Off The Telly - Strictly Special!

Episode Date: December 13, 2024

Natalie Cassidy and Joanna Page chat about all things on and off the telly. In this very special episode, Nat and Jo are in their element as they catch up with the Strictly Come Dancing 2024 finalists. They sit down with each couple to chat about their Strictly journey, how they’re feeling about the final and what telly they can’t wait to watch when Strictly is over.What they can’t stop watching, what they definitely aren’t going to bother with, new releases and comforting classics – TV is timeless and no telly is out of bounds. As well as having a natter about what’s on TV, they share backstage goss from the world of telly, whilst also cracking up about the more humbling moments in their lives. Self-confessed TV addicts and stars of two of the biggest shows on our screens, EastEnders and Gavin and Stacey, Natalie and Joanna are the perfect companions to see what’s occurring on and off the telly.Get in touch by sending us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to 03306 784704.Hosts: Natalie Cassidy and Joanna Page Producer: Georgia Keating Executive Producer: Richard Morris Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts Production Co-ordinator: Becky Carewe-Jeffries Sounds Editor: Arlie Adlington Music by MCassoOff The Telly is a BBC Studios Audio Production for BBC Sounds.

BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts. Listeners, if you want to know when a new episode of Off The Telly has dropped, make sure you've subscribed to Off The Telly on BBC Sounds and have push notifications turned on in your phone settings. What are push notifications? Well, it's dead easy, Jo, right? I'll show you how to do it later. It basically means that as soon as a new episode drops, it'll appear on your phone.

Oh, that's clever. I like that. Well, if I can manage to do it, then you guys at home can too. And then you won't miss any episodes of Off the Telly. New episodes drop every Wednesday on BBC Sounds. And now I think it's time for this week's episode. You lucky, lucky things. Enjoy.

Hi, Jo Love. How are you? I'm borderline hysterical. I can't believe that we're going to be talking to the strictly finalists today. It's a real coup, this. I've watched them every weekend. I think people are going to love it. Listeners, please send in your voice notes And let us know what you think of this ep

Because we're talking to all four finalists And the dancing partners And it's amazing I mean there's so much I want to actually genuinely ask them But I've been watching these dancers And also the celebrities And all sorts of different things for years and years And I've got my favourite dancers

I am such a huge fan. And I can't actually believe that I'm going to be sitting in the same room as them and I'm going to get to say hello. Do you know what I thought, though? What? We could have been sitting here with our mates. What do you mean? But they didn't make it.

Well, it could have been Wynne and Jamie in the final. We could have just had a chat with our mates. I didn't even think about that. I did not even. Wynne and Jamie did not even enter into my head because all I could think of was Vito and Alya. Well, there you go.

That's showbiz. Oh, it's very exciting, isn't it? There's a lot of noise going on. Well, you know, there's a lot going on here. We're right in the

middle of it all. We're in the midst of Elstree. We're chatting to some of them whilst we've got other ones walking past us.

I can't, everywhere you turn there's a dancer. Everywhere you turn there's someone. It's busy. It's the week. They're performing

on the Saturday and we are right in the middle of it right should we talk to our finalists bring him in please welcome our strictly stars tasha and aliash welcome to the off the telly podcast thank you so much thank you so much must be so busy at the moment. Congratulations on getting to the final. How are you both feeling? I feel so proud of us for making it to the final. You know, every week we put so much hard work into it,

the hours we put in, and now we've finished off a journey together, which I think is so magical, to be in the final of something I wanted to really experience, and now I'm here, so I just can't wait. You're amazing. Thank you. You have been amazing.

You are incredible. I've got something I want to say, and I think they should do it, and I've been saying it for a while now. I think that you should become a professional dancer next year in the show. Yeah. Wow.

They've never done that, have they? No, they haven't, have they? You've had judges, you've had this, you've had that, but you could be a dancer there we want to see more of your dancing yeah incredible like on saturday you opened the show a pair of you opened the show i mean my gosh you were standing up there your hair when you saw your hips i mean oh my gosh you were just incredible. Thank you. It was just fantastic. I just remember facing the band, because we were opening a semi-final,

felt a bit nervous, it's a big one. Yeah. And that costume, it was just amazing, the salsa, it was a fun party. But do you know what, that's probably the one dance where I felt not the most confident in it. Really? Yeah, it's a bit of a weird one. Is that because you've got to be sexy and sort of...

Got to be more like down grounded I like that I like to be very high and you know balletic kind of vibe so I really had to think just get down in your knees loosen the hips

everything yeah and we just had a ball I mean I loved it it was so fun well are you finding can you enjoy dancing because what I love watching

you know when I'm watching you two is that I can just completely and utterly relax and just enjoy it you look like you're having a whale of a time and I can just relax watching you. And do you still feel the nerves, you know, when you're there and you're about to do the dance, or can you just enjoy it together?

Do you still feel the nerves, or are you just all help and support? It's a funny one because, you know, always you feel the nerves standing on the floor as a pro, like, you know, making sure that the celebrity's OK and, you know, making sure that the celebrity is okay and, you know, that the steps are going to go fine and you don't get too nervous. But with Tasha, it's been different because it's just been like, you know,

how good can you dance kind of thing. Yeah. And it's a lovely feeling to have. And every single week, you know, we go on a Friday, we have our camera blocks, we have the rehearsals in the studio. And there's always been every single routine could have gone a little bit better on a Friday. But then on a Saturday, Tasha's always delivered the best run out of the whole week, which is an unbelievable thing.

And it's been every single week. It feels like under pressure, you work even better, which is amazing. And it's been a joy. I bet it has. I bet a lot of the professional dancers have been jealous of you. Yeah,, which is amazing. And it's been a joy. I bet it has. I bet a lot of the professional dancers have been jealous of you. Yeah, I bet they have. Hang on. Do you know what?

I'm so sorry to all of them. I feel really bad. Yeah, sorry, guys. What's amazing is that after you've danced on a Saturday, you know, you go up to talk to Claudia, and when you're talking and you're saying about, you know, how it went and whatever whatever you're always absolutely buzzing and you look like you've just had the best time dancing with her ever it's like such joy every

single day not even on a saturday like i like the rehearsals probably even more because like we get to run the numbers over and over and over and over again on a saturday you only get one chance so we don't really dance much together on a Saturday on the weekends but like it's been brilliant because every dance the way we've learned it and taught it was just with dancing normally it's a lot of vocal coaching and you know showing and you know like this is where the leg goes but with the way we've done it is we've just danced we've danced all day every day and how have you felt being in the bottom two the last couple of weeks, sweetheart? Do you know what? I don't see it as a negative experience.

I think if anything, it actually adds to my experience in a positive way. And I said, do you know what? Being in the bottom two, I was happy to do the Argentine Tango and the waltz again. I mean, what an absolute honour to have been happy to do that again. I love the waltz as well. I remember the second time we did it, I just let go.

There's a point where I literally closed my eyes and I just let Alyash lead me through because I thought, you know what? Yeah. It's okay to be in a bottom two, you know? It's just about fighting through and just see it as a positive. Don't let it knock you down. Absolutely.

