With only five duos left the competion is heating up and the perfomances have been outstanding, making it very difficult for judges Tito Jackson (Jackson five fame), Trevor Nelson (Superstar Du Trevor Nelson), Stewart Copeland (ex Police Number and film score composer) and Ce Ce Sammy (Vocal coach to some of the biggest names in pop) to correctly place the contestants with their scores.

At the end of the evening we had three first places after singing two songs each. Brendon Cole and Beverley Knight, Julia Bradbury and Tony Christie and Mark Butcher and Sarah Bright with 58 out of 80 points. Next Hannah Waterman and Marti Pellow with 51 with John Bardon and Jocelyn Brown at the bottom of the Judges Leader Board with 49 points. After the public votes were added the bottom three duos were John and Jocelyn, Julia and Tony and Mark and Sarah. Two of the top duos were dropped to the bottom by the public. Judge Tito had to choose a couple to save and his choice was, no surprises, John and Jocelyn who he has greatly favoured throughout the competition.

After Julia and Tony and Cricketer Mark and Sarah (supported by winners of Strictly Come Dancing Cricketer Mark Ramprakash and Karen Hardy in the audience) had sung to be saved, Julia and Tony were voted out. A great loss to the viewers who sadly chose them to go.

After a spectacular performance by each contestant this evening, we have four couples left and two nights to go before the crowning of the King and Queen of Just the Two of Us 2007

After a very exciting, warm and humerous evening it was sad and a surprise to see Luke and Natasha voted out by a combination of the judges scores and public votes. Tonight the contestants had to sing country and soul songs.

 Luke and Natasha sang first, lighting up the studio with their joyful performance and brilliant dance moves.  They were placed third by the judges with 23/40

Top of the judges’ leader board was Strictly Come Dancing Brendan Cole with very talented R&B Singer Beverley Knight who entertained us with their heartfelt performance.  The judges were impressed enought to give them 25/40 putting them top performers for the evening. Judge Ce Ce later said she felt should have scored them higher.

Cricketer Mark Butcher and singer Sarah Brightman who have tied for top place for two nights running started badly as Mark could not hear the music due to the audience’s rowdy enthusiasm but on his third try gave us a beautiful perfomance earning the surprisingly low score of 19 even though Mark carried on like a trooper after his shakey start.

Ex-Eastenders’ Hannah Waterman and Wet Wet Wet’s Marti Pellew gave such a boring performance that judge and vocal coach Ce Ce Sammy stated that she nearly fell asleep during their performance as it was so boring.  They received a surprisingly high score of 22 putting them tie for 4th place with John and Jocelyn.

Watchdog presenter Julia Bradbury and singer Tony Christie wowed us once again with their very professional performance for which the judges rightfully gave them 24 points putting them second on the leader board.

Eastenders John Bardon with partner soul singer Jocelyn Brown gave a performance which brought a standing ovation from an adoring audience.  John is obviously much loved with an ineresting voice and is a great entertainer. He has an enermous fan in Tito Jackson (Jackson five fame) who always scores him higher than the other judges.

We were entertained by Marti and Sarah singing a very romantic and breathtaking Summertime while the viewers votes came in and were counted to be added to the judges ponts.

Judge Ce Ce had to choose the duo to be saved from the bottom three and she chose Julia and Tony leaving John and Jocelyn and Luke and Natasha to sing for further votes from the viewers with Luke and Natasha, sadly saying their good byes to us.  We will miss them and their very talented performances.

 

 

Just the Two Of Us doesn’t have very many talented celebrities appearing on it this year, and perhaps the least vocally talented is John Bardon, AKA Jim Branning from Eastenders.

Its surprising then that so many people would like “Jim To Win” the show and that he has been taken to the public’s heart so quickly.

Caroline Dutton from This Is Lancashire is one person backing John, saying:

JIM to win – that’s all I’m saying on the TV car crash that is Just the Two of Us.

And now I’m on the subject, have you noticed how watching a greying man slaughtering a love song while doing the sort of dancing that would put your dad to shame is hilarious and a endearing?

Even Lee at TV Dinners thinks John will reach the final! And they call this a singing contest!

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON EACH PERFORMANCE AND TO CHAT TO OTHER FANS JUST JUMP OVER TO OUR FORUM AND LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THOUGHT OF THE SHOW!

The show opened tonight with Brendan Cole and Beverly Knight singing ‘Dancing In The Street’. I thought they were great, and Brendan was a much better singer than i expected. The judges didn’t seem to be just as impressed.

Stewart Copeland said “It looked great…..It’s a little squeaky, you’ve gotta find your big voice!”

The judges scores totaled 24

Trevor Nelson: 7
Stewart Copeland: 5
CiCi Sammy: 7
Tito Jackson: 5

Julia Bradbury was up next with Tony Christie and sang ‘How Deep Is Your Love’. It was awful, out of tune and weak…and that was just Tony Christie!

Tito Jackson said that he knows the Bee Gees and he doesn’t think they would be very proud of that version!

