Just the Two of Us
Encyclopedia
Just the Two of Us is a British
television reality singing contest hosted by Vernon Kay
and Tess Daly
. The first series of the BBC
show saw eight celebrities team up with professional singers and sing each night in duets, with one pair being eliminated every night. After each performance they were judged by a panel of industry experts. The basic format of the show was first used in another BBC programme, Strictly Come Dancing
.
Once the scores and votes are combined to form the final leaderboard for that day's show, the two couples at the bottom compete in a final "Sing Off", where they perform their duet again. Once both couples have performed their song for the judging panel, the four judges decide on who deserves to stay and cast their votes. The couple with the most votes from the judges leaves the show that day.
So far there have been two series, the first won by Russell Watson and Sian Reeves and the second was won by Hannah Waterman and Marti Pellow.
Only four professionals have performed in both series - Natasha Hamilton, Alexander O'Neal, Jocelyn Brown and Beverly Knight.
Notes Watson replaced former 80s Singer Rick Astley
after the latter abandoned Reeves on the eighth day of practice/rehearsals.
Contestants received vocal coaching by Joshua Alamu.
Singer Russell Watson
was originally supposed to be participating on the series with Hollyoaks
actress, Loui Batley
. However, after having had surgery to remove a tumour from his brain, he decided to pull out of the competition. Unlike last year, however, he was not replaced, so Batley was also dropped from the show.
Jo O'Meara
did not participate in the second series as she was taking part in Channel 4
's Celebrity Big Brother UK at the time.
Contestants received vocal coaching by Joshua Alamu.
, the commercial arm of the BBC
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
television reality singing contest hosted by Vernon Kay
Vernon Kay
Vernon Charles Kay is a British television presenter, radio DJ, american footballer and former model. He began television presenting on the BBC children's programme FBi, a spin-off of Fully Booked. Since he has presented various programmes, most notably T4, Beat the Star and All Star Family...
and Tess Daly
Tess Daly
Helen Elizabeth "Tess" Daly is an English television presenter. She is married to the presenter Vernon Kay.-Early life:Daly was born in Derbyshire to Vivian , who died of emphysema, and Sylvia Daly...
. The first series of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
show saw eight celebrities team up with professional singers and sing each night in duets, with one pair being eliminated every night. After each performance they were judged by a panel of industry experts. The basic format of the show was first used in another BBC programme, Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing
Strictly Come Dancing is a British television show, featuring celebrities with professional dance partners competing in Ballroom and Latin dances. The title of the show suggests a continuation of the long-running series Come Dancing, with an allusion to the film Strictly Ballroom...
.
Format
During the week-long run each day all the celebrities perform a duet with a professional singer. The judges then give comments on each performance. Once the contestants have returned to the "Green Room" (Backstage), the judges each then each give the couple a score from 1 to 10. The scores create a leaderboard which forms 50% of the final result, the other half comes from the public vote via telephone and text entries.Once the scores and votes are combined to form the final leaderboard for that day's show, the two couples at the bottom compete in a final "Sing Off", where they perform their duet again. Once both couples have performed their song for the judging panel, the four judges decide on who deserves to stay and cast their votes. The couple with the most votes from the judges leaves the show that day.
So far there have been two series, the first won by Russell Watson and Sian Reeves and the second was won by Hannah Waterman and Marti Pellow.
Only four professionals have performed in both series - Natasha Hamilton, Alexander O'Neal, Jocelyn Brown and Beverly Knight.