And also at this stage, you're all so amazing that being in the, there isn't a bottom. No. Yeah, yeah. You know, there's four or five of you left

there's no bottom anything you know it's just the way of the show yeah and they need to do that but like you say I don't think

it is a bad thing at all no everyone's incredible what's been your most favourite dance that you've done so far it's between American Smooth

and Waltz for me I'm definitely a ballroom girlie yeah feel like I've been transferred into ballroom but something about

American Smooth that was just so beautiful but then the waltz also was so elegant and classy and just i love them both genuinely i couldn't pick it's like picking a favorite finger can i think do you know i mean like uh every single one of them i feel like we've pushed the limits of how much you can learn in ballroom and Latin, which I think is looking back in a while that's going to be my favorite and the proudest thing of really how much you have been able to learn in the sense of Borum and Latin craft

and technique. It's a very difficult thing to conquer and to make look easy. The best ones were the ones that were sort of the simpler routines, if you wish, but then doing the simpler steps to the level that I've never seen and I've never even tried or attempted. Like these walls that we did last week.

I mean, you know, all of those steps are done every week on the floor, but the way Tasha did them is just, you know, I couldn't do them any better myself, which is a crazy thing to say, but it's true. How are you going to feel on Saturday when it is over? I mean, my God, how are you going to feel? I honestly don't know. I feel like on Monday I'm going to wake up and just be really sad. You know, this show just brought so much happiness. I'm going to get emotional now.

It's so lovely. I always thought I was chatting to your dad when I came down and watched you because I was supporting Jamie obviously because he's my friend and I saw your lovely parents, they're so proud of you I love them you know, when I say the show's truly

magical it really is, I know everyone says it but when you actually experience it it's just, it's brought so much joy it's brought my spark back, it's brought my passion for dancing again so I lost that quite a long time ago and I feel like actually going into the new year I've gone in with such a new mindset and just pure happiness honestly this show and the people in it and everyone that's involved works so hard to make the show work on a Saturday night and I'm so thankful to have the opportunity and to dance with our Yash as well I mean what an honour truly what an honour like every Saturday night. And I'm so thankful to have the opportunity and to dance with Aayash as well.

I mean, what an honour. Truly what an honour. Like, every dance we've done, I'm going to remember such a long time when I'm older, many years, you know. I can look back on these dances and just really appreciate everything we did together. Oh, thank you.

That was so lovely. That was beautiful. When it first started, I just remember seeing you and you're in this beautiful blue dress with a gorgeous blonde hair and you were like a princess. She's obsessed with your hair. It was beautiful. When it first started, I just remember seeing you, and you're in this beautiful blue dress with a gorgeous blonde hair, and you were like a princess. She's obsessed with your hair. It's ridiculous, right? You've been so beautiful and so fantastic, amazing, all the way through.

And my little girl, Bo, she's three now, and when you did the routine to Six and the music from Six, she was sitting there because she loves it and loves the music, just going, Six, Six! And she was just watching you over and over. And my other daughter, they just absolutely, Natalie, love you. And you've been just fantastic for us to watch.

Oh, thank you. I love you so much. You really, really have. So three dances Saturday. Yes. I can't wait. Can you tell us what you're doing? I can tell you everything. What's your favourite? You picked your favourite, so what's that one? American Smooth. Okay, brilliant. I can't wait to do's your favourite you picked your favourite so what's that one American Smooth

okay brilliant can't wait to do that one again with you judges choice is judges choice is the couple's choice funny enough

that sounds funny the judges choice is the couple's choice okay yeah oh lovely and then your show dancer and then the show dancer

yeah oh my god I'm actually not even joking I'm getting goosebumps and it's and it's brilliant because like you know like i tried to map up the season like ages ago weeks ago you know you're trying to have like your ideal run ideal dances ideal um stories behind them you know the vision boards the costumes and the one thing we haven't done is what I always thought from the beginning it's going to be Tasha's best thing and uh so it happens that we haven't done it and it's going

to be our show dance oh so I'm so excited to do it I can't wait to do it wow yeah I can't wait I started learning the steps the pattern and it's hard it's very hard I've got to say because there's a lot of different styles in one routine it's not just one I think that think that's the hardest part, because obviously you have all the other dances, but it's just focusing on one dance style. This one is about, I'd say, five, six. Is there lots of danger? Are you up in the air a lot? I was on six.

Is there more? No, I'm counting now. How many? 75. I'm joking, I'm joking. I don't think we can fit that into the show in seconds. Are you being chucked around a lot? Are you up in the air a lot for the show dances?

Is there a lot of danger? A little bit of our time. Yeah. A little bit of our time. A little bit of our time. It's amazing. And did you love going to Blackpool? I have to ask, because it's such a point to get to,

isn't it, Blackpool? Yeah. We were actually there for five days, right? Yep. We got there on a Tuesday, so I had a whole week pretty much to kind of really embrace it and enjoy it and do you know what

I can't even explain the amazing you know the floor like the grand it was just so grand and so much bigger and the band as well

it sounded so different to the studio the floor was very bouncy as well yeah I got my highest score there Tash oh go on

yep my highest ever score which was 4.8, go on then. Yeah, my highest ever score. Which was it? I was 4.8. Oh, nice. We're not all 10s, sorry. No, it's amazing. What dance did you do? I did a quick step there.

Yes. Nice. That was my favourite. I'm watching that as soon as we finish this. And then I went out. The week after I went out. No. But at least you didn't go out in black.

I went out with a jive. So you had a quick step and a jive straight after. I did. That's hot. That's Vincent for you. Lovely Vincenzo. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But I loved it.

I know what you mean by the magic of it. It's the most wonderful show to do. I wish I could be there every week, to be honest. I love the studio. That's what I said. There's just something about it. That's what I said. You need to come back and be.

I want you as a pro. Yeah. Yeah, you do. Because we are a telly podcast, we would love to hear how you relax when you're not dancing. Do you watch any telly? What are your favourite shows? Or have you got anything that you're going to be watching Christmas time?

Easy for me. January 1st is the new season of Traders. I'm going to watch that forwards and backwards and sideways. I love the Traders. It backwards and sideways I love the traitors it's great I love it Claudia is so brilliant

you'd be so good on it what do you mean I feel like you'd be a really good traitor

you'd be so good I'm changing my answer to for me I don't... Probably when all this finishes,

I'll probably just watch a load of Christmas films. I feel like I haven't really got into the Christmas mood yet. It's weird. I feel like I see Christmas stuff everywhere. I'm not there. So I feel like I'm just going to watch the holiday, all the cute little romantic films. Get into the festive spirit after dancing your socks off.

My God, when you so deserve it, the pair of you. Thank you. Wish you all the luck. Thank you so deserve it, the pair of you. Thank you. Wish you all the luck. Thank you so much. Good luck, good luck. I'll be in my pyjamas with my children and we'll be watching. Thank you. I hope you join the show, then.

Oh, we will. Oh, God, we will. And keep dancing. JB and Lauren, welcome to Off The Telly. It's so lovely to have you here with us today. Thank you so much. Congratulations. Congratulations.

