Can someone enlighten me as to why Ricky Whittle is so unpoplular on the forums - well according to the polls ?

Is this just based on this week or a general overall feeling ?
Is it anything to do with his partnership with Natalie (her being a newby and yet to have a strong fanbase)?
Is this the first time, one of the clearly best dancers has been so unliked so early in the competition?
Is it 'his attitude, the 'alleged' extra training, or just 'something' about him ?

From my perspective, he seems ok, he obviously has talent, but I just dont warm to him like Ali and Brian, and Chris and Ola for example. I'm not warming much to Natalie either, who clearly can't believe her luck. I get why Joe and Kristina are so unpopular (he's very wooden, the romance etc etc), but am genuinely surprised how poorly Ricky seems to be fairing despite his dancing ability.

Every year there is so much hooha about it being a DANCE competition, but this year, one of the most competant dancers isn't winning much support (on here anyway).

I quite liked him in Dream Team too! Maybe they should have got Rob Kazinsky instead!

Every year one of the competitors turns out to have sort of dance experience and that generally makes them a bit unpopular as it is then percieved that they have an unfair advantage

Ali has previous dance experience and it's obvious but she's not getting such a hard time.

Nothing to do with that for me.

I just think both Ricky and Natalie are two of the least likeable people to darken Strictly's door.

More or less so than Jan Ravens ?

I only saw series 4 on Youtube 'cause I was living abroad, so I didn't really have much of an opinion of Jan Ravens either way, to be honest.

I don't think that's it. People like to make their favourite look better by putting down their biggest threats(the best dancers). The most common criticism is that they are boring or smug (rather meaningless terms that could apply to all of the celebs at some point). I think it's rather petty.

If you don't like a celeb, then fair enough. Some people actually hate certain celebs though, and I find that a bit worrying.

I'm not bothered about dance experience but what I don't like is a guy who loves himself, which Ricky obviously does despite all that false humility.

He is just sooooooooooo boring. Natalie doesn't bring his personality out (if he has one) because she is so obsessionally focussed on winning.

I am sure they would both be better with a different partner. Natalie a no hoper so she might loosen up a bit and Ricky a different pro who could to drag some personality out of him.

He is a good dancer but they are so dull with no personality together. Apart from that I cant do with all the rubbish he keeps saying in the papers and mags........some more today about him being more 'horny' from dancing ....makes me want to vomit personally..

Agree with this totally! If Ricky W was with Lilia, I think I'd like him. Natalie annoys me.

Why is he so unpoular...........because he has it all.... the looks,the personality and he can dance people dont like that for some reason.

Ricky's a dullard and his partner is coming across as too intense.

Not an appealing combination.

He doesn't have it all. It doesn't have a personality; well, not one that shows itself on SCD.

In your opinion maybe,but i think he does.

It'll be all the mirrors in the studio causing that. LOL.

Are you sure about that one?

I don't know what it is about Ricky: I can see he's a very good dancer...but I worry that he knows that too. There's something about him that's just...lacking, like he feels all he has to do is turn up and he'll sail through.

It probably doesn't help that he's partnered with Natalie, who seems alarmingly egotistical and competitive. That seems to be bringing out his worst traits, whereas a different partner might have brought out a warmer side to him.

Plus, his 'humility' really does show up the low standard of the acting on Hollyoaks...

You are quite entitled to your opinion but you were the one that asked the question "Why is he so unpopular when he has it all....

I am saying, most of those who fall into the 'unpopular catagory' do not think he has a personality (which is shown on SCD).

Idont agree,I think Ricky is amazing and nothing wrong with having a bit of confidence... he is a very good looking guy.I think Natalie is a brilliant partner for him also,they ooze chemistry together and Natalie is no more competitive than the other pros.Take Flavia for instance who looked as though she would have rather been anywhere but dancing with Craig at the weekend, and dissapointed to get through the dance off.It shows Natalie is dedicated to doingg her best for her celeb partner,and making her mark...nothing wrong with that.

I think he has a great personality on the show,and was making the point that he is unpopular because he knows he is good and is confident...people don't like that.

Or, to look at it in a more positive light, by virtue of being paired together, neither of them are spoiling a good couple - as the old adage goes.

Confident (apparently) equals cocky and arrogant.

I think Ricky lacks warmth or charm, and I think thats an important factor in winning SCD. Theres not gonna be much of a journey (SORRY) with him as he is already very good. His ability seems so advanced its hard to believe he hasnt had quite a bit of prior training, despite protests otherwise. Ali has also had dance training, but she is being portrayed as more vulnerable and having a bit of an uphill struggle. I think the idea of triumph over adversity is hardwired into the British psyche and we respond positively to this...None of which comes accross with Ricky.

This is coupled with Ricky and natalies perceived seriousness, single mindedness and overt competitiveness. It seems like its win-win-win, with no time for laughs or fun on the way, and I think winning Strictly is a mix of ability and personality. I think if it was talent alone then Rachel Stephens should have won last year, but she simply didnt endear herself to the British public too much...

Aha, there is the difference. You are seeing something completely different to me so, we will never agree.

I don't see any chemistry.

We don't know what Natalie would be like if she was with Craig, do we? Is she really doing her best for Ricky? Twenty spins at the end to lose time? Repeated sections? Dead easy moves?

I think it's different things for different people.

I don't like them because they leave me cold - mind you, I dislike Ali and Brian, Zoe and James for the same reason - all are great dancers, but I'd rather watch a good couple with chemistry and fun than great pairings who can do complicated but, IMO, soulless dancing.

Some people will have taken against them because it's a very British thing to hate the person with success. Sorry, but being British I can say that! The Aussies calling us whinging poms with good reason

Others won't like Ricky and Natalie themselves - personally, Natalie's eyes scare me! And someone said in a post Ricky's humility shows up how bad Hollyoaks' acting is: Hollyoaks, for me, is to acting what Gordon Brown is to politics - soul destroying