Series 1
The first series began on 24 February 2006 and ended on 5 March 2006.Celebrity | Professional | Status |
---|---|---|
Siân Reeves Sian Reeves Siân Reeves is a British actress, most famous for playing the role of Sydney Henshall in the BBC drama Cutting It, and for playing villain Sally Spode in Emmerdale.-Early life:... |
Russell Watson Russell Watson Russell Watson is an English tenor who has released singles and albums of both operatic-style and pop songs. The self-styled "People's Tenor" had been singing since he was a child, and became known after performing at a working men's club... |
Winners on 5 March |
Mark Moraghan Mark Moraghan Mark Moraghan is a British actor and singer. He has appeared in many British drama series including Peak Practice and Heartbeat... |
Natasha Hamilton Natasha Hamilton Natasha Maria Hamilton is a British singer-songwriter, dancer and occasional stage actress. She was a member of Atomic Kitten from 1999 to 2008.-Early life and career:... |
Runner Ups on 5 March |
Chris Fountain Chris Fountain Christopher Ryan Fountain is an English actor best known for his role as Justin Burton on the Channel 4 teen soap Hollyoaks, a role he played from 2003 until his departure in June 2009. He is also now known for playing Tommy Duckworth in Coronation Street. He played the role of PC Paul Tait in... |
Jo O'Meara Jo O'Meara Joanne Valda O'Meara is an English singer-songwriter, television personality and actress. Formerly one of the lead singers of pop group S Club, she launched a solo single after the group's split in 2003, which cut short the production of a proposed album following an appearance on Celebrity Big... |
Eliminated on 4 March |
Penny Smith | Curtis Stigers Curtis Stigers Curtis Stigers is an American jazz vocalist, saxophonist, guitarist, and songwriter.-Early life and career:Stigers was born in Boise, Idaho, and started his music career as a teenager, playing in jazz, rock and blues groups, as well as receiving formal training in clarinet and saxophone at high... |
Eliminated on 3 March |
Nicky Campbell Nicky Campbell Nicholas Andrew Argyll "Nicky" Campbell is a Scottish radio and television presenter and journalist. He is known for his time presenting on programmes such as the consumer affairs programme Watchdog... |
Beverley Knight Beverley Knight Beverley Knight MBE is a British soul and R&B singer, songwriter, and record producer who released her debut album in 1995. Heavily influenced by soul greats such as Sam Cooke and Aretha Franklin, Knight has released six studio albums to date... |
Eliminated on 2 March |
Matt Allwright Matt Allwright Matthew Allwright is a British television presenter and journalist who specialises in consumer affairs. He is best known for presenting shows such as Watchdog and Rogue Traders and for being The One Show's consumer advice reporter... |
Jocelyn Brown Jocelyn Brown Jocelyn Lorette Brown is an American R&B and dance music singer... |
Eliminated on 26 February |
Fiona Bruce Fiona Bruce Fiona Elizabeth Bruce is a British journalist, newsreader and television presenter. Since joining the BBC in 1989, she has gone on to present many flagship programmes for the corporation including the BBC News at Six, BBC News at Ten, Crimewatch, Call My Bluff and, most recently, Antiques Roadshow... |
Alexander O'Neal Alexander O'Neal Alexander O'Neal is an American R&B singer. He is best-known for the songs "If You Were Here Tonight" and "Fake", and the duets with Cherrelle, "Saturday Love" and "Never Knew Love Like This".-Biography:... |
Eliminated on 25 February |
Gaby Roslin Gaby Roslin Gaby Roslin is an English television presenter and actress. She rose to fame while co-presenting The Big Breakfast on Channel 4 between 1992 and 1996, and also presented the BBC's Children in Need charity appeal from 1994 to 2004.... |
Martin Fry Martin Fry Martin Fry is lead singer of the band, ABC.-Biography:He grew up in Bramhall, Stockport, alongside his younger brother Jamie .-ABC:... |
Eliminated on 24 February |
Notes Watson replaced former 80s Singer Rick Astley
Rick Astley
Richard Paul "Rick" Astley is an English singer-songwriter, musician, and radio personality. He is known for his 1987 song, "Never Gonna Give You Up", which was a #1 hit single in 25 countries...
after the latter abandoned Reeves on the eighth day of practice/rehearsals.
The Judges
The judges were:- Trevor NelsonTrevor NelsonTrevor Nelson MBE is an English DJ and presenter.Born in Hackney to a family of St Lucian heritage, he attended Central Foundation Boys' Grammar School in Cowper St, Islington, London EC2 and Westminster Kingsway College...
- LuluLulu (singer)Lulu Kennedy-Cairns, OBE , best known by her stage name Lulu, is a Scottish singer, actress, and television personality who has been successful in the entertainment business from the 1960s through to the present day...
- Cece SammyCece SammyCeCe Sammy is an English vocal and performance coach.-Background:CeCe Sammy is a graduate from the London College of Music, and is a classically trained music graduate...
- Stewart CopelandStewart CopelandStewart Armstrong Copeland is an American musician, best known as the drummer for the band The Police. During the group's extended hiatus from the mid-1980s to 2007, he played in other bands and composed soundtracks...
Contestants received vocal coaching by Joshua Alamu.