I know, right? Thank you. Out of everyone, I'm so happy that you've made the final. Yeah. I just feel like your journey has been one of the most interesting as a viewer. Because I feel like you got quite a hard time at the beginning. And then obviously with lovely Amy and changing partners that was hard and I think you've grown the most and I just

think your journey's been the most interesting and I'm so happy that you've made the final oh thank you that's so nice to hear how are you feeling I'm do you know I'm actually I'm feeling pretty good to be honest um the last couple of weeks have been very full-on as you can imagine yeah um but I'm just at the stage now and I think it's probably been part of this whole process that I'm just embracing whatever happens and being in the moment you know and it's so easy you know when you in this day and age when you're busy you got life going on you got the kids you got the family going on, you've got the kids, you've got the family, you've got work, you've got everything that's going on to kind of flip from moment to moment. But actually, when you're doing whatever it is that you're doing,

you've got to be present in it. And that's definitely something that I've tried to do throughout this Strictly Come Dancing process. I feel also in the last few weeks, you've really kind of... Lauren, you can help me with this, but I feel like he's really let himself go. Yeah. I feel like you're in it and you're kind of just gone for and you're like yeah this is jb do you know what i mean this is him it was saturday i mean i know it was your birthday and happy birthday you know for then and everything but it was like you've been amazing all

the way through but on saturday you you you know you had this twinkle in your eye and you were just like I'm up for this can I be honest here right semi-final week you have two dances to learn so as a professional dancer you're trying to prioritize what to teach and what technique is best to teach and whatever it's the first time that I've had to teach two dances in a week and I didn't know like he always pulls it out the bag i'm always really confident with him but i didn't know what to expect on saturday for the live also because the paso doble was a different kind of dance to what we normally do it's kind of had that kind of serious dark mood about it and he danced it the best he danced danced it all week. There was, like you say, there was something...

I've never seen him like that before. No, he just, he was on the money. And, like, at the end of the Paso Doble, at the end of the Paso Doble, like, he did the cape like that and I was on the floor, like, all dramatic. And then I just looked up at him and I was like, that was so good. It just made me emotional.

Because he really just brought it to the table. Yeah. It was just incredible. You were, you were incredible. I mean, you were so strong and there was just something there. It was like you, you've been amazing all the way through and you just suddenly just went, boof, like that. It was brilliant to watch.

I don't know what it was. I just feel like, I think the whole week week especially for us was full-on and i think with even though the paso doble is potentially one of the slower dances one of the things that i didn't realize and you don't really realize as one of the contestants until you hear judges critiques um because shirley said you know not many paso dobles are danced like that. And that is, you know, credit to Lauren. Yeah, yeah. She comes up with the choreography. She works stuff out.

I remember, you know, she was trying to change little bits and pieces to make it even better. I looked back actually at one of our rehearsal clips from day one. And it's so different, especially at the beginning, to what we did on Saturday night. And you just go with the flow, you know. You don't really realise it. But actually, you know, it was such a dynamic dance. And then, of course, we had the salsa, which also is quite upbeat. Absolutely, yeah.

Uplifting, dynamic. So I was, you know, it was a lot. And we didn't have one ball and one latin. I mean, one slow, one quick, one chill, one... They were both very energy draining. Yeah. So I was quite concerned at the start of the week that, you know, are we actually going to be able to do this? And I don't know what it was.

Maybe there's something in the water. Maybe it was my birthday. Yeah, it was probably that. How's everyone been around you? Your family? Because obviously I know your wife and, you know, you've got a wonderful family behind you. I bet they're so proud. I bet they're so looking forward to Saturday, right?

Oh, they're over the moon. I mean, the kids have been upset from week one because they're like, well, I can't week up to the show. Oh, yeah. Well, they're so used to coming to all my shows. Yeah, of course. They came to the dress run and they loved it and then poor Kiara burst out into tears

which is like, why am I going home? I can't go to the dressing room. Yeah. But yeah, I i mean they've been watching every single week you know i've been screaming yeah they they wrote 110 on the um and they're just they're fully invested and obviously you know chloe like she's been there every single week she didn't come to um blackpool because um ace obviously had his football but you know she's been to every show in London.

And, you know, she's a huge supporter of mine. Always has been. Always will be. I love it when she's come in and she gives you, like, tips and advice. Brilliant. Brilliant. You know what I love? In the results show every week, kind of like we're both standing there really nervous,

waiting for the light to go white or red. And I always look over at Chloe and she just goes... it gives me like this confident nod it just like helps me so much it's so nice was it difficult taking over did it did it feel fragmented was it quite a fragmented time for you both I know you know these things happen and but for you it's a difficult thing right to start with someone and then move on to somebody else how's that been for you both yeah so for me um initially it did feel like oh i don't know what what does this mean yeah yeah yeah and obviously um you know production had to sit me down and just tell me what happened because initially i didn't know what happened of course

once i'd done the um the live show to my mind everything was okay and I know that you know Amy she's got Crohn's and of course still you know uh doing various different bits and pieces of her sort of cancer recovery and her treatment um but to all intents and purposes like I thought everything was okay yeah and um of course then I had to go and do the result show by myself because she'd you know been taken ill taken to hospital just for precautions. So, I mean, there was a lot that obviously I wasn't aware of, and rightly so, because it's very much a private matter. And I definitely respected Amy's wishes in that respect. And I didn't know whether it was going to be a permanent thing

or whether it was just going to be sort of an immediate thing, like a couple of weeks or whatever. And so for me, there was a lot of uncertainty and you know everyone was amazing production were great they were saying like what what do you need JB and I was like oh obviously I want to be dancing with Amy but you know you let me know kind of how things are progressing developing and Amy was keeping me up updated as well and then obviously the decision was made that I'd work with Lauren and for me you know I knew Lauren was going to be amazing I obviously you know we've all seen her dance yeah yeah i've seen the amazing performances

she's put on and so you know it would i knew it'd be different but i wasn't concerned in that respect no and it was just a case of well i'm still in it you know and this is the situation yeah yeah we've got to get another routine out at the end of the week and actually i think our first routine together was a couple's choice which was a lovely transition wasn't it because that means that couple's choice I don't choreograph

so it was somebody else's choreography we both went in on a Monday we were both learning and then it was up to us for the rest of the week to rehearse what we'd learnt and just kind of

build that rapport so it was like a smooth transition really wasn't it well you obviously really do have a rapport you do and even though

you've not been together from the beginning I think it's just worked out perfectly yeah you know you tell us about the three dances which you're going to be doing here we go okay your favorite what are you going for say it our favorite is the samba just just want to drop in there that he did win the Samba-thon, so that's also played into why we chose him. Brilliant. Judge's choice, what is it? Beanie's Waltz.

Yes. Sorry, I got too excited about that one. I thought it was. But Beanie's Waltz was actually, for both of us, such an amazing dance. It surprised me, actually. I wasn't expecting to like it as much as we did and i think it was everything it was a song it was the fact that it was musicals week you know dressed as

mary poppins and mr banks like just everything was you know felt amazing yeah so we're really and and there were still things to work on yeah so i'm actually really looking forward to sort of getting stuck into those things going back to it and yeah of finessing it almost amazing and show dance how's it going really good look at the eyes what is going on show dance is going to be amazing basically it's a medley

it's a Motown hit oh my god that's brilliant so we've got uptight we've got dancing in the street ain't no mountain high enough and

Laura's in her element she's literally so happy I love Motown so I love Motown. So good. I can't wait to see it. I can't wait to watch it on Saturday. Just can't wait. Now listen,

this is a television podcast and obviously we are strictly mad. But when it's all over on Saturday, we want to ask you, what telly will you be hunkering down to watch over Christmas? What's your favourite telly? When you finally get to relax, what are you going to be watching? I'm going to watch telly.

