Don't get me wrong, he's a fantastic dancer, but he doesn't "grab" me (in the nicest sense of the word). I don't look forward to his dances, like I used to those of Jill Halfpenny or Ramps in previous series. I want to like him. Any advice?

Dont look at me ! I feel the same . Nothing there at all

Dont think you will get much help from here......I think the majority on here agree with you.....he leaves me cold and uninterested.

I think that he and Natalie seem to put this barrier up around them (particularly her) and I find it off putting I cant describe it better than that.

I can't deny he's a good dancer but I'd vote for amost anyone rather than him (Craig being the exception)

I feel the same but can't quite figure out why. I too loved Jill, Ramps, Alesha as a dancer (not as a judge though) and even Tom last year, really looked forward to them each week. Ricky W is undoubtedly the best male celeb dancer and by a way but I can't help hope that anyone else wins except him.

I do wonder if it is something to do with his partner as I think I might have taken to him better if he was with one of the other pro's as I really do not like her at all.

probably the same sort of reasons I can't warm to Jade or Phil

Tonight I loved them - until Natalie piped up afterwards and clearly isn't happy until she gets a 40.

I have felt RW has started to come out of himself in recent weeks and that's what we needed - to see some personality because he was so bland. Unfortunately,Natalie hasn't improved - she is still exactly the same and, to win, you have to tick all the boxes and Natalie will let the partnership down in terms of attracting public votes.

Ricky's blatantly ambitious, but there's nothing wrong with that. He's found he's really, really good at this, and he's understandably excited! I started off not rating him very highly, I thought he'd be all looks and no personality, but he's grown on me. He seems to be a likeable enough guy, who's enjoying himself immensely; I don't really get the dislike from some quarters.

I don't actually like his dancing. The turned in toe positions just don't look right for any of the movements. I also don't take to them as a dancing couple. I don't warm to them.

Tonight was the first time that I thought their dancing was where it should have been - it really was absolutely fantastic. However, I'm still not... feeling them. I don't think they bring joy to the floor, so personally I find them less enjoyable to watch than I think I probably should.

I'd just like to say, thought, that I absolutely think they deserved those scores and just because I don't like them doesn't mean they shouldn't go very far in the competition.

I don't dislike him at all, just can't warm to him.

I'm with you there. I do not like her in the slightest. Her choreography is great and I'd love to dance a dance that she creates and I know I'd be quite good even though I'm not a dancer. However, as much as the professional is as responsible for building the partnership as much as the celebrity, it is essentially the celebrity who is marked and judged for the most part and I personally don't think she gets that. The minute she does, they might warm a little bit more to the public but I don't think she will. Look at the difference between Katya and Natalie. Natalie felt aggreived that Craig didn't provide her and Ricky with the one point that would have made a perfect 40, Katya on the other hand was ecstatic that Phil had scored 30 and was so happy for him that they'd done that albeit surprised. Natalie seemed more unhappy with Ricky than Craig and imo expected those 10s.

It seems to me it will only be the high scores that will keep him out of the dance off....he could have got the lowest public vote this week and still been safe he also out of all the couple has more ballroom than latin to do for the rest of the competition. A slip down the board with the Jive perhaps and he will be in the dance off.

Natalie has, as we say in my neck of the woods, a 'face like a slapped a*se' and it puts me off her

but I like his dancing and am always happy to watch him

I'm with you. I know there's nothing he can do about the bandy legs but surely those pigeon toes can be corrected? It just looks odd to me. And I find her very off-putting!

I like him - he seems like a decent fella to me. And the other celebs seem to support him.

I suppose we all see different things.

I don't know about his "skill" as a dancer but entertainment wise he does nothing for me. He just doesn't engage me. I even find Craig more entertaining to watch than him. This year it seems to be that those who can dance best are bland, and those who don't dance as well are more entertaining. I would rather watch Natalie and Vincent than any of the supposed better dancers - apart from Ali.

The judges will save him though against any of the others - he is a dead cert for the final imho.

I'm not keen on him but his dad is great! He calls him Richard...so lovely

I think people just CAN'T forgive him for not being a bad dancer. He's good - how DARE he?!

I don't think that's it in the slightest.

People knew he was a shoo-in for the final from Week 1, even if the public vote puts him in a dance-off. He has no journey story to help him, other than a metaphorical drive through Lincolnshire, flatline all the way ... he was good to start and he'll be good to finish. Others have arguably been in that position before, so they can't be the reasons why IMO he won't win the final.

Other possibilities ... His pro partner dances great but has all the emotional connection with the audience off the dance floor of a Westworld robot. Maybe he is having great fun but it doesn't look as though he is. He seems to provoke the kinda reaction you get from some people when one of those pro couples that everybody in ballroom dancing raves about make a guest appearance on the show ... I'm sure it was technically great and all that, but didn't make me wanna get up and dance with them or shout 'Gwaan, my son' at the telly. He winges too much about people not liking him because he's good. He needs results and fun, not just results. Keeps missing one part and he'll only be making up the numbers in the final.

No, not at all. In fact, if you're good, you're good and why not flaunt this - but appropriately. The key to a good partnership which warms to the public I feel though is the balance. I personally feel that one person in this partnership is letting them down because of their overall expectation in the competition (in quite a few contexts i.e. what they expect of the performance, the steps, the judges scores and most importantly the public vote) is much higher than possibly the couples' ability to get there (whether they are technically able or not). It puts a dampner on the couple as a unit and turns people to other couples who don't hit the technical box but hit enough of the other boxes to secure a vote (or 2 or 10 or however many are being cast).

My overall point is balance. Ricky and Natalie are not a balanced partnership imo

I prefer Ricky Whittle to a lot of the other celebs. It's not his fault he has a natural talent for dancing just as Craig does not have this gift.

I can only think that an obvious favourite irritates you. I'm getting heartily sick of all the Jade and Ian publicity (although she isn't the worse dancer she isn't the best we've seen) and all the 'Lets Get Craig to Blackpool' rubbish. In the beginning some said Ricky was a 'trained dancer' or 'he took a lot of lessons'. All these innuendos have effect for some.
I try to ignore it and pick the best dancers and Ricky is brilliant and Jade has come on leaps and bounds, Craig on the other hand is rubbish, so for me non of the sly digs have worked!!