Series 2
The second series began on 2 January 2007 and ended on 7 January 2007.Celebrity | Professional | Status |
---|---|---|
Hannah Waterman Hannah Waterman Hannah Waterman-Groves is an English actress, daughter of Minder star Dennis Waterman and his second wife, actress Patricia Maynard.-Career:... |
Marti Pellow Marti Pellow Marti Pellow has been the lead singer of the Scottish pop group Wet Wet Wet since their formation in 1982. He has also recorded solo material.-Early life:... |
Winners on 7 January |
Brendan Cole Brendan Cole Brendan Cole is a ballroom dancer specialising in Latin American dancing. He is most famous for appearing on the BBC show Strictly Come Dancing, a dance contest in which a professional ballroom dancer is partnered with a celebrity amateur dancer... |
Beverley Knight Beverley Knight Beverley Knight MBE is a British soul and R&B singer, songwriter, and record producer who released her debut album in 1995. Heavily influenced by soul greats such as Sam Cooke and Aretha Franklin, Knight has released six studio albums to date... |
Second Place on 7 January |
Mark Butcher Mark Butcher Mark Alan Butcher is a former English Test cricketer, who played county cricket for Surrey from 1992 until his retirement from the sport in 2009. He was a left-handed batsman, and occasional right-arm medium-pace bowler.... |
Sarah Brightman Sarah Brightman Sarah Brightman is an English classical crossover soprano, actress, songwriter and dancer. She is famous for possessing a vocal range of over 3 octaves and singing in the whistle register... |
Third Place on 7 January |
John Bardon John Bardon John Bardon, is an English stage and screen actor. He was awarded the Laurence Olivier Award in 1988 as 'Best Actor in a Musical' for Kiss Me, Kate, sharing the award with co-star Emil Wolk.-Acting career:Bardon is best known for playing Jim Branning in the popular British soap opera EastEnders... |
Jocelyn Brown Jocelyn Brown Jocelyn Lorette Brown is an American R&B and dance music singer... |
Eliminated on 6 January |
Julia Bradbury Julia Bradbury Julia Bradbury is an Irish-born British television presenter, best known for presenting the BBC One programme Countryfile and other documentaries and consumer affairs programmes.-Early years:... |
Tony Christie Tony Christie Tony Christie is an English musician, singer and actor. He is best known for his track, "Is This The Way To Amarillo", a double UK chart success.-Career:Tony Christie has sold over 10 million albums Worldwide... |
Eliminated on 5 January |
Luke Bailey Luke Bailey (actor) Luke Bailey is a British actor best known for playing Sam Bateman in the long-running medical drama series Casualty, and comprehensive school pupil Marley Kelly in Waterloo Road, both on BBC One.-Television:... |
Natasha Hamilton Natasha Hamilton Natasha Maria Hamilton is a British singer-songwriter, dancer and occasional stage actress. She was a member of Atomic Kitten from 1999 to 2008.-Early life and career:... |
Eliminated on 4 January |
Janet Ellis Janet Ellis Janet Ellis is a British television presenter and actress, who appeared on BBC children's television in the 1980s, including a four year period as a presenter on Blue Peter, a role she won after hosting the award-winning children's programme Jigsaw.- Early life :Ellis's father was a soldier,... |
Alexander O'Neal Alexander O'Neal Alexander O'Neal is an American R&B singer. He is best-known for the songs "If You Were Here Tonight" and "Fake", and the duets with Cherrelle, "Saturday Love" and "Never Knew Love Like This".-Biography:... |
Eliminated on 3 January |
Gregg Wallace Gregg Wallace Gregg Allan Wallace is an English writer, media personality and former greengrocer, costermonger and farmer. He is probably best known for co-presenting MasterChef, Celebrity MasterChef and MasterChef: The Professionals on BBC Two and BBC One along with John Torode, where he is referred to as an... |
Carol Decker | Eliminated on 2 January |
Singer Russell Watson
Russell Watson
Russell Watson is an English tenor who has released singles and albums of both operatic-style and pop songs. The self-styled "People's Tenor" had been singing since he was a child, and became known after performing at a working men's club...
was originally supposed to be participating on the series with Hollyoaks
Hollyoaks
Hollyoaks is a long-running British television soap opera, first broadcast on Channel 4 on 23 October 1995. It was originally devised by Phil Redmond, who has also devised shows including Brookside and Grange Hill...
actress, Loui Batley
Loui Batley
Louie Anne Batley is an English actress, singer and dancer best known for her role in Hollyoaks as Sarah Barnes...
. However, after having had surgery to remove a tumour from his brain, he decided to pull out of the competition. Unlike last year, however, he was not replaced, so Batley was also dropped from the show.