I'm going to be, I'm definitely going to be watching, can I say, I suppose that's more of a film, not so much telly. I do go in on the Christmas movies. Yes. I do cram them all in. I'm going to be watching the Polar Express with the kids. Yes. Because it's a classic and they love it.

And they've been dying to watch it with me so i'm gonna definitely do that um and yeah i mean for us it's it's a it's a it's a nice time to just chill out and sort of reassess and get prepped for the new year i think they'll be very happy to have daddy back won't they yeah after this time it's mad time of being busy yeah and i'm sure everybody agrees. Like, this year's just been so special. Everybody as well. Like, there's not one person that we're going to be around on the weekend,

you know, none of the finalists that I feel like, oh, do you know what, not really. I know, but that Jamie Borthwick, you know. He'll be back, I suppose. He's only trying to steal my initials as well. Love you, Jamie. But, you know, I mean, everyone's everyone's wicked like we saw them the other day because they came in and did the group dance yeah whatever and it's just yeah like it was just so

nice to get a cuddle from everyone it has seemed to be not different this year but there is like a quality about this year like the banter and how much you all seem to get on with each other and it's just it's been an absolute joy to watch and not just the dancing but just seeing you all together as a company it's been lovely yeah it's a joy to be a part of honestly

and it's been so fun and honestly I'm going to have so much fun at the weekend the amount of times we're in the studio and JB ties up

he goes I just love everyone here like every department like name people from different departments just love them everyone's amazing and it really is.

It's a lovely place to be. Thank you so much for taking the time out. Thank you. You better go and get dancing. Yeah, I know. We need to get dressed. Come on, let's do it. Wish you all the luck in the world.

Thanks for having me. Thank you. Good luck. Thank you. Good luck for the final. Thank you, ladies. Thank you. Chris McCausland, you cheeky fella, and Diane, welcome.

Welcome to the podcast. Thank you so much. Thank you so much for coming. Oh, thank you for having us. Obviously, I don't really know where to start because you're amazing. Oh my God, Jess, fantastic. I say it every week, I say it all the time, and I say it on every show I've been on lately,

but I can't watch you both without crying. Well, we can't dance at the moment without crying, can we, Chris? Both of us. I've been a bit of a wreck this last couple of weeks. It was just wonderful. Last Saturday was just absolutely wonderful. Thank you. He did do an amazing job. I mean, every

single dance is blowing my mind, but I mean, you can I think you can even hear me through the TV at the end of our dance. I scream so loud. I actually got someone tell me off the other day because I scream so loud to your ear that they go, you realize that it's quite dangerous that you're yelling so close to his ear. But I'm like, you're amazing.

But you're amazing. He's incredible. Thank you. It is genuinely a team effort. We, we say this all the time, don't we? But you're amazing He's incredible You're amazing for what you've done It is genuinely a team effort We say this all the time don't we It kind of just clicked right from the beginning The trust was there

The laughs were there We had a good time whilst we were in rehearsal And it's just been A very good combination Chris how are you feeling How does it feel to be in the final? Not just in the final, but really the favourite, his favourite.

It's nuts to be in the final, to be honest. And I thought it could be a disaster. I was worried it was going to be a disaster. The fear at the beginning in episode one was just the most scary thing I've ever done in my life. And I think the one thing that worked in my favor was I am you know as a comedian you're not always in comedy mood you know what I mean you're not always in a comedy mood you have to flick those switches in your head yeah into a performance sometimes and so I'm used to flicking those switches in

my head and going right it's showtime and um and so that's what i think that's what really really made that first show work and have the energy is that i had the terror i had the fear my skin was gray without any makeup at all i was grayer in episode one than i was playing a zombie in the special um and but I was able to go, okay, as they're counting down the studio, 10 seconds, right, engage engines, flick switches.

Let's go. And so I was able to use that skill set. And, you know, for the first few shows, I said to Di, oh, I got away with that, didn't I? Got away with that, didn't I? And even when I realised, oh, this could be better than just lasting two or three weeks,

I was like, I don't know if I can get away with this five times. Like, even that felt like, you know, I've done it twice. Could I do this another three times? And there we are, 12-odd weeks later. You can't get away with it, Chris. You're bloody good dancer. You're so good. But that's how it felt, you know?

Yes. Because you always feel like a bit of an imposter, don't you? And you always feel like, you know, even doing panel shows sometimes when I was new at them, you'd come away, and even if you had a good one, you'd go, oh, I got away with that, didn't I? Yeah, yeah. Sometimes it's hard to look at yourself from the outside.

You're aware of the doubt, and you're aware of the thought processes. No one else is. Everyone else just sees the product yes yeah and so you are aware of all of the psychological hurdles you've managed to shove in a box to get through it and um so yeah it did feel like a massive task even when i realized that we it wasn't going to be a disaster. But here we are, and it's been amazing. And to be in the final is, it feels bananas. But it feels like, if I'm honest, right, I feel like what I wanted to achieve on this show, I've done it. Yeah, I feel like I wanted to surprise people.

I wanted to kind of change people's expectations of what was possible. And I think I've done it. I think I've done it more than I ever thought I could do it. And so everything else has been just a lovely bonus, really. And, you know, the final is the cherry on the cake, and the final feels like I've kind of been able to, you know, give something really lovely back to Diane as well. Yes.

And the cake is done, and this is the cherry. And so, yeah, it's lovely. I get a little bit emotional. But you are what Strictly is all about. I mean, you are just, you came here, you didn't have any huge dancing experience or anything. And you have achieved what you've achieved. But then you were saying about, you know,

feeling like you're getting away with it. When you dance, my God, you're amazing. I mean, and the pair of you, you've got chemistry, you've got charisma, you've saying about, you know, feeling like you're getting away with it. When you dance, my God, you're amazing. I mean, and the pair of you, you've got chemistry, you've got charisma, you've got rhythm, you can move. I mean, the intricacy of your steps and everything. I mean, you are incredible. It's just a joy watching you. Was it the week before last?

Was that the quick step? Remind me. Quick step, yeah. Your feet. Yeah. I keep, because I rewind yours. So fast. And I have to watch it a couple of times so i

rewind it and i'll watch it again and all of that it's an incredible your feet chris it's incredible he i mean he's worked extremely hard he doesn't he really doesn't stop he just constantly his brain is going and going and going like you said you did a speech last week yeah yeah it was yeah you know you can't see no you can't see the dances there's no reference you can't look back at a tape yeah there is no reference it's it's it's crazy how have you you know how have you taught chris the dances and yeah it's like it's every single week honestly it does feel like we're back in week one yeah because as you go on in this competition of course it's like it's every single week. Honestly, it does feel like we're back in week one. Yeah.

