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Home , Brendan Cole, Darren Bennett (dancer), Erin Boag, Ian Waite, James Jordan (dancer), Karen Hardy

Two’s company Two’s company Who is your dream Friday Panel guest?

“Now Darcey is gone, we need a ballerina. I suggest Francesca “Matthew Bourne.” Hayward, Lauren Cuthbertson or Yasmine Naghdi.” Tony Peters Jocelyne Wilson “ or Naomi Wolf.” “Not someone who’s just plugging an album, or is too Louise Curtis saccharine to have an opinion. I want genuine insight from someone who has a clue: journalists, bloggers, dancers…” “!” @LaylaTango Margaret Mee-Bishop

“I’d love a reunion of old pros. , the “Bonnie Langford.” Bennetts, the Cutlers, Vincent and Flavia – preferably Norma Robb a drink or two down and heavily reminiscing.” Vikki Jane Vile “I love how excited still gets whenever she’s anywhere near Strictly.” “All the women historians, scientists, chefs and entrepreneurs Marco Nunn they manage to overlook for Strictly bookings every year! and Prof Alice Roberts, please.” “The legend that is Bonnie Tyler.” Emma Barton Michael Wright

“In the celebs-who-can-dance category: Hugh Jackman, “Tom Cruise! Well, it does say ‘dream’ Catherine Zeta-Jones, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Tom and he’s a great dancer…” Hiddleston, Sienna Miller and Emma Stone.” Helen Glover Gill Alexander “It doesn’t have to be a superstar. Celeb superfans, “Sophie Ellis-Bextor, , Victoria former pros and (most) ex-contestants provide Pendleton and , and the special activity is the best balance of knowledge and laughs.” chucking wet sponges at a cutout of …” Frankie and Clover Keep Dancing Podcast “I’m already looking forward to [contestant] Chris Ramsey’s “Maybe have Claudia Winkleman back – but as a guest.” wife [former professional dancer] Rosie Winter being on!” Michaela Morgan Sarah Moore

“I just want people who watch and at least “Fans of the show who’ve been following the series. vaguely enjoy the show, and who also give Including musical people brave enough to say if a Above: It Takes Two presenter Zoe Ball the other panellists a chance to speak.” track is a rubbish fit for a dance or a good choice.” and new addition Rylan Clark-Neal. Steven Perkins Jenny Hale

As new presenter embraced. Its average audience is – underpinned by a canny motive. By Winkleman shared panting comments credits are just sublime; hit YouTube latter-day tendency to prioritise themes Rylan Clark-Neal joins two to three million, showing it’s a playing the fool, Winkleman said that it (“Gobsmackingly gorgeous!”) from to watch the whole thing. Likewise, and props, and since we’re now more It Takes Two, Marianka welcome continuation for fans who was OK for anyone to have a go, while his new fans? “You’re hating this, Winkleman dissolving into helpless in touch with the couples’ day-to-day Swain examines the history of can’t wait till the next weekend. Goodman was still able to get across which just makes me want to interview laughter as and experience via social media, dance Simply put, It Takes Two keeps us a few steps and a feel for the dance, you for even longer,” she semi-joked. revisit Stephenson’s insight is the show’s real USP. Strictly’s companion show up to date with the couples’ progress making us better-informed viewers. Seeing his confidence grow and his “almost fall” is pure poetry. Yes, This year, we’re entering another as they tackle new dances, reveals Winkleman and, from 2011, successor partnership with develop everyone works hard on Strictly, but it’s new era, as Rylan Clark-Neal shares elements like costume and song host Zoe Ball pretend ignorance so through those interviews, as well as also about having fun – both those on presenting duties with Ball – who’s ust as choices, and provides extra insight they can ask basic questions we might on the main show, hugely enriched the show, and us watching at home. helming BBC Radio 2’s Breakfast Show. began with many dubious of its via interviews and demonstrations. all be wondering. What is a fleckerl? our experience of their “J word”. Some segments work better than Clark-Neal has form with companion J success, so its sister show grew However, from the start, the show A heel lead? Swing and sway? They It Takes Two is also gloriously others. Viewer interaction is decidedly shows (The Xtra Factor and Big Brother’s from humble origins. Strictly Come managed to impart information with a also tease out lovely details of the silly – see: the Dance Mat Challenge. hit or miss, as is the Friday Panel; Bit on the Side) and also with sequins and Dancing: On Three, fronted by Justin light, humorous touch – as exemplified couples’ experience, letting them chat The pro dancers now prep seriously putting celebs on there who haven’t high drama (Eurovision). Let’s hope he Lee Collins, aired on BBC Three by Winkleman’s self-deprecating wit. freely away from the pressures of the for challenges in hopes of setting a actually watched the show is a waste continues the blend of earnest education, during the first series – though it was A delightful early segment was big live show, and contributing to world record. Back then, they were of time. As a ballroom nerd, I prefer superfan enthusiasm, and occasional a chapter as hastily forgotten as the Len’s Masterclass, where head judge the professional dancers becoming just playing for pride, and poor Lilia digging into the technical elements bouts of giddiness that’s made It Takes judges’ original hairstyles. It Takes Two Len Goodman attempted to teach household names – some, now, Kopylova somehow managed to score via Choreography Corner, ’s Two such an enduring pleasure. ■ proper arrived in autumn 2004 during ballroom dances to Winkleman, who more so than the celebrities… zero points – to the barely contained Warm-up, and the judges dropping Marianka Swain returns this month series two, helmed by the wonderful inevitably went wrong. It was joyous Who can forget mirth of husband . by to expand on their comments and with her blog, Strictly Speaking. Claudia Winkleman, and was quickly slapstick, featuring a great double act dying of embarrassment as Her howls of outrage over the closing scores. It balances out the main show’s Catch it on dancing-times.co.uk.

76 • DANCING TIMES Photographs: Left RAY BURMISTON, courtesy of the BBC. WWW.DANCING-TIMES.CO.UK • SEPTEMBER 2019 • 77 Right LEIGH KEILY, courtesy of the BBC.