When people ask why Ricky isn't popular many of us - myself included - explain that the "partnership chemistry isnt right" or "he wants to win too badly" (I dont agree with that one) or he is just plain "dull." To the latter, yeh well so was Ramps

However, I am finally ready to say out loud what really bothers me about Ricky. It's the feet. No matter how graceful and good he is on the dancefloor, those pigeon-toes look ugly. Ugly, ugly, ugly

Before anyone says "it isnt his fault," one of the judges (Len?) said a few weeks back "that can be corrected." Ricky, if you're reading, please work on those feet, so I can start "ahhing" when you dance instead of "ughing."

Thanks!

I must confess I don't fully comprehend his perceived unpopularity. I'm an ok dancer, bronze medal, and I think he's terrific. Still things to work on but I've enjoyed and appreciated him more than any other celeb thus far, Tuffers excepted of course (but that's for non-dancing reasons)!

Well he does have rather bowed legs which arent very attractive but I am assuming that it might be as a result of the accident he had which damaged one of his legs (might be wrong) but I would never not like someone because of a physical attribute or vote for them just because of a physical attribute either.

He has very few latin dances left to do if he stays in the competition but one is the Jive and one is the Argetine Tango both of which will draw attention to his legs and feet more than some of the others.

I can't put my finger on why I can't connect with him either. He just seems so....sure of himself, or something. Not as humble and likeable as some of the others.

He really does need to keep on working on the feet!

TBH most of the time I don't notice his feet, but when he dances ballroom his bowed legs make it look like he is crouching a little.

But I don't vote for him simply because his dancing with Natalie just doesn't thrill me. He's got a lot going for him - he's good looking (lovely skin and teeth ), he's a good dancer and he seems like a nice guy. When it comes to the final I can see me voting for him if I like him best out of who is left.

His feet? Meh.

Totally agree. That's the only thing that bothers me about Ricky. If it can be fixed then Natalie should be focussing on it in training.

As everyone knows I LOVE Ricky W but, I do agree with the OP about his feet. Craig in particular seems to be pointing this out to him. In fact I was a little annoyed with Brucie and Bruno last week because Craig old Ricky he had a "lazy right foot", and when he tried to explain what that was Bruno and Brucie turned it into a joke (lazy right eye). Which was funny but, it was obvious that Ricky wanted to hear what Craig had to say (I did as well), but in the end all Craig could do was look at him apologetically and shrug his shoulders!

I am a Ricky W fan and I agree with the feet, they were more noticeable last night. However, I am sure it was a result of the accident he had and there isnt much years of Physio havent already tried to do to correct it. Considering how pigeon-toed he is, I think he's doing a fantastic job.

From Greytop's thread - Karen Hardy's review:

Q There was high praise for Ricky Whittle, Zoe Lucker and Ali Bastian this weekend – who’s your favourite celeb to win the competition?

“My favourite is clearly Ricky Whittle. I know what the nation is like and we all love an underdog, but he’s just so far out there! From a quality and technical point of view he’s just blowing everyone out of the competition. The connections between him and his dance partner Natalie are brilliant. He’s so far ahead from a quality of dance point of view, then absolutely – he’s my favourite by far.

“But there’s still a long way to go – we’re in week six, we’ve got another 10 weeks to go so all things could change. It’s tough both physically and mentally so we’ll have to see who can hold their game.”

No mention of feet here

I think HE is lovely. I love his dancing.

I think the problem for me is how Nat behaved before their first dance, going on about how ace he was and how they wanted a 10. I just can't warm to her, try as I may.

I think her coreography is beautiful and considering the limited practice time Ricky has he is amazing.

Perhaps that's my real problem, I always love an underdog, but I adored Austin last year and he was top week one wasn't he?

Having said that, and read the calm and reasoned posts on this thread (hooray!) I don't think our issues warrent the amount of dislike being directed to them on here. Didn't they top the least favourite poll the other week? No idea whats going on

I agree with most on here.

Funnily enough, I was enthralled by his dancing in the first couple of weeks, but either he has got worse, or I am now wholly focussed on his feet.

Either way, he's not doing it for me anymore. Maybe the criticism has got to him, but he seems a bit flat too.

....and those feet!

I think it's the underdog angle, and the desire for a jouney

I certainly never gel with contestants who are stage school trained already and turn up with a history of choreography training (I've no idea if he is, I just assume so).

It seems like "Week 1, let's not bother, Ricky's the best one, here you go, here's the cup, everyone else can go home."

This isn't always the case, sometimes a good personality can overide my natural hostility

Nice post

I do understand that Natalie's initial competitiveness didn't sit well with some - even I, as a fan, was a little taken aback. But, cutting her some slack - she is an Aussie and, apols for nation stereotyping, they do appear to make no bones about wanting to win.

I think she's damped down the lust for glory over the last couple of weeks so I suspect/hope she's cottoning on to what British audiences appreciate.

Ricky is struggling to learn one dance he is never never going to cope with learning two in a week. He was in the bottom 3 this week he isnt going to last the distance without the help of the judges.

Cripes! - to quote old Bozzer Johnson - did I miss something - were the results in the "moment of truth" in order of votes? Am v. worried now

how on earth do you get that he was in the bottom 3

My Mum also said exactly the same to me about Ricky this week. I always thought that apart from the bottom two everyone-else's name was called out randomly but, it's interesting people think that it wasn't and that Ricky had a close shave!

I dont think his recent coments in the press will help, i just find him extremely dull, no personality, Unlike Ramps, who was quiet, he had a nice genuine quietness, i suppose it comes down to Rickys lack of personality.

Maybe the poster is assuming that, because (IIRC) in the previous 2 weeks the 3rd to last called out was in the dance off the following week, it's a logical assumption.

There again, a lot does depend on the dance on the night and Ricky has a Quickstep which should be a good dance (apart from the pigeon toes)

Also the latest odds on Oddschecker still have him odds-on favourite - but they've been wrong before.

I hadn't really noticed that. So the poster AND my Mum are far more on the ball about these things than me.

Totally agree with arlene's boy.

I am a professional dancer and teacher and he's doing just fine for me!

It's frustrating isnt it?

With his current day job schedule, Ricky's wasted on SCD this year. Both he and the audience would have enjoyed his experience a whole lot more if he were able to devote the time to it that is needed.

Innate ability only gets you so far and I just dont think we will ever see Ricky's potential realised this year. Such a shame.

However, if he is doing the tour next year I reckon then the audience will be in for a real treat and I will certainly be hunting down vids.

How quickly could he realistically be expected to correct his feet Wysi?

As it's impossible to get a proper view of his feet from the stupid camera angles, that is hard to say. At a quick guess, I would say it's easily correctable given the right advice.

We are going to watch SCD at Blackpool, so I could give a more informed response then.