Because as you go on in this competition, of course, he's become a better dancer. So he understands about dancing a lot more. But dancing for me is like I would teach 80% visually all the time. I learn visually when I'm dancing. So for me, even just thinking about oh my gosh okay I can't visually teach him and the way I learn is visual so it was like it was my brain was going oh god I hope I can do this uh but we found other ways we found ways of like he's really good with musicality so hearing the steps on the floor he gets an understanding of the rhythm, number one. It comes down to, literally, I get on my hands and knees, he puts his hand on my head for balance,

so he's pressing down on my head whilst I'm moving his feet. Then it'll be also, Chris gets down on his hands and knees, feels what my feet are doing. I try and explain everything, which I've never, ever done before. It feels like I'm playing Twister sometimes. I'm like, right leg forward, left leg to the side, right arm out to the side. Like, and that's something I've never had to do before. So my brain's working over time. But yeah, every single week has been like, okay, we're doing a, like, for example, we did the Paso Doble. He's like, so what is a Paso Doble?

I have no reference to this whatsoever whereas yeah I guess everything else there's been bits we can carry over yeah remember that bit from from week three you remember that bit from the waltz whereas the Paso Doble was like here's here's some really really bizarre brand new things that don't make any sense whatsoever yeah and if you can visually see that, obviously you get much more of an idea in your head. But when I'm just putting him into these weird positions, and, you know, they are quite weird positions.

They are. Throw your pelvis forward, arms up in the air. Yeah. He was like, Di, you're having me on. Like, you're joking with me, right? I was like, no, this is the dance. I said, are you sure you know how to do this properly yeah

and there has been moments where Chris has to just the whole time he's got to really put all his trust in me you know when we're out there on the dance floor I am his eyes I am the one that is keeping him safe on the floor and there's never

any hesitation from him because he knows that I will never, ever put him in a dangerous... You can see the trust there. You can feel it as well. Or else he wouldn't move like he does. He moves across that floor. Yes. Like from A to B.

And that is only down to the trust that we have in each other. He trusts that I'm going to make sure we go in the right direction. But that, I think, is something that people probably don't realise that half of our week is just explaining to Chris the directions that we're going in. Because when you're dancing, it's moving so fast that actually, in hindsight, he doesn't really know where we are in the room.

He's just going off what maybe I've said in certain positions that we might stop in. I say, right, right now, your face is facing the judges or your back's towards the audience or we're close to the band or we're close to the cameras. But other than that, you're just going off where I'm putting him in the room.

And that is just down to trust. And my God, you cover that floor. Yeah. So strong and so fast. I mean, you just cover it. Yeah. We have a lot of a lot of the time where it is about learning the the angles and the turns really because i'm not doing them

visually i'm not turning to a point visually so a lot of is getting these you know especially when we're doing you know ballroom and stuff because i'm you know once you've got momentum going, it's, you know, the male is meant to lead. And, you know, Diane can kind of indicate a bit of an angle or whatever, but my body weight moving at a pace, we need to get those angles right and we need to get them in muscle memory. Otherwise, we're going to be taking cameras out. So, yeah, it's a lot of that takes a lot of um a lot of practice so can you tell us about the three dances then that you're

going to be doing yeah so um the judges have picked our couple's choice to do again which is amazing we are very excited about that yeah we got 33 yeah d was ill. She didn't sleep the night before. She was vomiting all day. She hadn't eaten in a day. Yeah, it wasn't the best day for us. I did a spin with her on my shoulders, which could have been disastrous if she'd... I was wearing white. We were both wearing white.

She was blowing up from both ends. It could have been a sprinkler system. Yeah, it was just unfortunate that that particular day, I was like, I didn't know how I was going to get through that, to be honest. It would be nice to do that with you feeling good. I don't remember the moment because all I was thinking was, don't be sick, don't be sick.

I hope you're going to be all right, darling. You're going to be all right. And I know that Chris was so worried about me on that night. So I'm really excited that we actually get to do that dance again because we really enjoyed the whole week rehearsing it and we loved the song and it just was unfortunate that that particular night felt like

we didn't really appreciate the moment like it should have been appreciated I wouldn't have known at all I know I definitely when I watch back I go oh I didn't look the best I love the message of the song as well. We all shine on John Lennon.

It's like instant karma. And it'd be nice. He had the moment in it with the little blackout coming out of that with the spin. And I think there's some nice things in that song. And I like the message. So it's nice to do that again. That's brilliant. And then what's your choice?

Our choice is our waltz that we did in week five yes this is where we uh do you want me to talk about this one chris chris gets very emotional about this one i mean it was probably one of my favorite dancers of the series for sure our favorite dance you you just took to the waltz so beautifully and i know we can definitely do this one better it was week five he was still learning the mechanics of ballroom but we did it the other day and I was I was in shock of how much better Chris had gotten yeah just with his frame with his timing of you know lowering and rising and lowering in the ballroom just it just was all so beautiful and just the song and the the meaning behind these dance as well was just gorgeous so i'm so excited to do it again

and show dance what you're doing for us we're gonna be a wreck after that one we're gonna be blubbering messes so emotional but um show dance joy we're bringing joy to you only get what you give uh which again, just feels right for us. We've put in so much effort to this whole experience. And it wouldn't have been possible if Chris didn't put everything into it and throw all his trust into me and everything. So it's a big party. We're going to put a lot of...

Are you chucking them about, are you, Chris? We've got a bit of Foxtrot in there put a lot of are you chucking them about are you Chris we've got a bit of Foxtrot in there a bit of Quickstep a bit of Tango a bit of Viennese Waltz and some tricks

and stuff throwing in as well high energy and and it's a good song isn't it New Radicals it's a great song

yeah so it should be it should be fun and it should be it should put a smile on people's faces. Well, that's what you've done every week, Chris, for millions and millions and millions of people.

You've put smiles on our faces. You're just making us bloody cry every week because you're so amazing. Millions of people. I know it's hard for you to get round it because you're in this bubble and you're doing this show, but you're talked about everywhere. Yeah. Do you know what I mean? Everyone's talking about you and what you're doing.

Everybody is just behind you. And I mean, well, we just can't wait. We'll do our best, won't we? We always do our best. Well, we always try to do our best. We always try to do our very best. Sometimes we don't manage to pull that off. He says to me before every performance,

every week he'll go, let's have some fun, Di. And it always takes the pressure off because we've done the best we can. Thank you so much for bringing us all the joy. You're both amazing. Before we go, this is a telly podcast, and we would love to know what telly will you be watching once this is all over? What's your favourite telly to watch? When you finally get to have a rest, what are you going to be watching?

I've saved series two of the Frasier reboot. Oh yeah. You love that, don't you? Frasier was my, oh,

just one of my favourite shows ever. Yeah, brilliant. And when the new series came out with Nicholas Lindhurst, I was excited by him

being in it, but I thought this could be rubbish. Yeah. And the first episode of the first series was a little bit wooden, but so was the first episode of Frasier originally. Yeah.

But it was so good. I loved it. And I saw series two's out, and I'm going to save that. I'm going to save that. Oh, my God, that's nice. For once this is over. And also, there's a really brilliant Christmas film out of Christmas. Oh, yeah.

Starring Chris McCausland and Lee Mack. That's the one. For Bad Tidings which is which is on Sky on on December the 22nd Christmas Eve Christmas Day

Unboxing Day lovely yes well we're always looking for recommendations and tips it's a fantastic

I've heard it's really good it is really good I've seen it I'm looking forward to it. We should watch Shia's Christmas very funny. Very funny indeed.

