I don't really dislike Ricky, I find Natalie scarily fiercely competitive and extraordinarily annoying.

The problem though is that he just bores me - he's nice, he works hard, he just has no quirkiness, there's no offbeat humour about him, his wits aren't quick, he's just a little dull, though I do like watching him dance -

and then get annoyed again with how his partner seems to be mishandling him.

I can understand why people felt similarly about Rachel, but Vincent's understanding of her and their relationship on the dance floor was a terrific compensation for her reserve.

Ricky though, hasn't got such a good partnership, in my opinion.

I think he'll be in the top three, and he should be.

I take your point about Natalie, I actually cringed when she said she wanted a 10 for their first dance. It's probably a culture/competitor thing along with being new to the SCD experience. I've noticed that she really listens to what the judges say and choreographs the routines accordingly. What she hasn't taken into consideration is that the viewers also need to feel included and that's where the more established pros have the advantage. Unfortunately, it's not something that can be taught overnight and I do feel that she could be guided a little better when interviewed on ITT. I quite like her and think she's done a fantastic job with Ricky, and her choreography for the pro QS was a real highlight, but, I can understand why her very professional no-nonsense approach might irk others.

I hadn't heard that.

There is just something about him, and the partnership I can't take to. Natalie comes across as quite arrogant to me. Someone said he's not arrogant, but he definitely has that air about him.

I also don't like the way eveyone thinks it's a foregone conclusion that they should be in the final.

He's made several noticeable mistakes, especially in the last couple of weeks and he's not marked down for them. He's also not actually improved from week
one, his scores have stayed consistant.

As others have said, with Ricky I have no issue. Seems nice enough and can dance pretty well. Natalie is far too intense and competitive for my liking. She needs to lighten up a bit. Similarly, its' one of the reasons I'm not keen on Erin either.

I'm another one who has no problem with Ricky, apart from finding him slightly bland away from the dancing, but Natalie scares the living daylights out of me and I just can't take to her at all - the impression she gives me is she'd sell her granny on ebay to win this. I don't mind competative, all the pros are competative and want to win, but the vibe Natalie gives off is just a scarey competative

Thank you all for answers to my original question.

It would seem that a lot of the anti-Ricky feeling isn't so much Ricky himself, but Natalie.

We have to remember she is from Oz, and clearly no one thought to warn her Brits don't really like anyone openly ambitious (all the pro dancers would love to get a 10 in their 1st dance, Natalie made the mistake of saying so!) and being competitive in a competition is a definite no-no!! Poor girl hasn't stood a chance!!

Very true. She'd go down a storm on DWTS.

I posted this joke post (well I hope its a joke) on the Laila fell down stairs thread but its appropriate here too

Maybe Natalie Lowe pushed Laila down some stairs after placing a trip wire across the dance floor during dress rehearsals to knobble Jade. Unfortunately stamping hard on Ali's toe in the Tesspit didnt manage to get rid of her as she was saved in the dance off so she is still working on that one.....Natalie was last seen talking to herself on the train to training in Liverpool muttering to herself 'by hook or by crook I WILL win this thing' and looking into a mirror chanting 'mirror mirro on the wall who IS the best dancer of them all' and a voice saying 'You are ofcourse my dear but Hollins is more popular'

For me it isn't just the obvious ambition. While that isn't particularly attractive it doesn't bother me too much. What I dislike about her is her frantic choreography which makes everything Ricky dances way too fast to enjoy and also her lack of personality. If Ricky had been paired with another pro I think they may have brought out a better side of his personality and also shown off his dancing ability better. We shall never know.

For me it's mainly Natalie's abrasive competativeness as well, though I don't think Ricky's lack of personality helps matters a great deal.

I actually do think they're very good dancers and Natalie's a great choreographer. I just wish she'd realise that not everything has to be danced at the speed of light - I don't think "subtle" is in her vocabulary. Everything's so frenetic! I know she's trying to show him off, but does difficult choreography really have to mean so fast that it's exhausting to watch, let alone dance?

LOL LOL , at least lets all have some humour .Good one .

I don't really have a strong opinion on Ricky either way. He's a good dancer, granted, though overmarked. He seems like a perfectly friendly guy. He comes across as a little complacent. He seems like he's trying hard.
I don't particularly like Natalie: she unfortunately doesn't have a very appealing television presence in my opinion. It's not necessarily the competitiveness as such but more her intensity; I think she needs to chill out and try having fun.

However, what I cannot stand more than both of these two put together is people claiming to read others' opinions and just pin down legitimate dislikes to jealousy or pettiness.

I don't mind Natalie being competitive. All pros are competitive. She is also new to this show and obviously is trying hard to prove herself. I just wish her choreography was
more polished.

Hi Laura - we both appreciate and enjoy Ricky and Natalie so always nice to read your posts.
Just one query - you mentioned that Natalie asked for a ten for her first dance. I may be wrong but I always thought she asked had anyone ever got a ten for their first dance - there is a difference there. I think as you say she is new and keen to establish herself and was just asking about the ten.
I to think she has done a great job with Ricky - Natalie does not annoy me at all I think she seems a nice friendly girl and a great addition to SCD.