The judges scores totaled 17

Trevor Nelson: 5
Stewart Copeland: 4
CeCe Sammy: 4
Tito Jackson: 4

Third in the lineup was Luke Bailey and Natasha Hamilton with Don’t Cha. I thought these two were great. Really trendy, no nerves and quite entertaining.

CeCe Sammy thinks that Luke has great potential and Tito loved the red outfits, but he thought the lyrics didn’t quite fit.

The judges scores totaled 26

Trevor Nelson: 6
Stewart Copeland: 7
CeCe Sammy: 7
Tito Jackson: 6

Fourth on the stage was Mark Butcher accompanied by Sarah Brightman. They performed ‘Weather With You’ and I thought that Mark was great. He has a really nice, tuneful voice and he performed well. Sarah Brightman scared me a bit though, she looked a bit to vampirish for my liking!

Stewart Copeland thought that Mark was hiding behind Sarah, and Cece thought that he charmed the audience well.

The judges scores totaled 26

Trevor Nelson: 7
Stewart Copeland: 7
CeCe Sammy: 7
Tito Jackson: 5

Funny man John Bardon was up next with Jocelyn Brown singing ‘What Can I Do To Make You Love Me’. He was funny, and sort of in tune…..thats about as nice as I can be!

Trevor thought that the acting deserved a 10 out of 10, but wasn’t impressed with the singing. Stewart thinks that a star is born!

The judges scores totaled 18

Trevor Nelson: 4
Stewart Copeland: 4
CeCe Sammy: 3
Tito Jackson: 7

Next up was Janet Ellis singing This Love with Alexander O’Neal. She was atrocious but Alexander was fabulous, truly talented.

CeCe thought Janet sounded like a cat on speed, Sophie Ellis-Baxtor certainly didn’t get her talent from her mum!

The judges scores totaled 21

Trevor Nelson: 5
Stewart Copeland: 6
CeCe Sammy: 3
Tito Jackson: 7

Carol Decker was joined this year by Celebrity Chef Gregg Wallace. They sang ‘Blame It On The Boogie’ and he was another comedy act. He can’t really hold a tune and when dancing he looks like my dad, after 7 pints at a family wedding. It’s not a pretty sight!

The judges scores totaled 21

Trevor Nelson: 6
Stewart Copeland: 4
CeCe Sammy: 5
Tito Jackson: 6

Last on the stage was Hannah Waterman and Marti Pellow. While their performance didn’t blow me away, I think it was in a bad key for Hannah. i think she actually has a lovely voice, but this was in a really low and awkward key. I’d like to hear her sing something more feminine.

CeCe Sammy really likes Hannah, but wants her to be more confident and Tito thinks they have a chance at winning.

The judges scores totaled 25

Trevor Nelson: 7
Stewart Copeland: 6
CeCe Sammy: 6
Tito Jackson: 6

Just The Two Of Us is due to launch on BBC1 this Friday night, and to help you prepare for the singing extravaganza here’s a bit more about the celebrities taking part:

Loui Batley

Loui plays series regular, Sarah, in the Chester-based teen-soap Hollyoaks and has previously made appearances in the cult sitcom Nighty Night and Alan Bleasdale’s Jake’s Progress. Before becoming an actress, Loui trained as a dancer both in the UK and US specialising in jazz, ballet, tap and basic ballroom. She has also some vocal training.

Julia Bradbury

Julia is co-presenter of BBC-1’s Watchdog and it was her colleague Nicky Campbell who suggested that she take part in this year’s competition. Over the summer Julia satisfied her passion for extreme sports by completing a documentary about the selection process for the world famous Red Arrows, which saw her get not one, but two opportunities to fly in the famous jets. Julia is also working on a BBC-1 special documentary entitled ‘Speed’ which examines the consequences of dangerous driving and will be broadcast next Spring. Julia has previously had singing lessons as she was keen to experiment with her voice but it was for fun rather than with an eye to a live primetime entertainment show.

Janet Ellis

Janet has just completed a role in a Lynn Truss’s comedy Inspector Steine for BBC Radio 4. She recently hosted Great Garden Challenge, a 62 part series for Channel 4 as well as being a regular on Five’s The Wright Stuff. Janet is a contributor to LBC Radio and presenter and contributor on BBC Radio 4. She is an accomplished presenter and actress who shot to fame as the presenter of Blue Peter, where, for four years, she did everything from jumping out of planes to singing at Last Night of the Proms. Sticky-backed plastic was also involved.

Hannah Waterman

Since leaving EastEnders, where she lived the chequered life of Laura Beale for four years, Hannah has gone on to appear on stage in The Vagina Monologues, Soap at the Stephen Joseph Theatre and in the West End production of Tom, Dick And Harry. On screen she did four guest episodes of The Bill and appeared New Tricks. During 2007 she will been seen in the latest series of New Tricks and The Afternoon Play. Hannah did have singing lessons when she was younger but she thinks her sister Julia is a better singer than she is.

