IT TAKES TWO
Week 11
Monday
12th December 2011
Wow, the last Monday ITT of the year, and not one but two leaving couples for Zoe to chat to. After a backstage video from Saturday, it was Alex & James who came on first, and after having pre-warned us on Twitter that it would be an emotional time, it was inevitable it would end in tears. Even Zoe was in bits by the end of the interview, and I might have joined in myself. I love that Alex has loved the experience so much, and as Zoe said, it's been quite an adventure, from a non-dancer through the ups and downs including topping the leaderbaord at Wembley.
It was straight on to Holly & Artem, with Holly obviously determined not to lose her cool, although you can see that just like Alex, she has loved her time on Strictly, despite it being a completely different experience working with Artem. I've loved Holly on Strictly, she's been a unique competitor, and I don't think she gets enough credit for the hard work and determination she's shown, and instead described with a laid back attitude. The only thing I would say is that I think she danced so well with Brendan that I wonder if a different dynamic in the training room may have yielded better results?
It Takes Two have decided they need some extra filler, so this week will see the new Glitterball awards, with a fake ceremony being hosted by Ian Waite and Karen Hardy, and the first award was for the biggest entrance, and was won by none other than Russell for being shot out of a canon at Wembley.
Finally, Bruno came in to review the weekends dances from the three finalists, during which Zoe gave away that Jason & Kristina will be dancing a salsa, plus Bruno said (rather confusingly) that the finalists will dance four dances - two new dances, two they've danced before and a showdance, which adds up to five, so I'm as confused as I was before!
Tuesday
13th December 2011
Chelsee & Pasha were the first guests tonight, and Chelsee still can't believe she's in the final let alone think about whether she could be this years champion, and Pasha said they were both ecstatic about their four 10s for the paso. She explained that she was nervous during the American Smooth which is why she stumbled on the splits step. A video of Chelsee learning how to use the fan and getting it perfect, only for her to change the fan on Saturday and it didn't open! Four dances this week, including rumba and showdance, and Pasha is including some of Chelsee's disco moves.
Today's Glitterball award was for the most showstopping costume, and was won by Nancy for her feather boa back in week one!
On next was Karen's Choreography Corner, and although she nearly exploded she did manage to give some comments on this weeks dances including that she was disappointed with Craig's score for Harry & Aliona's Viennese waltz, there was a passion and a realness about Jason & Kristina's Argentine tango, and Chelsee delivered an assertive passionate paso. Karen gave us her recommendations for how to impress the judges and the public with the showdances.
Introducing the next segment, Zoe said that the couples will have a showdance, two favourites and a new dance - I'm getting so confused as to what everyone is going to be dancing! Anyway, as Chelsee is dancing the rumba, Katya gave us a step by step guide to the rumba.
Finishing off the programme was the fashion review of last Saturdays dances with designer Julien Macdonald and Oonagh O'Hagan. I seriously hope this is the last we'll see of this segment, and ITT will come up with something else next year.
Wednesday
14th December 2011
Where is this week going? My favourite day of the ITT week with Waite's Wednesday Warm Up, but first, Harry & Aliona joined Zoe on the purple sofa to talk about their semi-final weekend. Harry said it was quite terrifying going out first, and it seemed really quiet in the audience, but pleased with the scores. A grinning Aliona explained that she's so pleased with how hard Harry's worked and improved, and I loved the VT of Aliona hitting Harry in the face during training. Zoe explained the final will be one of the couples favourite dances, judges favourite dance, one new dance and showdance. Harry & Aliona will dance their Argentine tango, the quickstep, the American Smooth plus the show dance.
Today's Glitterball for being naughty was won by James for not keeping quiet when getting the judges comments.
Next was the final Waite's Wednesday Warm Up of the year (sob) and we found out that the new dance for Chelsee & Pasha is the rumba, salsa for Jason & Kristina and American Smooth for Harry & Aliona. We also had a quick look at the show dance training.
