This is not another Natalie bashing thread as some of you might be quick to call out this is just another thread from my perspective.

I really like Natalie's dances and she dances well, but for some reason I am not liking her personality. Same goes to Ricky W.

Anyone else like this?

I get the feeling even the judges dont like her too and just treat her like a little kid...:sleep:

I'm not keen on Ricky W. He's a good dancer and a good looking bloke but I just can't warm to him. You know he's always going to be good so its a bit boring (same with Ali).

I love Natalie though - she's one of the few that look like they are enjoying it. Sometimes she's great other times she's not. It makes the show interesting for me.

I was quite surprised, I actually warmed to Natalie and I like her interactions with Vincent. However, I don't always like her dances. For instance, on Saturday I would have preferred an easier routine, better executed. I felt quite uncomfortable watching it ... I hope Vincent choreographed something a bit easier this week.

Otherwise I quite like her and their partnership.

I feel the judges patronize Natalie with their continued excuberance (sp?) and energy comments as they don't like to criticise her. She puts the work in etc, but I feel she has no grace, I wonder if the judges also think this?

I can't make up my mind whether I like her or not really, I wouldn't miss her if she went.

I'm kind of the other way about - I love Natalie as a personality but I'm not that sure about her dancing.

She gets away with a lot because of the fun she brings to what she's doing, and she's acting for all she's worth out there. But technically she's a little untidy (those jive kicks were somewhat evil) and being short and not a great fan of exercise, her lines are not as flowing and extended as would be helpful.

I enjoy what she's brought to the programme this far, but I don't want her in the final at the standard she's at now.

Lorelei - the bit of your quote about her technicality of dancing (ie being short, not a fan of exercise) is what I wanted to say, you said it far better than I was thinking it I don't know how you highlight bits of quotes!

I do think they have a great partnership and it's great to see and yes her enthusiasm is boundless, but no, I've not warmed to her. Sure she's a nice person, but I find her a bit too exuberant and that translates to lack of technique on the dance floor.

I like Natalies personality and her relationship with Vincent but not sure about the dancing.....overall I like her though.

She is incredibly annoying not to mention has all the grace of carthorse, yes she is enthusiastic and she puts the hours in but she is just a great big mass of flailing limbs, she has only two expressions and has exhausted them both throughout the weeks.

Also, she needs to stop harking on about her weight - she does it in every interview she gives - whatever size she is if she wishes to be known more for her acting (although her skills in that department are somewhat limited too) or for her performances she should just stop going on about how happy she is at size "x" - if she was truly happy and comfortable in her own skin she wouldn't mention it in every interview she has given since the DVD debacle and since signing up for strictly.

Funny then you only mention Natalie in your title?
Well I love the fact she does actually have a personality unlike some of the others and of course enough of the public seem to be liking her and voting for her too.

I can't warm to her either, and I really don't know why as I thought that she would be one of my favourites before the show started.

I love Natalie. She's my favourite female celeb this year. A genuinely nice person who is also a genuine fan of show. Love her partnership with Vincent and her attitude to the whole competition.

I know what you mean. I am now indifferent to her because I'm bored with the fake over exhuberance punctuated by snide comments about the other contestants ( her pointed fremarks about Ali and her ballet slippers last week was uncalled for), and am just wondering why she's still there?

She's not a good dancer and won't get any better. She keeps on and on about her weight, but that's not why she's a hopeless dancer so why does she mention it?

The judges indulge her every week and it's time she went. I won't miss her and her daft two expressions. Silly girl.

Personality-wise, she's a bit like an overenthused toddler - it's a joy to watch their delight & excitement, but there comes a time when they need to be calmed down for the sake of everyone's sanity and sent to bed for a quick nap to sleep it off. Either that or she needs an on-off switch.

Dance-wise I would have to applaud her for what seems to be real application and determination. She's far better than I ever thought she would be, but I reckon has now pretty much reached a plateau. She just doesn't have the grace and is far too leaden.

Those of us who can admit to being less than perfect empathise with Natalie and I think her coupling with Vincent is one of the best this year.
I've never seen or heard her harking on about her weight on Strictly, in fact it's others who bring up the subject. She is what SCD is all about and I look forward to watching her every week

I love Natalie, she not be the best in this serie of strictly, but She's my favourite female celeb this year. She is a genuinely nice person who is also a massive fan of show. Love her partnership with Vincent they are so cute together and best partnership of the serie and her attitude to the whole competition and I'm voting for them every week


Come on Natalie

I can admit to be less than perfect and cannot empathise with her at all . So maybe speak for yourself rather than the rest of us

I wouldn't miss her if she wasn't there. But then, that's true of plenty of couples this year.

I so agree with you. If she'd only be quiet once in a while I might like her better.

I'm afraid I haven't warmed to her either. I find her just too 'full on' in her VTs and in her interaction with Bruce, Tess and the judges, nor do I particularly enjoy her dancing as it lacks elegance (which, for my personal and uninformed taste, is one of the things I most look for). I agree that the judges tend to go easy on her, highlighting her enthusiasm but shying away from tackling how flat footed and stompy she is in case it is misinterpreted and gets twisted into some kind of sizist slur, perhaps?

All of this said, I did quite like her on ITT this week. Not her 'through the keyhole' VT, but her sofa interview with Claudia. So maybe I'm thawing a little.

Can't agree with you there.

Both Craig and Bruno criticised her frame and the untidiness of the Charleston section of her Quickstep last week.

Also, the ability to bring energy and life to a dance is essential. To commend Natalie for managing to do so is not patronising, it's well deserved praise.

Isn't that what we do when we post on here anyway?
(Although I do post on behalf of a circle of friends who aren't fms )

I am afraid Natalie reminds me of a puppy dog - all bounce, bounce, bounce, yap, yap, yap, slaver, slaver, slaver. She has a very good work ethic but her dancing is too thumpy, lumpy, clumpy and bumpy for my taste and I hope she doesn't go much further in the competition as there are much better dancers.

Ricky W can dance = he can really dance but I read on the forum that he had lessons before entering Strictly and if that were the case it did give him an unfair advantage. Like Sid I am not warming to him and I don't know why. His partner is a very good teacher and dancer and I am not warming to her either. It is a very staid and stolid partnership as compared to Chris and Ola - who fizz with personality and are just joy to watch.

If it's perfection we are looking for in a celebrity, as dancer/personality/looks/body shape/lifestyle/career choices than none of them meet that criteria, not just Natalie.

Thankfully we all have different opinions, and don't all share the same desires from a reality tv show.

Also frumpy -- with the frocks they dress her in! Hate to say this because she is a lovely girl, but she's about as graceful as a baby elephant on the dance floor. I don't enjoy her dancing at all.