It's not a lack of training or performance, it's a lack of access to the London media scene, causing a lack of profile.

Did you not get that the first two times it was stated?

Exactly! I thought I was the only one who found Chris more cocky.

Sure, Chirs knows exactly how to play Humble Man of the Public: his very careful and pointed "thank yous" to the audience. Nice and all but still...

Whereas I think Ricky just seems a young lad who is finding his way on how to be with the public.

Chris is just so much smoother and has this huge PR thing going. G/f in PR?! I find it incredibibly smug and conceited to print your own silly catch phrase on a t shirt.

Well if they dont realise they have a problem by now they must be in denial. They have been in the dance off 2 weeks in a row and this time they cant blame their position on the leaderboard or someone elses coreography, for whatever reason (and I am sure there are different ones for different people) they are just not as popular as Ali and Chris and the only way they will win this is if Chris is dumped next week and there is a major shift of voting away from Ali. I feel sorry for them it is hard to know you are not popular and that being a good (not great in my view) dancer is not enough, but not sorry enough to vote for them I am afraid.

Natalie and Ricky should quit now with dignity - they cannot win and their only purpose now is to prevent the public's preferred dancer winning (Chris!).

Isn't that a bit sore loserish. Only worth competing if you'll win. I would not advice that. I'd say continue with dignity even though at the moment it appears to be a lst cause. Hold your head up guys. You'll be fine. I'd have more respect for that.

How cynical. I'm glad my mind doesn't work like that.

How dare he say thank you to the public! God, Chris, maybe yoi should just stop being so big headed and start yelling "We're back!" when you finish your dance.

My post was meant jokingly - but what I am saying is perfectly true. Ricky staying in the contest merely ensures Ali wins over Chris who will go out in next weeks dance off - that's the only role he plays.

Of course the fact that Ricky is always thank you so much to everyone is neither here nor there. They're all the same. They all want to win. Problem is with Ricky there is no sellign point, as of yet they need to create one. He seems too shy and private. With the other two there's the love story and the cheeky chappie respectively.

Ach its the exact thing that happened last year. The male cheeky chappy is going to win it again over better dancers.

Ah at least people knows what it takes to win strictly now, be male, be an alright dancer and wonder around with a self-satisfied look on your face quipping jokes or pulling faces. Glitterballs will be a-rollin.

have to agree - something about Natalie i just cant warm too

not sure if this is a word but theres no humbleness there- its all too cock-sure

The thing is, Ricky seems quite nice, Ali seems quite nice but there's nothing very interesting about them. Including their dancing. They can't match the best of the contestants of other series, who have been known to win me over with brilliant performances when I found them personally a bit dull. (Ramps, I'm looking at you!)

Lack of media profile? Ricky? Seriously?

All over every woman's magazine and, oh yes, the tiny elephant in the room that nobody seems to mention, the arrest. The latter may not have been good publicity but I think he's been much, much more in the media than any of the others.

Whilst they aren't on my shopping list I've noticed Ricky turning up on the cover of an awful lot of celebrity & women magazines of late, usually with no top on.

Haven't seen a topless Chris on any (or Ali for that matter mores the pity) .

He's hardly the victim of a media blackout.

There is.

Australian

I actually agree with this, but I did watch both dance. I thought the first dance there were a few errors overlooked at the beginning. The second dance was very good though

He hasn't improved. He's still getting the same scores now as he did week 1.

I'm not so keen on them because they consistently get over marked. He makes mistakes week after week, but doesn't get penalised for it. It's wrong!

I also find them dull to watch. They don't really connect, it comes across as an act. You're supposed to "feel the music "

there is no lack of media profile. He's been on the cover of most womens, and prob mens mags for that matter. Oh and he just happens to be topless.

Talk about doing anything to win.

The thing that keeps on coming across is that people just don't like them, and you can't put that aside and vote for someone if you feel that way, why would you?
He is the best dancer I believe that 100%, no question, but I'd never vote for him as I'm just not that keen.

I'd never vote for them as I cannot stand Natalie. I quite like Ricky, but she comes across as smug and conceited.

Plus she's Australian, one of the old sporting enemies. I wouldn't want an Aussie laying their hands on the Glitterball trophy when we've just managed to grab the ashes back off them!

But those magazines have nothing to do with Strictly. The only profile that counts with Strictly voters is whether he's on ITT or not. And he's not. He doesn't get any good VTs and hardly any time on the ITT sofa compared to the rest. I feel like I know as much about him as I knew about everyone else in week 1.

That made me laugh .Imagine how we Irish feel about the French right now . !!!!

I think Ricky and Natalie are a fantastic couple and do not understand the lack of support for them.I find him a really nice guy,never complains just gets on with the job...not to mention his dancing is brilliant..He is always supportive of the other couples,and takes criticism from the judjes well.Also the dislike for Natalie leaves me baffled....the girl is an amazing teacher ,and has not went down the tacky romance route to get votes unlike others.I know people can vote for who they like,but i really don't get the dislike for this couple.

he cant possibly win now dance off two weeks in a row and being top of the leader board


anyway its her i dont like theres something so desparate about her she seems to be doing it for herself rather than for him

i think they should get rid of her next year not coming across well at all

It's "has not gone".

And I don't think anyone has "gone down the tacky romance route". Since when is romance tacky? They're free to fall for whoever they like. Nobody has played up on it. Everybody who's actually had a romance has kept it very, very quiet.

Ricky is the best dancer. I don't think anybody on here can deny that - He's miles ahead of the rest. He may come across as a little dull (along with Ali) but his partner, Natalie, comes across as dislikeable. Given another pro partner he'd probably win but no chance with Natalie Lowe!