I'm starting to like him even though he's being overmarked. On the flip side I simply cannot abide his partner Natalie. She seems demanding, needy, a princess. She's done so many things that have annoyed me. For instance, why when asked by Claudia if she's slowed down their jive did she reply by telling Claude how many times she'd slowed it down. What was the point of making that comment? Was she trying to imply that Ricky no that good a dancer and couldn't handle the three original routines. Why demean him like that? It was a pointless comment. Last week she stated that she couldnt bear to watch their Tango cuz she couldn't live with the fact that she might have made a mistake. What the f...? Surely in her capacity as Ricky's teacher its up to her to watch the VT to find out exactly what happened and make sure it doesnt happen again. Also after they performed their Tango with mistakes she stated she wanted to be in the dance off so they could do it again. I admit that was clearly supposed to be a joke but given the stress of the DO it was not a very funny one.

They should makea pact that he do all the talking cuz she alienates me every time she opens her mouth.

I didn't like the jive.
I wished he hadn't mentioned his injuries.
They do nothing for me.

No disaster if they win but they are not my favourites.

I wonder whether part of it is that Ricky just doesn't seem to be pushing himself that hard - the routines are difficult, sure, but there's nothing in there that's making people sit up and go 'wow'!

The most comparable situation I can think of is Ray Quinn on DOI, when he was obviously fantastic from the word go, but it was clear that every week he was having to work harder and try more tricky things to get the same marks (and the judges' comments reflected it if they thought he wasn't trying).

Mind you, Ray had a bit more spark to him than Ricky. I think it's just that he really is terminally not interesting as a media personality. Probably lovely and all the rest of it in person, but not exactly the ears' best friend.

To be fair to him I don't believe he mentioned the injury (an old football hamstring injury he'd aggravated during the week) to gain sympathy. He was defending Natalie Lowe after her choreography was criticised by attempting to put in context that his injury was the reason she'd had to slow the routine.

It was a human reaction and I like him more for it but, given the other injuries last Saturday, maybe it looked like crock overkill.

I'm sure your reply wasnt meant as a joke, so excuse me for chuckling and my rather late reply.

Ignoring the fact that there are still more hard-working people than not in today's world, I have to dispute the fact that by itself it is a trait that can be likeable. People can be hard-working but have no capacity for teamwork, people can be hard-working to the extent they neglect their loved ones, people can be hard-working in a self-serving capacity, for example, choosing a career path that promotes recognition over actual talent.

By itself, being hard-working is not enough to earn my respect, nevermind make me warm to Ricky. I dispute he is that hard-working actually, seeing has he came into Strictly with no intention of dedicating the time it needs. Perhaps he thought he could sail through on innate dancing ability alone?

Hi Carol, thanks for your kind words.

I think you could be right about the 10 in the first programme, I just know I cringed, as it appeared to be a statement of intent! As stated in my previous post I put it down to her inexperience to what it's like to dance on SCD. Like you I quite like her and think she's had a lot of unnecessary flak. I hope she sticks around for the next series as I would like to see how she choreographs a weaker dancer. Mind you in saying that, choreographing dances that have to factor in Ricky's damaged leg and pigeon toes isn't an easy task!

Its not as cut and dry as that Smokeychan. You cannot deny that there are plenty of hardworking people out there who are likeable and admired for their work ethic. I work in a difficult profession where a hard working attitude is beneficial and not only admired by colleagues but the patients too.




I think your last comment is really unfair and has no basis in fact.

How can you say he went into it with no intention of dedicating the time it needs? How do you profess to know his intentions regarding his training?

Im pretty sure none of the celebs knew what to fully expect when they went on Strictly. He cannot help that he has a full time job where he works long hours both day and night depending on the shooting schedule which he has no say in.

And he puts in as much as he can, which is shown by what he says in his blog and on twitter. He rehearses on his own to perfect his routines, he rehearsed in his dressing rooms in Hollyoaks and has stated he gets caught in the corridors practiscing his routines on twitter.

He's obviously also concerned about the fact he hasnt had as much training hours as he has liked because he stated on his latest blogs that if he gets to the later rounds, he is hoping Hollyoaks can give him some more time off work so he can train more, so hes obviously asked his work to accomodate him here.

So where are you basing that statement? On just the mere fact that he has less training hours some weeks than others? On some weeks he has had similar hours that the others. And he's not the only one who had problems with his training hours, Len stated frequently to Phil that he needed to put more hours in but Phil also had to work, you going to say that's why you didnt like Phil?

Ricky doesn't whinge about his hours - Claudia asks him
(on the very rare occasion he's on ITT due to his schedule) and he plays it down.

His tweets are upbeat and buzzing & he has a zest for life. In no way it seems to me does he come over as having an arrogant attitude - quite the opposite. Is he fake? Who knows but, if he's putting on an act, it's a good one. His one blog, which I remember you objected to & I was uncomfortable with too, was a misjudgment (possibly like your last remark) but his subsequent ones have been warm and fuzzy.

Actually, Ricky W has done several routines this series that have made me go 'wow'. At his best he has looked in a class of his own this series.

Ricky and Natalie have not been my favourite couple so far, but Ricky has done nothing to make me dislike him - he comes across a pretty genuine, nice guy as a matter of fact - and the longer the series goes on the more I find myself rooting for him based on the sheer excellence of his performances alone.

Smokeychan, I would also like to refer you to Ricky W's latest Tweet:

MrRickyWhittle: Dont ask for a light load, rather ask for a strong back!!

I like his attitude.

I don't like his dancing (especially the turned in toes, and generally his footwork). I also have no interest in him. I find him rather boring. And I don't enjoy the dancing partnership.