I wonder if part of the problem is that she (along with RIcky obviously) has suffered from not being able to appear on ITT much. I'm guessing that most people on this forum do watch ITT most days at least and you get to "know" the couples a bit more from their interviews, how they behave outside of the Saturday night show and the extra VTs that you see of their training. To my mind all of the pros are competitive and most of them aren't afraid to show it when it comes to the main show, at least to an extent, but the difference is that we've seen the others being more relaxed on ITT or doing stupid things in the training room, meaning that they come across as more balanced personalities. I don't have much of a feeling for or against Natalie personally- she's a very talented dancer who has put together some amazing routines (like others, I've prefered her ballroom choreography to her Latin) and has a good relationship with her celeb. Unfortunately between the lack of training time they have in the studio, which probably does lead to a more focussed approach than we see in some of the others, and the lack of exposure on ITT, we haven't seen much of her beyond the strict teacher and competitive dancer.

I don't mind people wanting to win.

But some want it too much.

It can come across as desperate.

I'm not suggesting Natalie quite falls into that category, but she's close, and I can understand how it might put some viewers off.

They are all soooo competitive its a bit disgusting. Its never about the partner with any of them really. Most just play it down a bit. But I do know that if they don't get a potential winner that most of the dancers have been known to be sulky, miserable little misters and missus.

They do seem to have fun: the odd time you see the clips fo their trainings but your right ITT and strictly, apart from that 'one' VT that started the rumours have played it down. And don't really seem to focus on any of their non focused moments in training.

No. The girl has not put a foot wrong since coming on SCD. She is always very courteous, has not argued with anyone, an excellent dancer and is a credit to the world of dance, yet some seem determined to dislike her and try and find fault where none exists..

Maybe her detractors dislike the fact that she was given one of the better dancers as a partner. I bet she would be equally adept at coping with a lesser talented dancer like Ricky Groves.
I certainly hope she is invited back for the next series.

I've been one of the most vocal in my dislike of her but I do agree with much of what you say here.

My dislike of her stems from the fact that she doesnt come across well while being interviewed on the show or ITT unlike Katya and Aliona. On just about every interview she has made at least one uneccesarily negative comment. She complained that their quickstep hadnt gone well during the week to which Ricky nearly ricked his neck as he turned to her in disbelief, she said after the Tango that she couldnt watch it because she couldn't stand to think she'd made a mistake but surely as the coach/teacher she should have watched it to find out what happened and make sure it never happened again, when asked by Claudia if she'd slowed down their jive she replied by telling her how many times she'd slowed it down and rolling her eyes. There are many other incidents. She doesnt seem very likeable she seems a little precious and very negative even when given the best natural dancer in the show.

I don't dislike the woman but I do think she has got the choreography wrong for Ricky quite a few times which is annoying as he is so talented.

Their tango, for example, was just a tangle of steps so fast that not only could you not actually make out what they were doing sometimes but also Ricky made mistakes (as they all do) and spoiled what could have been a great routine. (ditto the AS lift )

I have no doubt she is a good dancer but she has pitched it wrong for Ricky this year. She needs to think more about what is appropriate for her celeb rather than the wow factor. That is what has dissapointed me.

I'm not a fan, but I hope Natalie Lowe returns next year. She's a strong character, and she has definitely made her mark on Strictly. Do we really want all the pros to be smiley, smiley, nicey, nicey? (though I'm sure she's actually a nice person)

I think she's been boxed into the negativity slightly as has Ricky. It's interesting that one of the first things I remember hearing her say was "I've been told that the person who starts out strongest always goes out before the final" or similar.

From the beginning everyone on the show (the judges, Tess, Claudia) has said repeatedly that they're by far and away the best dancers. They're the front runners, the ones to beat, clearly the best performers. Until last week, when Alesha suddenly and randomly made Ali her frontrunner, nobody has even got near suggesting anything else. They've also harped on how he needs to show improvement, not rest on their laurels, show humility etc.

I get the impression she (and Ricky, who is a big fan of the show) have decided on a strategy of talking about their mistakes and how well other people are doing as often as possible, to try to avoid the so-called "Austin trap" (which I don't think actually exists as the show has presented it). As such they tend to be viewed either as negative, or fake-humble.

I'm kind of stuck between thinking it's obviously the wrong strategy, and wondering what else she could conceivably do. People seem to believe she's stuck on herself enough (with very little evidence IMO) as it is.

Well that's just it. Of all the partnerships on the show we know the least about this one. DO they actually get on? Do they have fun? Is it all work work work? We actually see nothing of them. I couldn't even guess at what their 'real' relationship is. And everyone knows that the audience loves to see a friendship to the sold, and with those two there isn't much to go on. Either because none exists or the BEEB just don't want to show it. I think people forget that
its a working relationship, and for most of us well functioning ones are pretty dry and boring.

I only think she is negative I dont think Ricky is negative. I like Ricky. I think he's the best natural dancer in the show, he's a shoe in for the final because I simply cant see anybody beating him in a dance off, but I do think he panders to the female audience just a little too much. My problem with Natialie is that her comments are often not necessary. I point to the comment about how many times she's slowed down the Jive. She could have replied by telling Claude that due to Ricky's injuy's blah blah blah she did it to help him out blah blah blah instead she replied by telling us how many times she'd slowed it down and rolling her eyes. No one told her to reply like that she just did it. She need media training or she should make a pact with Ricky that he do all the talking during intertviews so that she doesnt stick her foot in her mouth again.