Jo O'Meara
Jo O'Meara
Joanne Valda O'Meara is an English singer-songwriter, television personality and actress. Formerly one of the lead singers of pop group S Club, she launched a solo single after the group's split in 2003, which cut short the production of a proposed album following an appearance on Celebrity Big...
did not participate in the second series as she was taking part in Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
's Celebrity Big Brother UK at the time.
Contestants received vocal coaching by Joshua Alamu.
The Judges
The judges were:- Trevor NelsonTrevor NelsonTrevor Nelson MBE is an English DJ and presenter.Born in Hackney to a family of St Lucian heritage, he attended Central Foundation Boys' Grammar School in Cowper St, Islington, London EC2 and Westminster Kingsway College...
- Stewart CopelandStewart CopelandStewart Armstrong Copeland is an American musician, best known as the drummer for the band The Police. During the group's extended hiatus from the mid-1980s to 2007, he played in other bands and composed soundtracks...
- Cece SammyCece SammyCeCe Sammy is an English vocal and performance coach.-Background:CeCe Sammy is a graduate from the London College of Music, and is a classically trained music graduate...
- Tito JacksonTito JacksonToriano Adaryll "Tito" Jackson is an American singer and lead guitarist and original member of The Jackson 5. He is the older brother of American pop stars Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson.-Early life and rise to stardom:...
Judges' scoring summary
Bold scores indicate the highest for that week. Red indicates the lowest score. * indicates the couple was in the bottom two or three.Team | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 Final |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hannah & Marti | 25 | 21* | 22 | 24+27=51 | 27+29=56* | 30 |
Brendan & Beverley | 24 | 24 | 26 | 28+30=58 | 26+32=58 | 36 |
Mark & Sarah | 26 | 29 | 19 | 30+28=58* | 35+29=64 | 34 |
John & Jocelyn | 18 | 25 | 22* | 25+23=48* | 27+26=53* | Eliminated |
Julia & Tony | 17* | 29 | 24* | 29+29=58* | Eliminated | |
Luke & Natasha | 26 | 23* | 23* | Eliminated | ||
Janet & Alexander | 21* | 23* | Eliminated | |||
Gregg & Carol | 21* | Eliminated |
International versions
These versions of the format are distributed by BBC WorldwideBBC Worldwide
BBC Worldwide Limited is the wholly owned commercial subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation, formed out of a restructuring of its predecessor BBC Enterprises in 1995. In the year to 31 March 2010 it made a profit of £145m on a turnover of £1.074bn. The company had made a profit of £106m...
, the commercial arm of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
.
Country | Name | Channel | Hosts | Judges | Air date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Australia | It Takes Two | Seven Network Seven Network The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach... |
Grant Denyer Grant Denyer Grant Denyer is an Australian television reporter, personality and motor racing driver.-Television career:In 1997, Denyer began his career in the media, he gained a position at Prime Television in Wagga Wagga as a news reporter and journalist... Terasa Livingstone Terasa Livingstone Terasa Livingstone is an Australian theatre, film and television actress.-Career:She began her career as a roving reporter for Agro's Cartoon Connection on the Seven Network, eventually taking over the role of co-host from Ann-Maree Biggar in 1996. She also served as a reporter for Seven's The... (2006) Kate Ritchie Kate Ritchie Katherine "Kate" Ritchie is an Australian actress, best known for her long-running role as Sally Fletcher on the television soap opera Home and Away. She played the character for 20 years from 1988–2008... (2007) Erika Heynatz Erika Heynatz Erika Heynatz is an Australian model, actress, singer and television personality.-Career:... (2008) |
Marina Prior Marina Prior Marina Prior is an Australian singer and actress.- Early life :When she was a young child her parents returned to Australia and she grew up in Melbourne, attending Syndal South Primary School and Korowa Anglican Girls' School... James Valentine James Valentine (Australian musician) James Valentine is an Australian journalist, musician, and radio and television presenter.As a musician, Valentine has worked with Australian artists such as Kate Ceberano and Joe Camilleri. In 1984 he joined the band Models and played with them until they broke up in 1988... Ross Wilson Amanda Pelman |
28 May 2006 – 22 April 2008 |
