it is

going to be Debbie McGee, I will be

turning up at the studio tomorrow

crying if it is not Debbie McGee.

Ian? Out of time. What a panel!

Right, back to business -

let's meet our next finalists.

Now just when you thought you'd seen

it all on Strictly -

these two come along and re-write

the rule book.

They're the risk takers,

whose bold routines and daring lifts

have blown us all away.

Let's take a look at Joe

and Katya's Strictly story.

The people that know me best would

describe my dancing as...

Overenthusiastic! Let's find out who

your leading lady is. It is Katya!

Will another he smiles inexorable

and happy. She is such a fantastic

dancer.

And the first dance is the

giant!

The jive?! -- the jive.

The

attack, the energy, the style.

You

have to contort your body into

positions that they feel natural at

all. Is this going to be easy?

I

wouldn't normally say this about the

tango, but there was too much

energy. I know that you can do it

better.

I just had a mind blank

where I literally didn't know what

my next steps were.

So you're going

to come back strong.

I was swept

away by a romantic blizzard. Epic.

That was so beautifully traditional,

and it worked, it really work.

You

have been the best partner. We

absolutely depending on each other.

I'm going to be there for you the

matter what, and we have the belief

that you can go all the way.

You

haven't quite mastered the action in

the leg and hip department.

The

footwork was very, very good.

Joe, I

don't think you actually did that

badly.

Keep moving forward. The

silhouette is right at the

beginning, the shaping, I absolutely

loved it.

Her control. That was the

best male paso doble we have seen on

Strictly so far.

I really went for

it.

To get ten, that was just mind

blowing. I knew that I love dancing

but I didn't think I would enjoy it

as much as I am. It is a fantastic

final.

I really love the energy and

drive. Really impressive. Very well

executed.

It feels fantastic to be

past the halfway mark, and to make

it past Halloween is just

phenomenal.

I love it. I thought it

was absolutely brilliant.

I thought

you did an exquisite job, so well

done.

People say to me that I've

improved, but right now it feels

like they're still and mountain of

work to do.

Be a bit more precise.

He wants to work really hard, he

wants to get it right. I just want

him to remember how far he has come.

My goodness, the attitude that you

brought to this dance!

To still be

here in week ten...

Well done.

It

was superb.

CHEERING

This is a lovely place to be, top of

the board.

It feels good.

It feels

really good. Katya is an amazing

talent and a brilliant teacher. I am

absolutely under no illusion that

I'm still here, because of her.

It

could not be better than that. I

just want to squeeze him so hard and

tell him how proud I am. It is

absolutely him, all of the dancers

that I want to do, it is so happy.

I

knew that I wanted to do well, but I

didn't know that it would mean so

much as it does. I will look back on

it as being a fantastic time.

APPLAUSE

Joe and Katya. Katya has just said,

see, I do have emotions! Goodness

me. When you look back at that...

?

It is so overwhelming. Three short

months. Looking back to the first

day of rehearsals and learning that

first group dance, it took about two

days to learn those ten steps, now

it takes a lot less time. It seems

like such an achievement. Something

I will always look back on with such

pride and happiness. It is in the

memory banks for those dark times.

We're with you. I am grinning.

Katya, when did you realise just how

good Joe would be?

Immediately,

immediately. We had to have one

strong person in this partnership. I

am going to drive you and drive you

and drive you. Immediately. I saw

that you can do so much. And I

wanted to let you jump on with all

of this information, that I almost

had to pull myself back and learn

from the first few weeks when we had

some ups and downs, the king, maybe

he is not quite ready, let's take it

slowly.

That was you going slowly? !

What with the other version have

been like?!

This has worked, though.

I do like it. And everyone has

noticed, Katya has a teaching style,

which is, just keep doing it and

keep doing it until you get it

right. And it has been the best for

me. I think that people are sent

here for a reason and she was

exactly the type of teacher that I

need, because I wouldn't have needed

the easy option. I have her voice in

my head saying, if you're going to

do something, do it right, and that

is a brilliant voice, because

sometimes you can be lazy and just

phone it in. If you're going to do

something, apply yourself,

especially something like this,

which is such a lovely, brilliant

show. You don't want to mess up for

people because people adore it.