Oh thank you so much both of you and good luck for Saturday. Cheers. Thanks so much. Sarah and Vito thank you so much

for coming on Off The Tally. Thank you so much. I was just saying that I saw the pair of you when I was chatting to you on the very, very first episode. And now, look, here you are in the final.

Congratulations. Thank you so much. We just can't believe it. Did you see us, how shocked we were? Because I really thought dance-off. We'd never been in a dance-off, and I was absolutely adamant. I was like, this is it. I said to you, didn't I, where do we warm up? What do we do? We have time to warm up at least before a dance-off and I was absolutely adamant. I was like, this is it. I said to you, didn't I, where do we go? Where do we warm up?

What do we do? You have time to warm up at least before the dance-off. I was like, yeah, do we have time eventually? But let's just first one second. There is our show. What does it feel like when you're standing there waiting? It's terrible. It's horrible.

And also, I will say this. My mum pointed out really early on that we are both quite fidgety people. But I didn't realise to what extent. My mum, she was a primary school teacher for 25 years, and she said, I looked around at all the couples, everybody's standing beautifully, and they're standing still. And then I look at you two. Your legs are going like this.

His arms are going like that. You've changed position. You move again. It took everything I had, actually, Sarah, to not stand up and say, will you two stand still? We don't think we are. We think that we are still. It took everything I had, actually, Sarah, to not stand up and say, will you two stand still? But... We don't think... We think we are. We think that we are still. We do really believe that we are still in that moment, or we are not.

Oh, my God. And then I watched it back, and I was like, oh, no. I'm like this. He's like that. Then my hand starts going like this on his hand, and I'm like, oh, no. I mean, what's going on there? But it's just... It's just the nerves, isn't it?

It's so stressful. You can't control yourself. Or I can't control myself. Me neither. Just go on. And then, because as well, I was like, get ready. We've been last called out, last a lot. And then we were first.

Well, we did not expect at all. No. I mean. Not at all. It was bonkers. I've watched it back. I look literally like... Jump. I go into like brace, brace position.

It's like I'm in a plane crash. I'm like brace, brace. And then I'm down, you're up. You pick me up, I'm like up. I mean, it was very undignified. But you say you were... It's so well deserved, both of you. Oh, God, thank you.

The journey's been amazing. do you know what I mean? And I think for women out there, to see you doing what you're doing, it's so empowering, what you're doing. Thank you. I mean, I didn't come into it thinking like that. No. Because you don't. You just think you are who you are, you're doing what you're doing.

And then quite early on, somebody sort of said, oh, you're now the oldest woman, and I was like, oh. And then you start getting this, and somebody said, oh, you're now the oldest woman. And I was like, oh. And then you start getting this. And I thought, oh, no, I don't want to be a woman going, middle-aged woman of a certain age. And you also don't want to be going, oh, and I'm a mum. But then you think, but that's what I am. And actually, as long as I'm not going on about it too much. And then I think other people started to talk about it.

And then I thought, well, okay, if I'm kind of, if I am in any way encouraging other women to go because you know what it's like you're a parent you slightly your life becomes about you lose yourself a little you're fixated with somebody else yeah excited what they're doing what they're their well-being encourage the fascinating thing is you're encouraging constantly other people to do well and saying believing believe in yourself. And then actually you've slightly shut the door on your own self-belief, which is fascinating. Yeah. Because I don't know about you, but as a parent, modelling behaviour is so important.

And then you think, I'm saying to my child, believe in yourself, you can do this. And then I'm saying to him in my life, I can't do this. Yes. How hypocritical is that because you know your child's maybe learning to read or write which to them is some feels impossible they're like how am I ever going to be able to write a sentence and then when he shows me a lift I'm thinking I'm never going to be able to do that but he knows because he's a professional dancer yes you can yeah and so I can see the struggle for you is he's thinking, just shut up and get on with it because I know you can.

In the same way with your child, you're like, oh, just... Yeah. With your phonics. And you're kind of thinking, actually, I need to do that for me as much as for my child. And I actually used to get really frustrated because I'd think, you think I can do it, and I know I can't because I know myself.

I know. And I think that's a confusion of being a woman and going, I know what I can do. I know what I'm capable of. But actually, that can be a negative thing because you don't know. No, you don't. You don't know, and you've pushed yourself,

and the things that you've done, obviously you thought you shouldn't and wonderful veto here has pushed you it's amazing the lift sometimes he'd show me the lifts and i'd be like absolutely not no way and then we do it and then i'm kind of like and now i've got to the point i'm i obviously trust him so much now i mean what's so incredible is no matter what happens, they, Vito, goes to catch you before they kind of save themselves. Even if he'd go under you and break his own back, they'll rescue you, which is a professional thing that you don't really believe until it happens. And now I would do, I mean, like at Blackpool,

he pushed me backwards off a thing and I was like, yeah. Oh my God, yeah. Well, it's like the fearlessness that you have got and you can just see the trust between the pair. Yeah. So I did Strictly

and I was scared of coming down the stairs. But can we talk about the stairs? I still think the stairs are quite, the stairs are awful because you're kind of, I mean, you, the pros don't, they just kind of trip down them. Well, they're also perspex, aren't they?

So they're very slippery things, if I remember. And don't you also think, if you're going to go arse over tit on a stair, it doesn't bode well for the rest of the show. I slightly go a bit stand a stair lift hand grab. I'm always a bit like going down the stairs. And I'm trying to be carefree and a bit like, look at me just tripping down these stairs like it's nothing. And I'm actually inside going, don't fall down these stairs. Do not fall down these stairs. Yeah.

Also, the judges are all watching you. And you kind of think, I think one of them said that they like to see how you come down the stairs. And I was a bit like, oh, my God. Well, is that to judge how you will be then? I'll tell you what I'd say to them. I'd say, you come out and you never get your timing right. You do your intro and none of them ever

get it right, do they? No, they don't. Yes, that's true. Thank you. They come out, the timing's all wrong, Shirley sits at the wrong time, Drake stands up at the wrong time. Sorry, I'm not going to be seen publicly saying anything against the judges. I was going to just ask you, do you have a favourite judge, but do you

want to stay neutral? I mean, I sort of do. There is an obsession with Shirley. I'm a bit obsessed with Shirley. I can't even try and hide that now. She's just such an icon, isn't she? She's just so amazing. And I love the fact that she's kind of,

she's had a bit of a journey, I think, on Strictly when she first, because I think the judges, when they start, get a bit of a hard time. Absolutely, yeah. And she really, really knows her stuff. And I've started, Vita got me starting to watch videos of her. I mean, she's just insane. Insane. Her head.

I mean, even, and we were lucky enough, we had our judges masterclass with her. And she did, what was that thing she did? With the head. I mean, I still don't know what happened. Right. But she did something with, what's slightly embarrassing is, you know, she walks into the room and i was like oh shirley it's shirley it's shirley and then she starts coaching you now listen to me young lady and you're like oh my god okay i'm in the presence of greatness and then she started to do things with veto and

she did a move that we were doing and i thought oh that's nice she's showing us another move that could be done but that was the move we're doing and there was a really embarrassing moment when I went yeah but we do we do this and she was like yes but I just did a simple head roll I mean it looked like it looked like it was just extraordinary her head kind of came off its axis went all the way around the world flipped out the end and then she just did a little hand and I was a bit like and then she went film that and perhaps you could put that in for her veto and I was like oh wow and veto both she went, film that and perhaps you can put that in for her Vito. And I was like, oh, wow. And Vito, both of us were looking at each other like, I think that's going to happen.

