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Just the Two of Us - Â鶹ԼÅÄ ONE's duet singing showdown starts Thursday 23 February 2006

The presenters - Tess Daly and Vernon Kay

Tess Daly

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Hot on the heels of her success as Brucie's Strictly Come Dancing right hand lady, Tess Daly returns as co-host for Just the Two of Us.

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She can't wait for the show to start: "It's being made by the Strictly team so it's just like a home from home for me! And it's great to finally have good family entertainment back on tv.

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"Just the Two of Us has it all - glamour, a big sense of occasion, live performances – it's real appointment to view tv. Something you don't want to miss.

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"The best thing about doing live entertainment shows is that I love being surprised. Take Darren Gough in Strictly Come Dancing – every show I watched this amazing transformation taking place in front of my eyes! There's something really exciting about it.

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"I'm especially excited about Just the Two of Us because I'm a huge music fan.

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"I grew up listening to some of the artists taking part – especially Alexander O'Neal and Jocelyn Brown. I've seen so many great musicians live – Prince, Aretha Franklin, James Brown – they're all my heroes.

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"There's something electrifying about hearing a great singer right there in front of you so it will be thrilling to be in the studio with them.

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"Just to hear Jocelyn singing live makes the hairs stand up on the back of my neck – she has the most incredible voice I've ever heard.

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"In fact, she sang at our wedding! When she started singing Somebody Else's Guy everyone thought it was a record and then turned around and there she was. It was just amazing. The dance floor was full in seconds!

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"So I'm thrilled to bits to be hosting this show."

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In the first time they have presented a prime time show together, husband Vernon Kay will be joining Tess as the show's co-presenter.

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"Working with Brucie was an absolute honour. He's amazing, inspirational and funny. He's always cracking jokes. He's the master of his profession and you can't help learning from him. It was a really wonderful experience. So Vernon has a lot to live up to!

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"Vernon and I met when we last worked together on a presenting job for UK Play but we only did one day's work together. And this is the first time we've worked together as presenters since.

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"But I think it's been a fairly natural progression and it was bound to happen eventually. We've had lots of offers but none of them seemed right.

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"Just the Two of Us is exactly the kind of show we were looking for because we both love music, live tv and entertainment. So it's the perfect mix.

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"And I think it will feel quite comfortable for us to work together. We're not discussing our home life like Richard and Judy.

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"On the night it's not about us – it's all about the stars of the show. We just happen to be hosting it."

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Although happy with a microphone in her hand, Tess admits she's much happier with a script than a song to sing.

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"If it was me having to sing, I'd be completely intimidated about having to hold my own. I think the celebrities are really brave to take part.

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"I'd love the opportunity but I don't think I have the singing talent. In my dreams I have Aretha Franklin's voice but I suspect that's the extent of my vocal talents!"

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Vernon Kay

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From his weekend shows on Radio 1 to his five years at the helm of T4, Just the Two of Us co-presenter Vernon has met his fair share of bands. And he loves his music.

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"I like anything and everything," he states, "as long as they can do it live. That's what I like about the whole concept of the show – the live band.

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"I've been with T4 for years and I'm sick of seeing miming to backing tracks. It's really frustrating. If you're a true musician you've got to prove you can do it live.

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"That's what will make Just the Two of Us special - watching everyone perform with a live band.

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"That's unique on tv, the majority of shows are done with backing tracks but our artists perform live with a band. There's no room for error. No chance to rewind and start again!

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"Being live with real musicians should bring more atmosphere, more depth and fuel bigger emotions in their performances. "I'm really looking forward to hearing Alexander O'Neal and Jocelyn Brown but it's great to get singers like Natasha [Hamilton] and Jo [O'Meara] as well.

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"They're pop acts but in both of them we've got the core talent of their bands. Jo had the voice, Tash was the front Kitten.

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"And they bring a while different experience from their fields of music. Alexander couldn't do Don't Stop Moving but he'd be brilliant at Whole Again.

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"As they've all got to perform in a range of genres – country and western, musicals, swing and so on – it will take the established singers our their range of expertise and their range of vocal ability which should add to the drama.

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"It will also be interesting to see what judges think. In dancing you have quite strict rules about the technique of it – but singing is a more personal thing and with music anything goes.

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"It's more about getting into the emotion of the song and that will be very revealing of the celebrities. We'll see something about the real them rather than their public face.

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"Just the Two of Us is going to be a fun show. The success of Strictly Come Dancing, X factor and Soap Star Superstar prove that we all love a bit of glamour, a big competition and seeing celebrities under the kosh.

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"And Strictly broke the mould of so called 'reality tv' by getting celebrities to achieve something real – learning to dance.

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"This show will show them learning how to sing properly under the guidance of well established and well accomplished singers."

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Unlike his presenting partner Tess, Vernon would love the chance to step up to the mike himself. "Personally I would love to take part and give it a go. I've not got a bad voice.

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"If I had the choice, I'd like to be paired with someone like Alison Moyet – a real power vocal diva."

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Vernon also admits he's excited to be working alongside his wife for the first time: "Working with Tess is going to be different and a bit strange at first, but very exciting!"

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