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Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two - Season 23 Episode 56
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00:00Welcome to Monday's It Takes Two Live on BBC Two and iPlayer.
00:28Wow, what a semi-final. Such a high standard.
00:33It's fair to say our celebs definitely came to slay.
00:36And speaking of slays, this weekend these three celebs are in for the ride of their lives.
00:41It's our 2025 Strictly finalists.
00:45And because the big day is just five sleeps away,
00:48we've invited a very special panel of former finalists onto the show.
00:52And even though they're dear to us, it would still be Rudolph me not to name check them.
00:58It's Danny Mac, Denise Van Alten and J.B. Gill.
01:02They'll be closing the show tonight, but there's also all this to look forward to.
01:07This weekend, despite bringing the audience to their feet with their salsa
01:11and tears to our eyes with their waltz, Bal and Jules couldn't quite dance their way into the final.
01:16We'll be saying a fond farewell to them shortly.
01:19And Harry is back to teach us about the beauty of a very special dance group.
01:23The meaning behind them will take your breath away.
01:27And don't forget, it's the final week.
01:29So this means it's literally your final chance to send us your questions.
01:32You can contact us via WhatsApp 0800 022 3801 or scan the QR code on your screen.
01:40But first, the semi-final did not disappoint.
01:43The perfect paddle was whipped out not once, not twice, but 13 times.
01:48Shirley told George to listen to mummy.
01:51And there were a lot of tears, even from Anton.
01:53Or was that just dust?
01:55So before the dust settles, let's relive the highs of the weekend.
01:58Welcome to Stringly Come Dancing. It is the semi-final.
02:04Woo-hoo! What a start!
02:06You've set the benchmark. You've gone, do your best and beat this.
02:11This was so beautiful. This was so detailed. Well done.
02:16Well, you certainly let loose, darling.
02:19As soon as that jacket came off, I've never seen tighter trousers.
02:23You're so brilliant. This dance was you and the best of you.
02:2910!
02:3010!
02:31This growth for me is one of the biggest in this competition.
02:36You have faced your challenges and now you have shown that everything is possible.
02:4110!
02:44You've got grit, determination.
02:46You got out there and you thought, I'm giving everything I'm capable of.
02:5110!
02:5210!
02:5310!
02:5410!
02:57It was clean, it was passionate, it was full of purpose, darling.
03:00You are brilliant.
03:0110!
03:0210!
03:04The way you move through space, how light you are on your feet,
03:08it's just beautiful in every way.
03:10Thank you!
03:12Wow, what a series it has been.
03:17Yes, it has been.
03:18Historic for so many reasons and the resilience of Balvin de Sopal is one of them.
03:23This weekend, she fought once more with a saucy salsa and a heartfelt waltz.
03:27But sadly, after every rise, comes a fall.
03:30Here's a reminder of her final performances.
03:32Immaculate timing, precision, and those lifts.
03:39No fear for you now, you trust completely.
03:42Fantastic.
03:43I love your attitude.
03:46You are independent.
03:48You're coming out here fearless, strong.
03:51You have fantastic rhythm, and my goodness, you gave that dance your all.
04:02If I could just uphold you.
04:05Lovely sense of line, just a whole beautiful atmosphere you set today.
04:10I would form that.
04:12The footwork needed to be fine-tuned ever so slightly, but you have formed a solid partnership.
04:19There is a lovely naturalness about the way you dance.
04:22Fundamentally, your timing and your feel of the dance is of the highest quality.
04:28It's Balvinda and Julian!
04:34Now, you didn't quite make it to the final, but you made it to the final four.
04:40What would your strictly super fan week one self have to say about that?
04:44Oh, my God.
04:45I think she'd be doing somersaults and just be like, wow, wow, you actually did it.
04:50Not only did you say yes, you got to the semi-final and made it to the last four.
04:55Yeah, super, super happy and so proud.
04:59Yeah, you should be.
05:00And Jules, when you think back to when you first met Balv, what were your first impressions?
05:04And did you think you could make it this far?
05:07Well, actually, when we first met, we then got stuck in a room together for five hours.
05:15But we actually, within that time, everything that I thought about Balv came true.
05:21I thought she'd be someone that would always have my back, someone that we would have a great relationship.