On the other highlighted point. The judges may have told Ricky he needs to show improvement but they still mark him very highly. In one sequence Ricky made mistakes in three out of four dances, Samba, Quickstep, Tango, Jive. IN that time he also got 39/40 for the quickstep but in the others he made mistakes but still never scored lower than 35. They tell him he needs to improve but why should he when they still score him highly. This week is the only week where the judges marked him down.

I like them as a couple, I think its a shame they're being given an easy ride to the final, but Natalie is a bit much she needs to lighten up.

I do agree that the judges need to more obviously penalise them for mistakes. There's nothing the audience finds more annoying than bad marks followed by good scores and vice-versa (although on a point of fact their samba got 32, not 35).

I was just thinking how early on in the series (before that run) he got told he needed to keep improving and they both would always talk about all the mistakes he'd made and it'd be greeted with a lot of eye-rolling on here because people thought it was obvious he wasn't making any significant errors. It's only really in recent weeks that "Ricky always makes mistakes" has become a thing that everyone agrees on.

The eye-rolling thing I honestly can't remember (rather conveniently...)

FFS what is there to dislike? The constant negativity on here is far, far worse than on any other "reality" forum. One of the reasons I rarely come on here any more.

Where's the fun?

You're right 32. My mistake.

Don't remember that either

Just wathced it again. In Tess' area after the jive she makes the comment and then pulls a bit of a face. OK I exagerated when I said she rolled her eyes but she definitely made the comment then definitely pulled a face.

I personally love Natalie and she is one of my favourite pros this year. She hasn't faded into the background this year or been afraid with herself or her choreography. And so what if she is competitive?! She was a regular competing ballroom dancer and in the dancing world you need to have the urge to win. If I was in SCD I would want a competitive, encouraging partner to make me want to strive to do better.

This is a show where talent and years of hard graft are disregarded because someone doesn't like your smile, your facial expressions or your particular style. You will be slated cos you're 'too thin', 'too fat', too competitive, pull 'funny' faces etc etc ad nauseum even one sentence you might have said that was printed in a tabloid paper 3 years ago is enough for some people to loathe you with a passion...

welcome to Britain, Natalie The land of the tolerant and easy going

Oh, see now that you mention it was to Tess I am getting a vague recollection of her being a bit of a moody cow afterwards. Ah well, nobody's perfect...

Chicken and egg.
She got Ricky who suffers from being perceived as a "big head" with a huge truck and possibly "starry" antics.
She witters on about her personal high standards rather than emphasising enjoyment.

So who has more potential to be disliked?
I'm not really bothered.
I thought her RnR was feeble though.
Anton mastered his new dance rather well by contrast.

Chicken and egg indeed.

She's obviously a competitive person but is she always this competitive or has the fact that her partner is, almost certainly, the best natural dancer of the celebs brought out every competitive instinct she has?

I'd like to see her back next year with a less talented partner to see what she does. Will she relax, bring her undoubted talents to the fore and get the best out of them? Or will we see a broken John Sergeant type in a heap on the rehearsal floor suffering from angina and a fractured neck of femur with Natalie towering over him cracking the whip shouting, "You WILL come up to my level!"?

Can I add that I don't think her ballroom choreography is impeccable at all? If we were talking about her in the context of a professional partnership, then absolutely yes. For a celebrity dancer? No. I think she does overcomplicated routines at a tempo which doesn't suit them - and given that she's said that she's said that she "doesn't believe" in beginner's level, I think we're just lucky that Ricky's by-and-large been a good enough dancer to be able to keep up with them.

Well I would love to see her back next year as I'd like to see how she would manage with a less capable partner. I have a feeling we would see more of her supportive side. Remember she took an OTT tongue lashing off Len because she tried to take the blame for Ricky, and I do think she would do the same for a less able partner.

I do think it's a shame that people seem to have taken a dislike to her but, if I remember correctly people loathed Erin with the same sort of passion. So who knows in 3 or 4 series time she could become one of the forums darlings, and we'll be reminiscing fondly on how she choreographed a glorious QS for the gifted Ricky Whittle.

TBH, I haven't seen her NOT being supportive. I've seen some of the series she's been in (Matt Shirvington, Ian Roberts, and Kouda) and her approach to all 3, of varying ability, has been pretty consistent. Ian was the worst dancer....very good trier....but pretty awful and he adored Natalie. He would get slated and he'd come back each week just really enjoying himself and praising her. People have made the remarks about Ricky bigging her up all the time, but her past partners have done the same so I don't think she's actually being more competitive just because she has Ricky. To me, she approaches each partner as if they are the best, regardless of their real ability.

I really don't understand this bashing of Natalie at all, I don't think she has come across as a strong personality, like Brian (who I also really like) but her choreography has and I loved their QS the most out of all the dances so far this series. I don't understand the hatred of her, and think her and Ricky get on brilliantly. I saw them in Liverpool just before the series began having photos taken with lots of people who were waiting and looking like they got on brilliantly. There's no way to win on here, as many others have said!

There are people on here looking for people to kick & tall, blonde Natalie fits the bill.

Personally I don't think she's any more competitive than any of the other dancers & I really like her.

She's made 2 choreography errors - jive too fast & the controversial lift in the AS, but apart from that I think she's a great dancer & teacher & I think she her disciplined approach is just what Ricky needs.

The dance off performance of their rock & roll was fantastic.