They

do. Especially you, you fat such

support from this lovely bunch.

Good

luck from everyone at Holby City!

THEY SING Strictly THEME.

There are

some more. You will be ready for

this. They have all loved watching

you. Here they are, your nearest and

dearest.

Joe is the kindest and most

generous person I think I've ever

met.

The post only read on Strictly

and did the jive I was proud beyond

words.

I could see his legs shaking

and I knew that he was absolutely

terrified.

I was full of joy when I

watched Joe dancing on Strictly,

just because of the pride that you

feel.

I like it when Joseph came

down from the clock.

I'm pretty sure

that we had those outfits when we

were clubbing, when we were younger.

We have been so lucky to have our

lovely friend go through, week by

week, and now be in the final.

He

has pushed himself and reached

levels he will never forget.

If he

won it would be the icing on the

Strictly cake.

It is just

unbelievable, really. It is just...

Just really proud of him.

Hi, Joe,

we all love you very much and we're

all rooting for you, 100%.

Your work

so hard, and you really deserve to

lift the glitterball.

Good luck,

Joe! Just get out there and do what

you always do. Give it laldy and

show them what you're made of!

Well

said, Maggie, give it laldy!

What we

want to say to people? It has been

amazing, the show is so adored.

You're just really proud to be

associated with it. Everybody wants

to know what you are like and what

everyone else is like. You feel like

the representative and Ambassador or

for the show. And you just want to

be as good as the show is, and

hopefully, we have been. And that

never goes. You will always be that

person.

It is so special.

We haven't

been invited once, that just says so

much.

Katya, you have seen the man

behind all the glitz and the

costumes, you have been there with

him, why does he deserve to win?

LAUGHTER

I think he has got it all, I think

he really has. He worked really

hard. He has natural ability. But he

managed to push himself. And his

confidence, I was so proud, dancing

with you last weekend, because your

confidence just went miles up, and

that is so exciting. You're going

onto the floor, not nervous.

And you

just kind of make this happen.

That's why we're here, to entertain

people. When you think back and

remember that it all just falls into

place.

Thank so much. We cannot wait

to see what you are going to bring

to the dance floor. That's tomorrow

night. Go crazy for Joe and Katya.

APPLAUSE

'Now the end is near,

and so I face the final...

Gethin chat of the series!

Let's head back to the ballroom

and find out who our Welsh

wonder is talking to.

Yes, that works.

Joe, I have an

exclusive. The Reverend Richard

Hollins -- Reverend Richard. Let's

get your comments. What do you think

it would be like judging a show like

this?

Are you looking forward to tomorrow

night's final?

So looking forward to

it, darling. Really am. I am so

excited for the finalists and

actually to get back together has

been lovely.

Last week you were

there, now you are here, what is it

like this side of the table?

It's

more relaxing, I am loving this up

here. First time I have sat here. I

might stay here until tomorrow.

A

little birdie tells me you are going

to chat to the judges now.

I have

been so scared of them the whole

time, I haven't talked to them in

the corridors, I have like hello.

Now I will be how's it going, can't

wait to see them.

You are all back.

You have a group number tomorrow.

What's that been like?

The group

number is hilarious, everyone is

going this is good fun. Only time on

that dance floor when you are

relaxed and we have had a laugh.

It's been a proper giggle. Wouldn't

say it's going to be the tightest

bit of choreography you have ever

seen but it's fun.

Always!

Could you

score this year's It Takes Two for

us. The judges' scores... What,

bring back Craig. I ask you to do

one thing! Congrt layingses to Dom,

our camera they've just had a baby.

-- cameraman.

Time now to welcome our last

remaining finalists.

These two firecrackers

didn't come to play,

they came to slay the competition.

Delivering fierce and fiesty

routines with a whole lot of heart -

here's Alexandra and Gorka's

Strictly story.

It's been a dream of mine for the

longest time I am having to pinch

myself. Match made in heaven.