But I mean, just the elegance and the way she dances, you just feel, you feel like slightly lesser of a human being just because her body, everything about her is just, you wouldn't want to, I wouldn't want to displease Shirley. But you can see she loves you as well yeah i can see that she really loves you she's an icon for women that you go look at her she looks incredible she's very confident i love the fact that she's not afraid of being confident and opinionated because i feel like sometimes women we just have to be nice period that's your remit be nice be likable and think she's like, this is who I am. And you want to follow that role model. And if she does like me, I'm delighted because, yeah, I think she's amazing.

And her little dog, Charlie. You were just telling us a bit about Vito's coffee drinking, his espresso drinking. So, Vito, when you started this, you were just a coffee drinker. Yeah. What do you drink these days? I'm drinking tea. Oh my god, are you serious? I'm drinking tea. You've turned an Italian to tea. Oh my gosh, wow. You really kind of converted, she's so proud of you. He thought he would convert me but I've got a very specific, I'm very fussy about my tea. Because you know with coffee, people are allowed to go, I'll have this, that and the other,

macchiato with do-da do-da. And tea, they'll give you any old. Yes. Agreed. How do you have your tea? How do you have it? I like, okay. Yorkshire tea bag?

Strong. Now, that would be my second option. I know other brands are available. Marks and Spencer's Luxury Gold. Natalie, thank you. Luxury Gold. Thank you. You can't go wrong.

Thank you. I stockpiled at one point, because I heard a rumour. That they were Spencer's Luxury Gold. Natalie, thank you. Luxury Gold. Thank you. I stockpiled at one point because I heard a rumour that they were stopping it. And I genuinely drove down to Marks and Spencer's like Lewis Hamilton, screeched into the car park, left the engine running, ran in, shoveling teabag boxes. I've got enough to, if you ever run out, come to me. They are the best teabag. Wow.

I've got to try them. So one teabag in cup, hot water on. Yes, Vito, what is the next stage? You put a bit of milk. After five minutes, the bag has to sit five minutes. And then what do we do? We squeeze the bag? We squeeze the bag, then move like gently, like fold them back in this way. And after I start to put a bit of milk first, but not too much, just to set the first base. And after slowly slowly I dip, but a bit splash, shall I say?

Yes, a little splash, good, correct. A bit of splash, you know, just to arrive to the right, you know, color and consistency. In the meantime, you keep moving the bag. So proud of you. And after you squeeze the bag, you know, until the last drop, and after you take off the bag. And when you drink the tea, if you have done this work properly,

slightly at the end of the tea you see, because there are literally a bit of stripes, there are shades of dark and light. This is very good. Thank you, thank you. And he's really... And what I love as well is that... I don't know if you want to reveal your stomach, but it's kind of...

The correct colour for my tea is the colour of his skin. Oh, let's have a look. Oh, my God! Yes! Thank you, thank you. This is the colour of his skin. Oh, let's have a look. Oh, my God. Yes, that is... Thank you, thank you. This is the colour of our skin. Thank you. I said, if you're ever in any doubt, up your top, have a look.

If it doesn't match, go back. I'm not sure if it's right. I've seen him do it in the kitchen. I've looked through and I've just seen this. And I'm like, good boy, well done. Oh, my God. It's the colour of your legs now, sir. You've been up the well.

Yes, look at me, yeah. Are you going to carry on with the fake tanning afterwards? It's so addictive. The thing is, when you haven't got it, you look in the mirror and you think, oh gosh,

I think I'm coming down with pneumonia. I look terrible. And then, and the thing is as well is the different shades. I go in now and I'm like, half Tahitian please with a splash of,

you know, you just get so into the colours of wanting to be. You end up like Ross Geller from Friends. Yes. I'm an eight but so happy with it though and not ever thinking

it's too much just delighted with myself thinking I look like a baked bean yes yeah good oh my god

so tell us about your dances yeah what have you got what are we doing which one do you want to start your favourite so favourite your favourite

what's that one so our favourite is the cha-cha-cha like a prayer from Madonna nice yeah what's that one? So our favourite is the Cha-Cha-Cha, like a prayer from Madonna. Nice. We chose that one for multiple reasons. That was a big dance for us, wasn't it? It was a big dance for us.

It was a moment, it was like a big switch and click in our journey, but also like in our each other trust partnership. It was a moment of, know since the first jump you jump from the platform and you have to completely trust me you know and it seems like just a jump but it's not just a jump you know you have to completely fully trust someone else for us was a big you know even more like stronger bond you know it's like the moment I felt okay you are really trusting me I'm not gonna let you down because I you know if you trust in me I believe in you so it was a kind of you know moment it was also lots about you know

being representing the character of Madonna of being like powerful so power was our keyword for this dance it was the representation of all these like strong, independent, confident women. We did this also for you as woman and to represent, you know, and give a good tribute to all the women. And honestly, we were very proud and happy to dance that. And when after you look yourself, it was like, just, it was, it is a very difficult choreography, like every choreography we did. But that week I remember, we was probably,

that is the tricky thing that was probably the most um challenging and struggled week Miranda came to visit and it was kind of it was a great it was a mad day it was so intense and then I think as well having the cloak because I'd been at the O2 when Madonna had that thing with her cloak yeah really yes I was at the Brits that year. I don't know why. I've never been before or since. I was literally like, what am I doing here?

But it was quite funny because my sister had given me a lift randomly. I'd said, do you want a car? And I was like, no, no. And my sister had like a little Nissan Honda. It was like a little really weird car. And we broke down in front of Sam Smith's limo. Oh, my God. I I mean it was just like it was just bonkers and I got out and I think people at the time I had a long blonde fringe

and long hair and a little white dress on and people thought I was Taylor Swift until I lifted my face up and then they were like Taylor Swift's grandma and it was a classic moment because people went it's Taylor Swift and I was like no it's not not! It was a classic, classic moment. And then to see Madonna falling down those stairs. When you said we were doing with the cloak, I was like, what? But then we kind of thought, actually we can redress this. I'm not going to have a, I'm going to redress

it for Madonna. Because she got so powerful. And I think also, Madonna's just Nice Madonna. I mean it's Madonna. Come on. Very, very pleased. Oh, thank Madonna. I mean, it's Madonna. Yeah. Come on. Very, very pleased. Oh, thank you.

So judges, what have they chosen for you? They chose our American Smooth, Proud. Oh, lovely. And we are very happy because it is... That's a big song for me. Yes. I love that song so much. Yes. And it's so uplifting.

And I love the lifts we do in that dance. That was when I got a bit of a lift addict. That's when I suddenly turned a corner and I was like, oh, we're only doing one lift. Like upside down, cut to it. So then we went on to dance three and the show dance.

I bet you're being chucked around a lot, aren't you? Oh my God. I mean, yeah. Yeah, because we choose... Yeah. This is like the show dance, your dance that has to represent you. And as you saw, like, in Charleston.