Belgium | Just The Two Of Us | vtm VTM The abbreviation VTM may refer to::* Vampire: The Masquerade, a popular role-playing game* Virginia Tech massacre* vtm, the main commercial television station in Flanders, Belgium... |
Staf Coppens Evi Hanssen |
Dirk Blanchart Hilde Norga Sofie Zaki |
? |
Mainland China | |||||
Independent State of Croatia | Zvijezde pjevaju | HRT Croatian Radiotelevision Croatian Radiotelevision is a Croatian public broadcasting company. It operates several radio and television channels, over a domestic transmitter network as well as satellite... |
Barbara Kolar Duško Čurlić |
Ksenija Erker Rajko Dujmić Martina Tomčić (2007-2009, 2011) Husein Hasanefendić (2007-2010) Vanna (2010-present) |
7 April 2007 - present |
Estonia | Laulud tähtedega | TV3 TV3 (Estonia) TV3 is a commercial television channel targeted at an Estonian language audience owned by Viasat . It was founded in 1996 after two recent television stations, EVTV and RTV joined.... |
Marko Matvere Marko Matvere Marko Matvere is an Estonian actor. He was the front actor of the Tallinn City Theatre since graduating from the Higher Theatre School of the Estonian Academy of Music in 1990, but was to go freelance in 2004. Matvere is one of the most famous and expensive Estonian actor. He made his first movie... (2008) Karin Rask (2008) Eda-Ines Etti Eda-Ines Etti Eda-Ines Etti is a singer and celebrity in Estonia, also known for her participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2000. Under her abbreviated stage name Ines, she was Estonia's representative for the contest in Sweden. Her song "Once in a Lifetime" received fourth place in the contest... (2010) Madis Milling (2010) |
Jaanus Nõgisto (2008) Anu Tali Anu Tali Anu Tali is an Estonian conductor. She started her musical training as a pianist, and graduated from the Tallinn Music High School in 1991. She continued her studies in the Estonian Music Academy as a conductor with Kuno Areng, Toomas Kapten and Roman Matsov. From 1998 to 2000, she studied at... (2008) Jüri Makarov (2008) Mihkel Raud (2010) Maarja-Liis Ilus Maarja-Liis Ilus Maarja-Liis Ilus, sometimes better known by her performing name Maarja is a pop musician. Maarja has achieved some chart success in a number of countries across Europe and Asia... (2010) Peeter Rebane (2010) |
5 October 2008 - 16 May 2010 |
Greece | Just The Two Of Us | Mega Channel Mega Channel Mega Channel, also known as Mega TV or just Mega, is a major television network in Greece. Teletypos S.A. was founded in 1989 under the name Teletypos Television Programmes S.A... |
Giorgos Kapoutzidis Giorgos Kapoutzidis Giorgos Kapoutzidis is a Greek screenwriter and actor. He is the creator of the successful television series ""Savvatogennimenes" and "Sto Para Pente" , one of the most popular shows in Greek television history, while also playing the part of one of the main characters of the show.In May... Doukissa Nomikou Doukissa Nomikou Doukissa Nomikou , is a Greek model who represented her country in the Miss Universe 2007 pageant on May 28, 2007 in Mexico City. At 20 years of age, she was crowned Miss Star Hellas on May 3, 2007.... |
Stefanos Korkolis Stefanos Korkolis Stefanos Korkolis is a Greek composer and pianist. He was born in Athens and grew up in Patissia. He is a nephew of renowned Greek composer Mimis Plessas.... Kostas Tournas Athinais Nega Lydia Papaioannou |
17 October 2010 - present |
Netherlands | Just The Two Of Us | Tien | Linda de Mol Gordon |
Cornald Maas Margriet Eshuijs Rob Stenders Esther Hart |
11 March 2007 – 30 April 2007 |
Poland | Tylko nas dwoje | Polsat Polsat Polsat is Poland's second biggest television channel, founded on December 5, 1992 and owned by Zygmunt Solorz-Żak.Polsat belongs to the Polsat Group , which also owns other channels:*Polsat HD*Polsat 2 International*Polsat News*TV Biznes... |
Katarzyna Cichopek Mariusz Kałamaga |
Irena Santor Tomasz Karolak Dorota Rabczewska |
13 March 2010 – 15 May 2010 |
Vietnam | Cặp đôi hoàn hảo Cặp đôi hoàn hảo Cặp đôi hoàn hảo is the Vietnamese version of BBC UK series Just the Two of Us. The first season is set to air on Sunday 4 October at 9:00PM on VTV3.... |
VTV3 Vietnam Television Vietnam Television, or VTV, is the national television broadcaster for Vietnam. Like all media of Vietnam, its programming is directly controlled by the government.-History:... |
Thanh Ngọc Phan Anh |
Lê Hoàng Siu Black Siu Black Siu Black is a prominent Vietnamese popular singer from the Central Highlands. She is a member of the Ba Na ethnic group.... Lê Minh Sơn |
09 October 2011 – ongoing |