You

know which dance we are doing?

No.

Starts with W.

The waltz? Yeah!

You

have a natural artistry and it's a

great quality.

I think that you are

going to probably be a frontrunner

after what I have just seen.

You

blew me away.

I think it's going to be the moment

that we always remember on Strictly.

I definitely feel pressured because

of how last week went. My mum always

said to me you are only as good as

your last performance I so I want to

make this as amazing as it can

possibly be.

You are so versatile.

You danced it really, really well.

The energy, it was absolutely

stunning. You have left me

speechless. You were great.

When the 10s were there it hit home.

I wish my mum was here. I got 10s

and I can't even scream about it

because the one person I wanted to

be there for that moment wasn't. So

it was pretty difficult.

I have no

words to describe how proud I can be

of you today.

I think we are expecting a lot from

you. Now it's on the smaller

details.

I take their criticism, I

am here to learn and hopefully get

better.

It was flirty, it was

confident. You have been working so

hard and it paid off.

You look like

a professional.

It was the best

cha-cha-cha this season so far.

You never cease to amaze me.

I

thought it was superb.

You did

something that could come out of a

classic Hollywood movie.

Is there

nothing you can't do? I mean,

incredible.

Gorka has taught me what

real partnership means.

You meet

someone for a reason and we dance

together for a reason.

Exactly. The

rumba is the slowest of the Latin

dances, so you are open to any

mistake.

I felt it lacked any sort

of connection and chemistry.

You are

still a really stunning dancer. I

just expect more.

You never know

what's going to happen in this

competition. Thankfully we are still

here to fight another week.

I would

say Strictly has changed me in the

way of wanting to work even harder

for what I want in life. This is the

first time I have gone it makes me

so happy that I don't want it to

end.

Practically perfect in every

possible way.

It was amazing. I

loved it.

Two weeks in a row is what

made it really hard. It does hurt.

You can only try your best to pick

yourself back up. I hope people will

see how much this show brings me joy

and I don't know if people see that

yet. I hope to God Gorka realises

that without him I wouldn't have

been able to get through this at

all.

She shows me how strong she is

and how sometimes, like her moments

and you keep going and fight for

your dreams.

-- fabulous.

Finally we

get 40!

It would make my dreams come

true to get through to the final.

Just to be able to dance and be free

and lose myself has been an

untouchable experience.

It's been

incredible and I am the proudest man

I could be to dance with her.

Alexandra and Gorka! Oh!

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

My darling, everybody's so emotional

today. We try to hold back on using

the J-word on this show but boy have

you been on one. I am saying

journey. I have done it. How do you

feel watching that? It's incredible

stuff.

We don't get an opportunity

to really soak in everything we have

done and I think because it's gone

so quickly it's hard to, not

remember, but just to kind of

reflect and to see that again hit

home. I have tried to avoid the

emotional part of my life this week

and just focus on the joy that this

show brings, joy that we have

created and everyone's given us and

supported us. To watch that back,

it's like, my goodness we are still

here and we are at the final. I am

so happy to be here and it's really

just, like my fingers are so sweaty,

really weird.

Gorka The Corker,

honey, your first final, how are the

nerves?

The nerves are all right for

the moment. I think maybe tomorrow

as soon as the show gets closer

maybe a little bit. But yeah, you

know, we are going to go there, have

fun with the rest of the guys and

give the best show we can do. Yeah,

let's have fun.

I have heard that

your show dance is incredibly

ambitious. We like! How has it gone

in rehearsals?

It went really like

well, really fun. We added in a few

props, don't know if I am giving too

much away. When props get involved I

get like oh, where am I? I feel like

we are going to have the best time

and have fun and create memories and

smile. That's all I want to do

tomorrow is smile the whole day. And

the whole night.

Brilliant. We want

to see you doing that too. Has it

lived up to expectations, this

experience?