05:26I thought that we would have some really good laughs along the way.
05:29And, you know, and that's exactly what happened.
05:32And I didn't think that we would make it this far.
05:35But not, you know, that doesn't, you know, isn't about Bal or anything.
05:38I think more so just going into my first season as well.
05:40Yes.
05:41I don't quite know if I really believed in myself to get us there.
05:45But then credit to Bal because, you know, I have never believed in myself as a dancer as much as I do now.
05:52And that is thanks to Bal and the confidence that she has given me as well.
05:56And thanks to Strictly as well.
05:57You know, the magic of Strictly.
05:58And, you know, I wasn't sure if dancing was, you know, what I was meant to, you know, do in this world.
06:05But now I know that I am.
06:06And that's thanks to my experience with this amazing woman.
06:09That's lovely.
06:10Oh, my God.
06:11There is so much to be proud of.
06:13I mean, firstly, you open the semifinal with that salsa.
06:17I mean, Motsi used these words to describe this salsa.
06:20Fearless, strong, attitude.
06:22I mean, all the words that would describe Suki.
06:24Yes.
06:25What do you think Suki would have made of your performance?
06:27I think Suki would be cheerleading.
06:29Not from the back, from the front.
06:31She would be like, that's it, gal.
06:32You go, you go.
06:33Yeah, no, I think I bought a little bit of that.
06:36But, you see, I think as the competition went on, I think my confidence just grew.
06:42And it is down to the way that we, you know, our partnership and the way that we work together.
06:47And also Jules being just ever so brilliant, encouraging me and putting me in places that meant that I had to do it.
06:54You know, because we can all sit back and go, oh, speaking about the lifts and things like that.
06:58I'd be like, is there an alternative?
06:59And he'd be like, no, you're doing that one.
07:01OK, cool.
07:02So, you know, you have to sort of step up.
07:04And I'm so grateful that you did make me step up because we created magic, I think.
07:08I sure did.
07:09Step up each and every time.
07:10Absolutely.
07:11Onto your waltz.
07:12I mean, Anton loved your natural flair that you bring when you dance.
07:15I mean, considering the journey you've had, what does a comment like that mean to you?
07:19It's really important, you know, because I think it's very easy to become something you're
07:24not in order to be liked or to get people to vote for you or to be seen in a different way.
07:29But I believe throughout this whole journey, I stayed true to who I am and I kept it real
07:36and I kept myself, you know, I held myself with dignity and integrity and I didn't change.
07:42So, for him to realise that there is a naturalness of being, I don't know if that makes sense,
07:49means that he saw me for who I was, you know?
07:52And that was through the dances that we, you know, and the storytelling and all of that.
07:56The authenticity.
07:57The authenticity, absolutely.
07:58It shone through each and every time.
07:59Let's talk about the dance-off.
08:00Amber referred to you as the dance-off assassin, but she's also proved to be quite a fighter herself.
08:06How nervous were you to go up against her?
08:09So, I wasn't nervous, but I will say this.
08:12Amber is a wonderful, wonderful contestant and a wonderful woman.
08:16She is of a different calibre.
08:18So, going up against Amber, honestly, was game over for us.
08:25Because we're not of that level, we're not of that standard.
08:28I certainly wasn't, you know?
08:30I came into the competition as a novice.
08:32I couldn't literally work the rise and fall of a waltz step, you know?
08:39I didn't, you know, didn't know anything, really.
08:41So...
08:42But I think we did what we always do.
08:44And no matter who we've ever been in the dance-off with, we've always...
08:47We give it our best.
08:48We've always just said, let's focus on us.
08:50Yeah.
08:51Let's do what we do.
08:52Let's do it.
08:53Let's try and top our performance from before.
08:55We gave as good as we got.
08:56Like, we gave better than.
08:57Oh, yeah.
08:58Do you know what I mean?
08:59So, I think...
09:00When you hit your first accent, I was behind you and she just went, pow!
09:03And I heard her go, pow!
09:05And I was like, oh, oh, okay, okay.
09:07We're going there.
09:08Yeah, no, totally.
09:09You've had so much support and a cheerleader of yours since week one, after a hard year
09:13for your family, has of course been your sister, Manjit.
09:16Yeah.
09:17And she wanted to send you this.
09:18Watching you every Saturday on that dance floor, living out your dream, has been truly
09:23breathtaking.
09:24When I look at you, Bao, and I think about my girls, I don't think there's anyone else
09:29in this world that could be a better role model for them.
09:34You're strong.
09:35You're beautiful.
09:36You're caring.
09:37And we're super proud of you.
09:40And we love you to bits.
09:42Aww.
09:43Beautiful, isn't it, to have your sister having your back like that?
09:46Yeah, man.
09:47They've been there from day dot.
09:48Like, we have.
09:49We had a really hard year last year.
09:52And, you know, I didn't want to be seen was one of the things that I'd said.
09:57But, strictly, I'm so, so happy that I said yes, because it brought the magic and the
10:04light and the beauty back into our lives.
10:07You know, and my nieces were able to sort of step away from the grief and the sadness
10:11that we, and I have been feeling throughout the whole competition, really.
10:15But, so, it's just been lovely to sort of, yeah, just absorb all of that happiness.
10:22And it's been lovely to watch you.
10:23This partnership has been incredible.
10:24And you have so much to be proud of.
10:26Let's take a look at your best bits.
10:28Oh, gosh.
10:29I am a super fan.
10:31This is going to be brilliant.
10:33You threw absolutely everything at that time.
10:38You do have to embrace the silliness.
10:41And it is so much fun.
10:43Whatever you did this week, do it again next week.
10:46This was fantastic.
10:48All the held moments just need to be a little softer and dance through them.
10:54It was a little bit crushing.
10:57This week, I really have to make a point.
11:02I swear to God I'll survive.
11:04You have that power of giving dance life.
11:07So keep fighting, keep going.
11:09You are a powerhouse.
11:11That was hard.
11:12It sort of leaves you feeling really insecure.
11:17Jules always tells me, back yourself.
11:21You keep fighting, you keep doing your improvements.
11:25You are shining.
11:26You are shining.
11:27You are shining.
11:28You are shining.
11:29Valbender and Julian.
11:30When they called our names out, it was a little bit like, there's been a mistake.
11:35There's been a mistake.
11:36I was broke down.
11:39I hit the ground.
11:40We always say before we go out, it's just you and me.
11:42So let's just go out there and have fun.
11:44And I think we've done that every single time.
11:47It was full of character and fierceness.
11:51Having found myself in the bottom two more than once, it's showing people that I am resilient
12:02and I will come back again and again and again if I have to, to live this experience
12:07the way I want to live it.
12:11I thought it was a joy and I know so many people are watching and I was so proud of you
12:15and I'm proud of you.
12:16For me, that's your best dance so far.
12:18That was nice!
12:22Saturday was electric.
12:25I think it was our best night yet.
12:31You always dance with conviction and you're the most beautiful storyteller as well.
12:37It's been a rollercoaster of emotions.
12:42How do you feel?
12:43You made us a blast full week.
12:44I know.
12:45Amazing.
12:46Tell you what though, we did it the hard way, didn't we?
12:47You were so defined.
12:51I absolutely love that.
12:53You keep fighting, girl!
12:58It was super, really, apart from the mistakes.
13:00You know what, I'll come back and do it again in the dance-off.
13:02No!
13:08Making it to the quarterfinals is a bonus upon a bonus, a bonus, a bonus, a bonus.
13:12It's extraordinary.
13:13Going through what you go through and coming back to dance that kind of performance, I had chills.
13:25But you can't do it again from you.
13:26Tiny to get to the semifinal has been, I think, wild, to put it lightly.
13:31I can't tell you how big my heart feels to be here.
13:36I absolutely love you coming out here fearless.
13:40Your whole time on Strictly Come Dancing, you've always had this lovely naturalness about your dancing.
13:45And I've enjoyed watching you dance so much.
13:51It's been the most magical, spectacular journey I've ever been on.
13:58Val embodies what this competition is about.
14:01Her spirit is unbreakable.
14:04I've loved every second of it.
14:06You stuck on me like a tattoo.
14:12It's amazing watching you back.
14:13We have one final question from Tala in London.
14:16Will you continue dancing after Strictly?
14:19Do you know, I've been thinking about this and I really want to.
14:22But I don't know where to go.
14:23Jules, can I just come and see you every week and we can just have a dance?
14:26Yeah, of course.
14:27Would that be okay?
14:28Are you sure?
14:28We actually spoke about it before about going, you know, we love doing the Argentina tango.
14:33So with Leo and Maria, who are the choreographers, and we spoke about doing a double date with our partners.
14:38Yes.
14:38So I definitely think we'll keep dancing.
14:40That's incredible.
14:41Do you know what?
14:41I think Jules said it best.
14:42It took six dance-offs and a perfect score to take you out.
14:45You've been such a fighter for the last time.
14:49It's Balvinda and Julian, everyone.
14:56Coming up, I'm about to chat to my finalist panel, but next up, we have something very special.
15:02Since the season went up and down the nation, a lot of us only care about one daddy, Father Christmas.
15:07But actually, there are a whole bunch of daddies who matter not just at Christmas, but all year round.
15:14Over to Harry, who's about to introduce us to a group of daddies who found joy through dance.
15:21Since leaving Strictly, I've been less about the ballroom and Latin and back busting out the dad moves.
15:26But I'm not the only one.
15:28I'm here in Brighton to meet a group of dads who not only get together and dance, but also focus on something extremely important.
15:42Oi, oi!
15:43Oi!
15:44How's it going, Steve?
15:46How's it going?
15:47Good.
15:47You're welcome to Brighton.
15:48Welcome.
15:49Thanks, mate.
15:49So here we are.
15:50Do you know what?
15:51Since I've just got here, I want to know so much more about you.
15:53Why you're doing it, what you're doing it for.
15:55Obviously, dance is amazing, but tell me more.
15:57Yeah, let's do it.
15:57Yeah?
15:57Yeah.
16:00Oh, mate, so Paul, tell me about our Puff Daddies.
16:03Where does it come from?
16:04We're a bunch of dads to get out of puff dancing.
16:08We were bringing our kids here to dance lessons.
16:11They performed at an annual showcase every year, and we figured, why are they having all the fun?
16:17So we came on as a surprise act for that next annual showcase.
16:22When we first came on, the room was like, whoa, is that your dad?
16:26It was this vibe just went out.
16:29And then it moved into kind of like, yeah, that's your dad.
16:31And we've basically been dancing ever since.
16:34What we had done kind of almost unconsciously is created a safe space group of men to share, talk, cry, breaking the stigma that is still taking too many male lives every year.
16:50So fundamentally, the dance is just one aspect, but it comes with so many other gifts, right?
16:59Yeah, yeah, yeah, totally.
17:01For me, I unexpectedly lost my mum.
17:03And then I also saw these guys come on stage, and that joy, I could feel it.
17:07It was so powerful.
17:08And I sort of decided right there and then, I need some of that.
17:12And I really need some of that.
17:13You're kind of, you know, what I embody and stand for in some capacity.
17:18I'm this big, butch, muscular athlete, but I was so lucky that I did a sport where I came across a similar bunch of guys that, you know, have stayed my lifelong friends.
17:29They're people I talk to.
17:30I've had hard times, but I've been able to get through it with them.
17:33I suffer with anxiety.
17:35I've struggled to go to work, and it's one of the key things.
17:37There's something about the group that radiates that energy which makes you want to come to be part of it.
17:43It just feels totally natural.
17:45It feels real.
17:46You know, I can't help but salute you guys.
17:49So I think it's about time that I see some, right?
17:52Yeah, let's do it, yeah.
17:53Yeah.
17:55Treasure.
17:57That is what you are.
18:01Yeah.
18:01Treasure.
18:15Tens.
18:16Tens all round, man.
18:17Tens all round.
18:18Do you know what?
18:19No, no.
18:19Do you know what?
18:19Yeah.
18:20No.
18:21I'm a dad.
18:22I'm allowed to get involved.
18:23Teach me something.
18:23OK, here we go.
18:25Oh.
18:26Oh.
18:27The hips.
18:27Oh, yeah.
18:28Oh.
18:30You're a natural.
18:32All I can say is, well, just, guys, that was absolutely amazing.
18:36I appreciate everything you're doing and obviously keep on dancing, man.
18:40We will.
18:40We'll be here.
18:41How amazing.
18:48And on the topic of amazing, please welcome our fabulous finalist panel.
18:52First up, from the class of 2024, this man knows better than anyone that when it comes to a final, you only get one shot.
19:00It's J.B. Gill.
19:02It's J.B. Gill.
19:03It's J.B. Gill.
19:04It's J.B. Gill.
19:05It's J.B. Gill.
19:06J.B. Gill.
19:07Hey.
19:08Look at those moves.
19:09Amazing.
19:10Strut your stuff, my friend.
19:13I love it.
19:14Look.
19:15He's a bit of choreo.
19:16Next, a few weeks ago, he wowed us in Blackpool and a few years ago, well, nine years that is, he wowed us in his final.
19:23Guess who's back?
19:24It's Danny Mac.
19:25Yeah.
19:26He's got moves.
19:27Take a seat.
19:28Take a seat.
19:29Oh, yes.
19:30And finally, our final finalist on the final panel, she was runner-up in 2012 and ever since then, she's been desperate to talk all things strictly.
19:40Here on her big out-in, it's Denise van Outen.
19:43Yes.
19:44Hi.
19:45Nice to meet you.
19:46Good to meet you.
19:47Good to meet you.
19:48Good to meet you.
19:49Good to meet you.
19:50Good to meet you.
19:51Good to meet you.
19:52Welcome to the three of you.
19:53What a panel.
19:54We are so lucky.
19:55Let's get stuck right in off.
19:56Oh, we lost the tuition.
19:57Sorry.
19:58Always wrecking the place.
20:00Look at this.
20:01Jamie, as a farmer, do you think this series has produced a good crop?
20:04I will have to say a resounding yes.
20:07I think it has been fantastic from start to finish.
20:10You've had so many different characters.
20:12And, I mean, we've seen a lot of different things, I think, this year.
20:16Different to even my season last year.
20:18You know, you're talking about Belvinda here.
20:19She's just been on here.
20:20I mean, it's unbelievable.
20:21I know for a fact that you went through a few dance-offs.
20:24She's just taken it to a whole other level.
20:25She took it to a new level.
20:26She really did.
20:27And, Danny, our couples are performing three dances at the weekend.
20:30When you cast your mind back to 2016, in this particular week, how did you find it?
20:35It's a lot to do in it in one week.
20:37I mean, I remember the semis being tough with two.
20:39But once you get three, the only thing you've got is that you've got your pick you hope would be under the belt.
20:44That's why you've picked it.
20:45But it's a lot of work to do.
20:46And you've just got to crack on with all the other interviews and the VTs and everywhere else you're getting dragged in the final week.
20:52It's mega.
20:53You've got to keep going.
20:54Let's get on the train.
20:55It's a lot, guys.
20:56Behind the scenes.
20:5713 whole years.
20:58Wow.
20:59Since your final.
21:00Can you cast your mind back to think about it?
21:02What emotions were you experiencing?
21:04Well, I absolutely loved the final.
21:06We were just talking about it, weren't we?
21:07And I had the best time.
21:09And I think that's the thing.
21:10Like, at this point, you kind of know everything.
21:13You've been taught everything.
21:14So you've just got to throw everything at it.
21:16Yes.
21:17You have to.
21:18You've got to go for it.
21:19Before we talk about the finalists, JB, have you brought me a turkey this year?
21:22No.
21:23No.
21:24It's Monday.
21:25It could happen maybe on Saturday.
21:27Sorry.
21:28There's always something.
21:29There's always something.
21:30Anyway, let's get into it.
21:31As a reminder, they'll all be dancing three dancers this weekend.
21:35Their favourite, their show dance, and the judges' pick, which we'll talk about with the couples later this week.
21:39But let's start with Amber and Nikita.
21:41Denise, you also survived a semi-final dance-off.
21:45Yeah.
21:46So what mindset does Amber need going into the final now?
21:48Do you know what?
21:49It is a tough one.
21:50I think, didn't you have the same thing as well in the semi-final?
21:52Yeah.
21:53It does set you back and it knocks your confidence, but you really have just got to put it behind you.
21:58Because you only get to do the final once and you want to enjoy it.
22:01So, you know, and she's, I think they're an amazing couple.
22:04They are.
22:05And they're going to be so spectacular in the final.
22:07So, yeah, I'm really rooting for her.
22:09She's a lovely girl.
22:10So, yeah, I just think it's, you know, it's been a shame, really.
22:13Completely reset, put it behind you and just get on with it and have the best time.
22:17Mm-hmm.
22:18And we can exclusively reveal they've chosen to do their week 10 jive as their favourite one.
22:24It's their first 40 they had this series.
22:26JB.
22:27Yeah.
22:28What can they do to make it simply the best on Saturday?
22:30I mean, just look at that.
22:31Look at them flicking and kicking.
22:32So good, isn't it?
22:33I just think the fact that you've already had 40, you know, you've got a dance that you're very comfortable with, hopefully.
22:40They did not too long ago, so hopefully it's still in the body.
22:43Yes.
22:44And you've just got to go and smash it exactly as you did.
22:46You know, it's hopefully another 40.
22:49Yes.
22:50Let's go again.
22:51Danny, Nikita has called for people to be kind to Amber.
22:54As someone who's got a performance background, what advice have you got when it comes to dealing with negativity?
22:59Oh, don't look at social media.
23:01It's the worst thing in the world.
23:02Yeah.
23:03It's awful, but everyone understands why they do it.
23:05But you've got to, look, you've got to celebrate with the people.
23:09You've got to celebrate with the people who are behind you because, you know, it's too late in the day to try and change people's minds.
23:13So just go out there.
23:14You can't throw a party and not dance with the people that came.
23:17You know?
23:18I love that.
23:19That's amazing.
23:20That's good advice.
23:21Yeah, celebrate it.
23:22Yeah, celebrate.
23:23Yeah.
23:24On to George and Alexis.
23:25Now, there was a touch of Danny Mac in those hips.
23:27Oh, my goodness me.
23:28This is amazing, wasn't it?
23:30Wasn't it unreal?
23:31How much have you enjoyed watching George just learn to let go?
23:34It was so good.
23:36I was so excited, honestly, when that jacket came off.
23:39He was so good, wasn't it?
23:41Like, I was saying to my wife, I went, this is like the end of a 90s rom-com.
23:46I'm like, I'm like, it's like the cards are against him.
23:49There's only one way out of this and it's just to go.
23:52Just go and do it.
23:53And people are going to point and go, is that guy up there?
23:55And by the end of it, everyone's up there with him doing it.
23:58It was amazing.
23:59I was totally behind him.
24:00It's almost like he's gone, I'm really nervous.
24:03You know what I'm going to do?
24:04I'm going to sort of mock it and then mock myself.
24:06And then he sort of became very good at it.
24:09And then he was good and then he enjoyed it.
24:11And it sort of went full circle.
24:12Somehow that relaxed him, didn't it?
24:13Yeah.
24:14It's like his intention was to go this way and he's ended up over here.
24:17But for all the right reasons.
24:18It was just brilliant.
24:19Oh, it was sensational.
24:20Denise, they've chosen to do their Paso for their favourite pick.
24:23He's quite a jokey guy, George.
24:25But how impressed are you with his serious side?
24:27Oh, well, I think he's amazing when he shows his serious side.
24:30And I think the good thing is, as well, is when you are known for being that jokey kind of character,
24:34it is really important to show this side of your performance, don't you think?
24:37Oh, yeah, absolutely.
24:38You know, and show that you can do a bit of both.
24:40So, yeah, I love it.
24:41I think he's incredible.
24:42He's so great to watch.
24:43He's so tough because they're all so amazing, aren't they?
24:45I know, for different reasons.
24:47Oh, it's so tough.
24:48JB, his scores have ranged from 24 to 39.
24:52Yeah.
24:53What do you think he needs to do to get that perfect score?
24:55I think he just has to believe.
24:56Do you know what I mean?
24:57Like, this is the one thing that I always understand, especially from my time doing it.
25:01At a final, in a final, anything can happen.
25:03You know, you can get upset.
25:04You can get, you know, outcomes that weren't supposed to be.
25:07You know, everyone thinks that perhaps there's a favourite or maybe there's not.
