Thought Natalie interupting Ricky when he was talking to Tess after their American Smooth was bang out of order. "Can I say something" just about sums up her pushy attitude.
I did note later she said sorry, so I presume she realised her remark did not convey the wonderful relationship the're meant to have.

Oh yes he is meant to know his place which is slightly behind Natalie both at the judges table AND in the Tesspit how very dare he say something before Natalie

After her comment on ITT last night about her Celebrity having to be at her standard or nothing I fired an email off to the BBC asking for her to get the non dancing plank or token geriatric next year.

She tried to say that at the start but was ignored by Tess. There was an attack on her choreography, I think it's fair that she wanted to defend it - if Tess paid enough attention to what was happening she would have used that as a talking point instead of her usual inane questions...

She's not rude, she's Australian you see

That's one of the reasons I disliked Karen Hardy. She always talked more than Ramps in the Tesspit. Admittedly, next to Ramps at his quietest, the wall could seem verbose, but still...

I think Natalie was mouthing "sorry" to him because I think she thought her choreographing the contentious lift had possibly let him down and the scores would reflect it.

Totally agree, it was rude. And didn't convey the 'chemistry' she has with Ricky that Alesha thought was worth a ten!

Natalie has a problem with the comments made by the judges and she seems to me to be slightly confused that the point of this show is about her celeb partner not her!

Brilliant.

She is just one of those women who I dislike on sight. Not terribly PC I kinow but I don't really care.

I thought the comment was a bit much too - wonder how she would have coped with someone like Craig Kelly or Joe this year........

I thought it was quite an arrogant comment too. I must agree she doesn't come across well and seems to think that it is her right to have someone as good as Ricky. SHE'S the one who's actually putting me off them as a couple even though I know Ricky is a great dancer and seems like a nice fella

I'd have loved to seen how she would have handled Craig with his 'I'm brilliant, me!' mentality

I thought that Natalie was trying to emphasise how hard Ricky was having to work - in case we underestimated...

I can understand someone taking an instant dislike to Natalie (though I do like her) - I think it's the top lip, which she can't do anything about, giving her a slightly sneery look. She's a terrific dancer IMO.

parthena

I do think she has messed up in the choreography department a couple of times though. I agreed with Len last night, that lift may have been a fine display of power and technique but it did not fit in with the rest of the dance.

The lift was just weird, they had a nice delicate routine that suddenly turned into a weightlifting competition

But as Natalie scares the living daylights out of me I'll say no more

I think she said on an ITT VT that it was the first AS she'd ever choreographed, so y'know, cut her some slack.

I'd tend to agree with Len about the lift - it didn't need the press and would have been more congruent with the routine if he'd just spun her round a few times or somesuch. But I disagree with Len that he should have taken a mark off for the style of the lift, as he appeared to do.

I'd also tend to agree that the negative comments Natalie is getting over pushiness/naked ambition are very reminiscent of the negative comments Karen Hardy used to inspire on here.

I'm with you on dislking her! She was very rude interrupting and seems to have delusions of grandeur. She needs reminding she is NOT the celebrity!

I noticed her apologising to Ricky, Question is, was she apologising for interrupting or for her choreography (lift) not fitting the rest of the dance? Natalie quite clearly seems to think its all about her and not about her and Ricky as a team.

How on earth was it rude?? Tess was interviewing THEM, not just Ricky. They're supposed to be a partnership and actually what Natalie said was all in praise of Ricky. She wasn't being rude to him, she was complimenting him. And of course she has a right to speak - it's a partnership. That's what a partnership is!

It was pretty clear to me that her 'sorry' was for her putting the lift in. Ricky mouthed 'its ok, it was worth it'...bless him.

As the weeks go by, I like Natalie less and less. But I love Ricky more, not only because he's a lovely dancer and a nice lad but he must have the patience of a saint to put up with her, I cant imagine she is a barrel of laughs in the training room.

I wish Ricky had gotten Flavia as a pro.

I have this theory that we associate people on reality shows with people we have come across
Natalie is one of those ever so jolly girls you go to school with , who swaggers around the school with a tennis racket/ hocky stick / guitar . Is always in lead in the play , get the handsome guy and look down her nose at the rest of us plebs huddling in the corner .
She enthuses about everything and has us all running around the bloody running track before dawn , in the freezing rain

There is a possibility Ricky could lose this because of Natalie and that would be a shame.

It would be a shame, Im voting for him anyway, despite my dislike for his partner.

It's the woman's first time on a high pressure show, amongst very established pro dancers.

You have a "caring" user name, I am sure you can imagine if you really try what it's like being new and being worried that you have made a mistake.

Natalie comes across well to me, she just doesn't go in for all that false modesty and is proud in a very un British way which Brits just don't like!

I agree.

But does anyone ever think that maybe Ricky is as good as he is because he has such a committed teacher? He coud be naturally very good but not quite to the standard he is without Natalie.

I would much rather listen to their honest ambition rather than all this "ola chops" nonsense!

I agree with you drbol. In the VT sessions we've seen you don't see Natalie having a laugh and a joke like the other pros, just how driven she is. It could be the editing, but even in the live interviews she doesn't lighten up. I don't recall a pro ever as focussed on winning as Natalie.

If Ricky had Flavia as a pro I think they could have lifted that glitter ball, as I'd say Ricky is easily as good as Matt Di. Also her choreography would have been more suitable to help Ricky add the finesse that is missing from some of his dances, because Natalie's choreography is so ambitious. Seeing Katya for the first time this series I think she would also have been very good with Ricky.


I do think she could be losing them votes now.

On the one hand I do think that as a teacher if you have a gifted and capable student then you should push them. It would be a horrible waste of potential not to!

However, her comment about her celeb having to be up to her standard then loses her all credibility. Indeed she must have zero confidence in herself as an instructor if she couldn't find the potential in someone not as naturally talented.

She's a strange one and I do think she impacts on Ricky's likeability.