Luke Bailey

Luke is currently starring in BBC-1’s top rating Saturday night drama, Casualty, in which he plays Healthcare Assistant, Sam Bateman, the charismatic son of Tess. Prior to this he starred in CBBC’s U-Get-Me and an adaptation of Jacqueline Wilson’s Illustrated Mum. He loves music and sings as well as playing the bass guitar in a band with two friends. But he does suffer from nerves – when Luke performed a song on BBC Children in Need last year he was physically sick before going on stage – although he felt much better when the music started.

John Bardon

EastEnders star John Bardon is known to millions as Dot’s long suffering husband, Jim Branning but prior to joining the soap John appeared in many classic British television programmes including Dad’s Army and Only Fools and Horses while his film roles include East Is East, Fierce Creatures and One Of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing. He also performs as a stand-up comedian and was profiled on This Is Your Life in 2003.

Mark Butcher

Mark is one of England’s premier batsman with 71 international caps to his name and he scored an amazing 173 not out to win against Australia in 2001. He’s captain of Surrey County Cricket Club and captained England when they faced New Zealand at Old Trafford in 1999. Music has always been a big part of his life – he first performed in a school production of The Pirates Of Penzance when he was 12 and both his parents are musical.

Brendan Cole

Star of Strictly Come Dancing, Brendan is best known for sashaying his hips across the dance floor with particular flamboyance in the Latin American numbers. He’s held top honours as Latin American Champion in the Asia Pacific and New Zealand Championships and was semi-finalist in the World Open, International Open and British Open Championships.

Gregg Wallace

Known as Gregg The Veg, Gregg is the TV fruit and veg man who hosts Celebrity Masterchef, Masterchef Goes Large and Radio 4’s Veg Talk. He’s the author of VEG – The Greengrocer’s Cookbook and he contributes to Olive and BBC Good Food Magazine. He also supplies fruit and veg to over 100 of London’d top restaurants including the likes of The River Café, Kensington Place, The Caprice and The Ivy.

It’s back! The duet singing showdown, Just The Two Of Us, returns for a brand new series on BBC One on 2 January 2007.

Nine celebrities will be singing for survival when they are paired with some of the world’s biggest recording stars to perform live every night.

The celebrities stepping up to the mike are:

Casualty’s Luke Bailey

EastEnders’ John Bardon

Former England cricketer Mark Butcher

Strictly Come Dancing’s Brendan Cole

Masterchef’s Gregg Wallace

Hollyoaks’ Loui Batley

Watchdog’s Julia Bradbury

Blue Peter doyen Janet Ellis

and former EastEnder Hannah Waterman.

Pairing them are four singing sensations new to the show:

Sarah Brightman

Tony Christie

Carol Decker

and Marti Pellow.

Plus, five Just The Two Of Us regulars are returning:

Jocelyn Brown

Natasha Hamilton

Beverley Knight

Alexander O’Neal

and Russell Watson.

Glamorous husband and wife team Tess Daly and Vernon Kay also return to host the show, guiding the celebrity songbirds through the emotional rollercoaster of intense daily rehearsals, live performances, the critique of the judging panel and the triumphs and tribulations of the uncompromising viewer vote.

A rigorous training programme will see the professionals put their partners’ vocal skills to the test as they prepare to step out on stage and fight it out for the Just The Two Of Us crown.

Each night they will perform a different song in a different genre including: songs for stage and screen, swing, pop, rock and soul.

They will be judged by a panel of industry experts and then viewers will have the chance to vote for their favourite.

Packed with all the glitz and glamour of a live music entertainment show, Just The Two Of Us not only guarantees exclusive performances from the pro-celebrity couples but also promises a series of unique professional collaborations.

Executive Producer Sumi Connock says: “We’ve got a brand spanking new show complete with our own results show which will include its own special surprises.

“Each night will be packed with new and classic songs accompanied by a 16-piece live band in the studio.

“Once again, the pressure of performing live will challenge our celebrities to perform in ways that they’ve never done before.”

The BBC reported:

Classical singer Russell Watson, who had a brain tumour removed this year, is to defend his title on the celebrity duets contest Just the Two of Us.

He will be one of nine professionals who are paired with famous faces when the BBC TV series returns on 2 January.

Ex-Blue Peter presenter Janet Ellis, cricketer Mark Butcher and actress Hannah Waterman are also taking part.

Sarah Brightman, Tony Christie, Wet Wet Wet’s Marti Pellow and Carol Decker of T’Pau are among those joining Watson.

The programme – presented by husband-and-wife team Vernon Kay and Tess Daly – will run for six nights.

THE NINE CELEBRITIES
Luke Bailey (Casualty)
John Bardon (EastEnders)
John Bardon (Hollyoaks)
Julia Bradbury (Watchdog)
Mark Butcher (cricketer)
Brendan Cole (Strictly Come Dancing)
Janet Ellis (ex-Blue Peter)
Gregg Wallace (Masterchef)
Hannah Waterman (ex-EastEnders)

Each duo will be judged by a panel of industry experts before viewers vote for their favourites.

The winner will be announced in the grand final on 7 January.