More so. Absolutely more

so. I mean, I didn't know what to

expect being part of this amazing

show. All I know is that there's so

many people have been part of it and

spoken highly of the show. To be a

part of people's lives where

everyone else is so lovely and

supportive and take care of you and

you create amazing friendships,

that's what's important, is the

friendships that we have all created

amongst each other and that ballroom

floor, it's like, that is a

once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and

here we at the final. Come on.

Here

you are. Now of course hold tight

everyone, let's hold hands. There

are a few people behind you all the

way, Alexandra, have a look.

I would say Alexandra as a child was

a big bubble of energy, always

wanting to perform.

From early age

we see she's going to be a star.

Alex's first performance on Strictly

I was expecting it to be very, very

emotional.

The strength, I never

knew it was there. Strict le brings

it out.

The standout performance for

me has been the jive.

I am just in

awe of her, her energy. Nothing she

can't do.

When Alex got her first

tens I was elated. Just proud, just

a wave of emotion came over me

because I know how much it meant to

her.

It's so lovely to see Alex

growing and progressing, no matter

what has been thrown at her, she

will keep going.

Every week she goes

out there and gives it 100% and it's

all coming from her heart.

If Alex

does get to lift that glitterball

trophy, not only will she be doing

it for herself, she will be doing it

for her supporters, her family, but

the main person most of all our mum.

I just want to wish you all the best

for the final this week, I am so

proud of you.

Keep focussing and

just keep fighting. Continue to be

my little diamond.

It's been a tough

journey but now you need to show

them what you are made of. Good

luck, love you.

So much love in this room.

Alexandra, bless you. How much

sweetheart, has all the support that

you have had meant to you?

Honestly,

I don't think people realise how

much it means. Just be honest and

say that I know some people may not

like seeing me cry, but man, I have

been through the toughest time of my

life and saw the light at the end of

the tunnel and I am still trying to

reach it, trying my best to reach it

but I have had so much fun and if it

wasn't for everyone, Strictly,

everyone here that supported what I

have gone through, I don't know

where I would be. I am just really

grateful.

I am with you there, my

darling. I really am.

Oh my goodness me! You are proving

yourself as a singer, actress and

thanks to Gorka now a dancer.

Anything you would like to say to

each other whilst we try and get our

act together.

Love you. You are

amazing.

I don't want to make it

worse...

Anything you want to say to

him.

You know how much you mean to

me. I am just so grateful that you

have been part of this journey and

you have made it so special.

I loved

it.

Whatever the outcome tomorrow I

have made a friend for life and

that's what matters.

Friend for life

people! Good luck tomorrow, you are

both amazing. Alexandra and Gorka

The Corker! I am sorry to make

everyone so emotional.

Now despite the title,

it takes far more than two people

to make this show what it is.

We've had so much fun this series.

Here's a look at It

Takes Two's Best Bits.

I think we are all set. Welcome,

welcome!

Strictly is back on

It's

Craig Revel Horwood. Darcey Bussell.

Hang on, remember I am on live

television. Look at those legs!

I am

very impressed.

Love it when they do

the crossing legs.

Yeah.

I am so

confused.

Jazz hands.

All right. We

are going to see a darker side to

the Peacock.

I will just turn this off.

Strictly's head designer Vicky Gill.

Ian Waite is here.

Like that.

This

year's pro challenge champion is...

Giovanni!

I loved it.

You are going to be

decky McGee.

I can't even look at

you right now.

If I try to pout you

look like I am stuck in a sherbert

lemon.

It's demo time.

I am between

a vicar and politician and I am the

least professional person.

He is

gown, he is down.

Love, love, love.

Here we go.

I love a lift.

Immense.

It's over.

Good night.

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

That's all we have time for tonight.

And in fact for the series.

Thanks to all of our guests,

and to all the guys and dolls that

work on It Takes Two,

it's been such a joy this year.

I love all the team.

We only hope we've managed

to bring some joy to all

of you watching at home too.

Make sure you join Tess and Claud

for the grand final tomorrow

night at 6.30pm on BBC1,

when one of these couples will be

crowned Strictly's 2017 champion.

Do not miss it.

Until then goodnight

and Merry Christmas!

Good luck Darylings. Good night,

merry