A bit of filler next, with a VT of Nancy showing everyone how to throw a Strictly party, before it was back to Ian for a look at the training for the remaining dances from the couples. Jason & Kristina's judges choice is their tango, while their own choice is the quickstep, Chelsee & Pasha's judges choice is their jive, with the quickstep as their own choice, and Harry & Aliona will be reprising their quickstep for the judges, while their choice is the Argentine tango.
Thursday
15th December 2011
Jason & Kristina were on first with Zoe, and they feel really lucky to be on their way to Blackpool. Jason explained that they felt their first round dance wasn't their strongest last weekend, so he went out and just focused on Kristina and blocked out everything else, and it seemed to work. For the final they'll be dancing their quickstep again, which Jason thought was a magical moment, while the judges choice is the tango, which Kristina said only Jason could pull off, and he thinks it was their best moment. Their showdance is to "Dancin' Fool" and Kristina says they've thrown loads into it, and their new dance is the salsa.
The Glitterball for tonight was for the campest award and all the nominations except one were for Russell, with just one for Harry and his gyrating hips, and it was Harry that one.
Training updates from Harry and Chelsee (as we'd already seen Jason earlier) before it was time for a special panel with some celebrity support from Harry's McFly band mate Tom Fletcher, Chelsee's friend from Waterloo Road Lucien Lavinscourt, and Jason's HeartFM friend Toby Anstis. Pretty much a lovefest, with everyone really proud of their friends, amazed at how good they are, hoping they can win ... you know the drill.
Friday
16th December 2011
Our annual bumper pre-final episode tonight ... LIVE from Blackpool! All the celebs and professionals have travelled up, and Zoe had a quick chat with a few of them (including Audley in a massive fur coat) before catching up Ian and Karen who have also made their way to Blackpool too.
The first of the finalists on tonight were Chelsee & Pasha, with an intro of a nice long video of their Strictly story reminding us of all their dances and training all the way through the series. I love this girl, so down to earth, "E just throws me about Zo", and we found out they'll have to do the judges choice (jive) and the show dance before the elimination tomorrow night. She doesn't think she can win, but to just get to the final is amazing for her. As always happens, the ITT team had recorded some messages from her family, and as usual, tears flowed. Aww bless.
A trip to the wardrobe department with more sparkle and glitter than we've seen any other week, including an amazing gold number for Chelsee's showdance and a flaming red dress with petticoats for Aliona's swing/jive showdance.
Back to the ballroom and a catch up with more of the celebs, with Brendan, Erin, Vincent and James moving along the row of chairs behind Zoe to keep in shot, although Natalie was not be left out and joined in the fun too, followed by Katya and Ola diving in to shot as well.
Harry & Aliona were next, and it was lovely remembering their early dances in their video. Aliona says she's pushed Harry harder and harder each week, but this week he has pushed himself, making her job easier. Harry still says anyone of the three finalists could take the trophy but Aliona says she's not thinking of winning that glitterball yet, she just wants them to go out and dance the best they can. More family messages, more tears. I'm a wreck already.
The final Glitterball of the week, with the most expressive verbalisation of a comment by a judge or contestant, won by Craig Revel Horwood! Ian and Karen then joined Zoe for a final chat. Karen picked out the dances from the series where she thought the finalists first showed that had what it takes to make the final, and Ian reviewed the rehearsals from earlier today.
The last finalists, Jason & Kristina joined Zoe next, and they both seem to love the whole Blackpool experience, and Jason's struggled to get his head around his new dance this week, the salsa, but the feedback from everyone during rehearsals was great. They've got charleston, quickstep and jive in their showdance, and Jason says it's just pure entertainment. Family messages from Jason's dad and his kids, and I'm in bits.
Alesha was Zoe's last guest, and both of them talked about their memories of Strictly and being in the final. Alesha thinks the biggest challenge will be keeping the focus throughout all four dances, and she also thinks that Craig should give Harry a 10 at least once tomorrow night.
Finally, the favourite moments VT, although it didn't include my absolute favourite moment of the year: