Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two
Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two (also known as Strictly: It Takes Two or simply It Takes Two) is a British television programme, the companion show to the popular BBC One programme Strictly Come Dancing. First aired on 25 October 2004, it is broadcast from Monday to Friday during the run of the main show on BBC Two at 6:30 pm.
| Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two | |
|---|---|
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| Also known as | Strictly: It Takes Two It Takes Two |
| Developed by | BBC |
| Presented by | |
| Composers |
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| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 15 |
| No. of episodes | 910 (as of 14 December 2018)[1] |
| Production | |
| Production locations |
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| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Running time |
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| Release | |
| Original network | BBC Two |
| Picture format | |
| Audio format | Stereo |
| Original release | 25 October 2004 – present |
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by | Strictly Come Dancing: On Three |
| Related shows | Strictly Come Dancing |
| External links | |
| Website | |
Claudia Winkleman originally presented the show, however she left at the end of the 2010 series and now presents the main show, taking Sir Bruce Forsyth's place. Since October 2011, Zoe Ball has presented the show.[2] On 18 April 2019, it was announced that Rylan Clark-Neal would be joining the show as a co-host.[3]
Broadcast
Before 2010, BBC Two Scotland did not broadcast the show on Thursdays, when locally produced Gaelic language programming aired in the slot instead, though during the 2008 and 2009 series the Thursday night show was carried as an alternative digital stream via BBC Red Button.
It Takes Two started to broadcast during the second series of the main show, replacing the companion show to the first series, Strictly Come Dancing: On Three, which had been broadcast on the digital channel BBC Three hosted by Justin Lee Collins.
Series overview
| Series | Start date | End date | No. of weeks | Presenter | Location(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 25 October 2004 | 10 December 2004 | 7 | Claudia Winkleman | h Studio |
| 2 | 17 October 2005 | 16 December 2005 | 9 | ||
| 3 | 7 October 2006 | 22 December 2006 | 12 | ||
| 4 | 8 October 2007 | 21 December 2007 | |||
| 5 | 22 September 2008 | 19 December 2008 | 13 | TC11 BBC Television Centre | |
| 6 | 20 September 2009 | 18 December 2009 | |||
| 7 | 4 October 2010 | 17 December 2010 | 11 | ||
| 8 | 3 October 2011 | 16 December 2011* | Zoe Ball | ||
| 9 | 8 October 2012 | 21 December 2012 | TC3 BBC Television Centre | ||
| 10 | 29 September 2013 | 20 December 2013 | 12 | Studio 7 The London Studios | |
| 11 | 28 September 2014 | 19 December 2014 | |||
| 12 | 27 September 2015 | 18 December 2015 | |||
| 13 | 25 September 2016 | 16 December 2016 | |||
| 14 | 25 September 2017 | 15 December 2017 | TC2 Television Centre | ||
| 15 | 24 September 2018 | 14 December 2018 | h Studio | ||
| 16 | 23 September 2019 | 13 December 2019 | Zoe Ball Rylan Clark-Neal | ||
| 17 | 26 October 2020 | 18 December 2020 | 8 | Stage 6 Elstree Studios[4] | |
- The final episode of Series 8 was broadcast live from Blackpool Tower Ballroom on Friday 16th December 2011
- Gethin Jones guest presented the show on 15 & 16 November 2017, and 2 & 3 October 2019, when Zoe Ball was unwell. He guest presented again on 12, 13, 19 and 20 November 2020 when Rylan Clark-Neal was self isolating.
Programme synopsis
The programme features interviews and training footage of the couples competing in the main Saturday night show, opinions from the judges on the previous Saturday show and the training footage for the next, and interviews with celebrities who have been watching the show.
The show features half-hour episodes each Monday to Thursday, with an extended one-hour episode on Friday in front of a live studio audience.
In 2016, Zoe Ball has been joined each week by regular dance experts, Ian Waite, Karen Hardy, Neil Jones and Chloe Hewitt, with former Strictly contestant Gethin Jones appearing on each Friday episode.
For the new series in the autumn of 2017, the programme returned to the newly refurbished Studio TC2 at the Television Centre complex in West London.
For the 2018 series, the show was broadcast from The Hospital Club TV Studio in London's Covent Garden, due to ITV Daytime programmes now occupying the Television Centre studios.
For the 2019 series, it was announced that former Eurovision commentator and former X Factor contestant Rylan Clark-Neal would join the program as a co-host. Rylan will present on Mondays and Tuesdays, interviewing the leaving pair, and the other pair in the dance-off. Zoe will then present the Wednesday and Thursday shows with Ian Waite and Vicky Gill. They will co-present on a Friday, with Gethin remaining as roving reporter.[5]
For the 2020 series, both Zoe and Rylan will return to the show, however Zoe will present the show on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with Ian Waite still appearing on the Wednesday show, while Rylan will present on Thursdays and Fridays, with Gethin Jones as reporter.[6] The show moved to Stage 6 at Elstree Studios, the first time It Takes Two has been broadcast from the same studio complex as the main show since 2012.[4]
Current segments
Studio segments
Tunes on Tuesday: On Tuesday, there is usually a sneak peek of some of the songs.
Waite's Warm-Up: Every Wednesday (and Thursday earlier in the series), Ian Waite reviews training room footage of the couples so far as they practice their dances and suggests areas they need to make improvements.
Choreography Corner: Every Monday (and Tuesday earlier in the series), a former professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing reviews the previous week's choreography. They also demonstrate the moves in a mini-segment called 'Demo Time'. Following Karen Hardy's departure in 2017, various former professionals having taken over, including Camilla Dallerup, Joanne Clifton, Natalie Lowe, Erin Boag and Vincent Simone.
Puttin' on the Glitz: On Thursday, Rylan chats with the show's head dress designer Vicky Gill about the costumes that the couples will be wearing that week.[7]
Friday Panel: On Friday, three or more celebrity fans of the show review music, costumes and training room footage of the celebrities ahead of the Saturday Show. Since 2019, they also predict which couple will be eliminated that week
Other recurring segments
Strictly Pro Challenge: The professional dancers put various different dance techniques to the test against one another in a yearly competition.[8]
| Year | Winner | Dance Step | Number achieved |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Artem Chigvintsev | Botafogo | 79 |
| 2012 | Flavia Cacace | Kick ball change | 76 |
| 2013 | Kevin Clifton | Drunken sailors | 77 |
| 2014 | Karen Hauer and Aljaž Skorjanec | New Yorkers | 39 |
| 2016 | Giovanni Pernice | Jive kicks and flicks | 55 |
| 2017 | Giovanni Pernice | Charleston swivels | 24 |
| 2018 | Oti Mabuse | Toe-heel swivels | 48 |
| 2019 | Graziano Di Prima | Botafogo | 90 |
| 2020 | Nadiya Bychkova | Fleckerls | 25 |
Global Glitterballs: A look into the various different versions of Strictly Come Dancing from across the globe.
It Takes Who: The pros play a game of guess who about each other, revealing some surprising, little-known secrets
Previous segments
Len's Masterclass: Head judge Len Goodman had a weekly spot with Claudia Winkleman, in which he demonstrated the dances to be performed on the following Saturday – this has been discontinued since Zoë Ball took over the presenter role.
Stat Man: Russell Grant appeared on the 2012 series with a guide to the numbers of winners of Strictly.
Dance Mat Challenge: The Pro-Dancers were challenged to get on an electronic dance mat and try to top a leaderboard.
In 2013, a new feature was shown, where dancer Natalie Lowe was set a challenge to teach a normal couple, known only as Gordon and Mel from Southampton, how to dance ahead of their wedding.
In 2014, Robin Windsor was set a challenge to teach the teachers of a school to dance for a performance for the school.
A live phone-in segment featured during the autumn 2004 series of the main show, where viewers could speak to the contestants on air.
Janette and Melvin's Cha Cha Chart Show: Professional dancer Janette Manrara and her 2016 partner Melvin Odoom host a chart-based countdown of various past performances and iconic Strictly moments.
Ore's Overview: Former champion Ore Oduba gives his say on all the couple's journeys so far.
Booth of Truth: The Strictly professional dancers each enter a booth and are individually asked questions the other pros' personal habits.
Ballroom Bingo: Professional dancer Anton du Beke asks the pro dancers questions about the other pro dancers.
Ballas Breakdown: Head judge Shirley Ballas explains and demonstrates steps from the dances.
Dance Card: Zoe Ball chooses a dance for head judge Shirley to demonstrate.
Craig's Rev-alations: Every Monday, Judge Craig Revel Horwood reviewed the celebrities previous choreography, performances and training room footage. Though this segment was axed, the chats with Revel Horwood returned for the 2018 series, with him making regular appearances on the Friday show.
Dance Master: Every Tuesday, renowned dance coach Carmen teaches Rylan the basic steps of one of the dances. As well as this, she explains the background and history of the different styles.
Ratings
The show averages between two and three million viewers each evening and is regularly the most watched show of the day on BBC Two.
References
- "BBC Two - Strictly - It Takes Two - Episode guide". BBC. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
- Zoe Ball announced as new host of Strictly – It Takes Two – BBC Press Office, 6 July 2011
- "BBC - Rylan Clark-Neal to join the presenting line-up on BBC Two's It Takes Two - Media Centre". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
- "BBC Studioworks fundamental in the delivery of all new Strictly Come Dancing". BBC Studioworks. 16 October 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
- "Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two is back! Everything you need to know". BBC Newsround. 17 September 2019. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
- TVZone (12 October 2020). "STRICTLY: IT TAKES TWO RETURNS". TVZoneUK. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
- "Strictly Come 'Dancing Dress Designer Vicky Gill". dsi-london.com. Archived from the original on 22 January 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2012.
- "Strictly Come Dancing pros are competing for another Guinness World Records title". Guinness World Records. 22 November 2017. Retrieved 16 May 2020.