So lovely. So exciting. It has to be like a kind of, I want to bring everyone, and we want to really feel that everyone has to be with us, like, on the stage to watch us. And I feel like you want to give something really special because I think this is your kind of chance to kind of do something a bit different.

It's going to be interesting. It's going to be interesting. It's going to be like, because it's on the music of cabaret, but it's not going to be just a cabaret dance. It's going to be like a cabaret mixed with, we went on a kind of a very classy American style, inspired by Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Citrus. It was like also your reference I've been looking at videos

of all those you know those women that were amazing and you know there's a bit of top a bit of everything and lift

we want to ask you once you've done all your hard work on Saturday yes what telly will you be watching over Christmas

we'd love to hear on your favourite show from years ago it doesn't matter what telly do you like? It's going to be Gavin and Stacey Christmas Special, isn't it? Oh. I mean, come on.

I mean, do you know what? In my hotel room last night, actually, there was a bit that was on and I started watching it. Really? It was one of the really early episodes when you were looking around a flat. Oh, God, yes. And you know what it's like when you...

I don't normally stay at the hotel. I did last night and I thought, well, I just need to watch a bit of something. I was flicking through all the channels like, no, no, no. And I was like was like ah Gavin and Stacey and you were standing in like a little bit with the shower and I was like and Matt Bainton's in the bit as well and I know Matt

because I did Horrible Histories so I know Matt and I was like oh I forgot about him and he has the tea and coffee combined doesn't he? Yes he does so I was like oh and you know so shows like that I feel like are so special at Christmas because you kind of you know, so shows like that, I feel like are so special at Christmas because you kind of, you've got that familiarity and that warmth. So I think I'll be watching that.

I can't wait for that. When is it going to be on, Christmas Eve? It's Christmas Day at nine o'clock on BBC One. Right, well, I'll be watching that. And what do you like to do? I'm going to be in Italy. Beautiful. Where are you going?

Where are you flying out? Yeah, I'm going to fly on the 20th. So when we are there, we have this uh big family reunion and like you know all the christmas days we are like many about like 20 or more people yeah so we just you know put music we speak a lot you know lots of chat yeah so we are just you know listening music play cards eating food all day oh my god my God, it sounds lovely. Oh, have the best time. Thank you so much. Good luck for Saturday.

Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Oh, my God, that was absolutely amazing. Wasn't that such fun?

What an honour to chat to them all. It's incredible. They are going to do so well. They're off now in the training rooms. They are. I mean, they're off now. They're training. They're getting all ready.

I mean, it's just, but talking to each one of them, I just don't know who's going to win because each couple is found. You can't call it. You can't call it, Chris. I love every single one of them. That was just like a fan's complete and utter delight, just getting to sit there and go, oh my god, oh my god, and just ask questions. I know, we are very, very lucky. There are a lot

of people that would love to talk to them. So we know how lucky we are, and we do it for you, so you can listen. So we hope you enjoy this episode so much. And remember, Strictly Final tomorrow night at 6pm. BBC One, and you can catch it on iPlayer.

Keep dancing! Or listening to the pod. At 6pm. BBC One, and you can catch it on iPlayer. Keep... Dancing! Or listening to the pod. Right, we're going to play some of your voice notes in, because every week we've had so many of you... So many. ...sending your messages about the love you have for Strictly. So have a little listen to this one.

I want to send a message about Strictly, which I know you both love, and I've been a big fan of for years, not just because it's a fab programme, but also because it's always on the telly, a special time of year for me. So way back in 2006, Series 4 started at the same time that I had my first blind date with my now husband. And the launch show two years later started at the same time as my hen weekend. And then one year later, it started the same day as my baby shower when I had my son. Then in 2012, my daughter Lauren was diagnosed at only six weeks old with a heart condition. So that summer was a horrible time as we waited for her to have open heart surgery,

which finally happened when she was four months old. And I just remember thinking at the time, I just want surgery to be out of the way. And it's autumn and Strictly's back on the telly and she's home and recovering well. Fast forward 10 years later and Lauren had to have open heart surgery for a second time. The launch show was the same day she had her surgery in 2022 and my husband and I sat with her all night in intensive care. I watched the launch show on my tablet sat next to her with my headphones in whilst holding her hand. So yeah again Strictly started a really emotional time of year for us as a family. So therefore the start of Strictly always feels like a really special time of year to me and to now make watching Strictly even more

special I always watch it with a couple of cocktails wearing sparkly Strictly pjs and also a pair of gorgeous Jimmy Choo shoes that are way too high and too uncomfortable to actually wear it anymore so instead I wear them in front of the tv watching watching Strictly. Oh, that was so lovely. So lovely. And you do realise it is such a massive part. A huge part of people's lives. Of telly. You know, it's huge. And to have that kind of link to it and feel that kind of deep love for it.

I think a lot of the country feels that way. They do. And when you've been watching it for so long. Yeah. And then you put in, you know, like different things. Like, oh, I remember that series because that's when, you you know this child was born or i was doing this at this time and and it just takes you through your life doesn't it it means so much to such a lot of people and then you have a 14 year old who says oh i don't really like it anymore and it breaks your heart

oh my god so we've just got time for another voice note now. The best Strictly moments. I have a really specific favourite. Oti Mabuse, Danny Mac, dancing the American Smooth. She sort of runs across this platform and jumps right at the end. Danny Mac catches her and it's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. If you haven't seen it, go and watch it.

Oh, Danny and Oti ot were amazing together weren't they unbelievable my favorite ever dance and i put it on youtube and that's sometimes i have to sit and watch it was bill bailey oh yes uh With his hat and Sugar Hill Gang. Yeah. It gives me goosebumps every single time. Yeah, it was really good, wasn't it? I love those highlights. I love it. And do you remember Jay's Jive? Yes!

Yes, I do. That's another corker. And may I just put in my Uncle Jack from the television, Scott Maslin's Jive, which is also incredible. That was a long time ago. Amazing. God, isn't it amazing that these dances, there are certain ones that just stand out.

They just stand out, don't they? Any of mine? No. There's none springing to mind. No, fair enough. Thank you so much, guys, for all of your voice notes. It's a brilliant, utter joy listening to them. It really is.

Please do not miss what's happening next week. Yes. Right, listen. Next Wednesday, we've got a Gavin and Stacey special where we are talking to some of Jo's mates. Talk to all me mates. And we have a very special guest pop in, actually. Yes.

That was quite unexpected. An unexpected guest pop in. That you don't want to miss. You don't want to miss any of it. So please, please make sure you listen. The episode's going to be dropping on Wednesday and you can also catch it because you can watch it on YouTube.

Exciting stuff. We've gone all posh, Jo. We are on fire! Off the Telly is hosted by Natalie Cassidy and Joanna Page. The producer is Georgia Keating. The commissioning editor is Rhian Roberts and it's a BBC Studios audio production for BBC Sounds. Strong message here from BBC Radio 4. A brand new series, stress testing to destruction, We'll be right back. What do they actually mean? I'm Amanda Yannucci. And I'm Helen Lewis. And like a couple of disgraced stage magicians recently kicked out of the magic circle,

we'll be revealing all the verbal tricks of the trade. And singling out the worst examples of political doublespeak. Strong message here from BBC Radio 4. Listen now on BBC Sounds.