25:10Whatever.
25:11Like, anything can happen.
25:12And he just has to go out there and give 110%, which he has been doing.
25:15And I think if he can bring the character that he brought to the semi-final, anything's possible.
25:20And I'm here for a 40 from him.
25:22Yeah.
25:23He needs to just keep the energy up, right?
25:24Okay, on to Karen and Carlos.
25:26Now, JB, Kaz is the first footballer to make the final.
25:29Wow.
25:30Yes.
25:31Have you had a kick out of this partnership?
25:32Absolutely.
25:33Do you know what?
25:34I think from week one, Kaz was someone who surprised me.
25:38You know, you don't really know what to expect.
25:40And like you say, you know, footballers perhaps haven't progressed so far in the competition over all the years that they've been doing them.
25:46So I think it's a testament to her, the fact that she's made the final firstly.
25:50But I think she's just improved week after week after week.
25:53And we've seen it time after time.
25:55And I mean, this is, as I say, it's our final.
25:58So it's going to be amazing.
25:59It's been a great journey, isn't it?
26:00And Danny, they've chosen to do their week one jive.
26:04That put her at the top of the leaderboard.
26:0612 weeks on.
26:07What are you expecting to see this time around?
26:09I was actually shocked when I heard that they were doing their week one dance.
26:13And then I thought, well, everyone should do that.
26:16Like if for no one else, you get to see how far you've come.
26:20Yeah.
26:21After like 10 or 12 weeks of rigorous training.
26:23You put yourself through something.
26:25And then to be able to see the difference between your week one and the final with the same routine is a great shout.
26:30I mean, but that one when she came out and that double turn at the end.
26:34Oh, my God.
26:35Incredible.
26:36Incredible.
26:37You threw that out at the gate.
26:38You know what I mean?
26:39Oh, she's unreal.
26:40Week one.
26:41Fantastic.
26:42Denise, she scored a 31 with her week one jive.
26:44You scored a 39 in the final with your jive.
26:47Ooh.
26:48What tips have you got for our lioness.
26:50Oh, I just think, you know, just keep the bounce.
26:52It is also really difficult at this stage in the competition because you are quite tired, especially when you've got three dances.
26:57I remember being so exhausted, but the energy of the crowd will just get you through.
27:01But just keep the bounce, keep the energy.
27:03And like, you know, I think it's a great choice as well because she's going to show how she's improved from week one.
27:08So good choice.
27:09I love them as a pairing.
27:11I think they're amazing.
27:12And when it comes to the show dances, Denise, what are you expecting to see from our couples?
27:16I think play to your strengths, definitely.
27:19But it's not a bad thing to put something in that you've been criticised for as well.
27:22Just invert for yourself, for personal achievement, to get it right.
27:25You know, so I think it's always good to have a little bit of everything, but just 100% go for it.
27:30Just play to your strengths.
27:31Lots of lifts.
27:32I like a lift.
27:33JB, you've got two perfect scores in your final.
27:36What was your mantra going into the final?
27:39Do you know what?
27:40I didn't put too much pressure on myself.
27:41You know, I can be one to be a bit of a perfectionist and want to get things right.
27:46And, you know, I probably will say it's the same for everybody who's in my final anyway.
27:50Just go out there and enjoy it.
27:52It's the last time you're going to be on that dance floor, potentially.
27:55And, you know, especially if you don't go on to be crowned champion.
27:59You know, it's such a special place and it becomes a special place over that time.
28:03And I just think you have to go out, give 100% and enjoy every single second.
28:08Look at these finalists.
28:09They've still got the Strictly glow, haven't they?
28:11I like it.
28:12You never leave.
28:14You're all winners.
28:15And the true winner is dance.
28:19Thank you so much for dropping in, guys.
28:21What a great show.
28:22My finalist panel, everyone.
28:24Oh, that's it for tonight.
28:28Huge thanks to all my guests.
28:29I'm back tomorrow with Joanne Clifton's final choreography corner of the series.
28:33Strictly's very own singers, Tommy, Andrea and Hayley will be answering your questions.
28:36Plus, dance floor survivors and finalists, Amber and Nikita will be here.
28:40That's all from 6.30.
28:42Good night.
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