We love Neighbours, Home & Away
Mel Gibson, Nicole KIdman, Dame Edna, Rolf Harris
Craig Revel-Horwood


So is Natalie Lowe the exception?!!

Brits love Aussies probably about as much as Aussies love Brits!

It's always a contest whether it's dancing or cricket...

Whilst I dont agree with sterotypes at all and look at people individually I do think there is a different culture in Australia. I recently watched two versions of the same show (reality type) one set in America and one set in Australia. The contestants on the Australian version were absolutely cut throat and noticibly more competative than the US version. There were 2 people from the American show on the Australian version and they were quite taken aback by the attitude of some of the contestants.

You forgot Cate Blanchet, surely the finest woman known to man.

Not sure I'm that keen on Mel Gibson anymore, what with one thing and another. Other than that, they're all good, and you could probably add in Kylie for good measure.

A bit more of competitiveness wouldn't hurt in the UK version.

I don't care for the "Oh we're all one big happy family going on this journey together" rubbish.

I don't know about Brits "always" loving Aussies, it surely depends on the individual. However - what on earth is wrong with Natalie Lowe???? She seems perfectly charming to me and an excellent dancer/teacher.

She's actually treating it as a competition that she would quite like to win!

It's just not British!

I'm not as averse to Natalie as I was initially.

She's learning that the British judges and audience are looking for different things to their Australian counterparts.

Our head judge prefers content over gimmicks. And as an audience we tend to prefer our couples to downplay their chances whilst the Aussies might like to see overt competitiveness and ambition.

It's all about adapting and I sense Natalie is gradually learning to tailor her routines and toning herself down the to give the judges and the viewers over here what they want.

What is wrong with Natalie? She seems perfectly charming to me and what is wrong with wanting to win, all the pros want to win, probably more than the celebs

She is one of the best imported pros.

I know a few aussies and so far all of them have been very pleasant. Better than a lot of the people who come on here to spew venom on everything and anything.

Its not that she's competitive; all the pros are competitive. Its the little comments that she makes and the little things that she does; like almost jumping for joy when they went thru to the semis on Saturday instead of offering her condolences to the emilinated couple. Its things like that.

EDIT: Charming is one thing she most certainly is not.

He was born in America.

OP wins the 'wrongest thread title of the day' award.

I've got family in Australia, so have visited a lot. Without wanting to stereotype, there are cultural differences. Aussies tend to be more open and more competitive than Brits. Subtlety and cynicism is lacking in their sense of humour, so it is more of a "what you see is what you get", so Natalie will have to have got used to some of the nuances of the British pysche in terms of humour and competitiveness. However, I don't think she has much of a sense of humour anyway, and has pushed Ricky so hard that he seems to have been dulled a bit, and its all become about the dancing. If she returns as a pro I think we'll warm to her, or her to us. However I don't think she's come across that well. Canadian culture is probably more similar to British, and Katya was teamed with Phil, so she has made a better impression, and Aliona went out pretty early.

Maybe she would think you came into the category of less than charming.

I thought that, jumping up and down is just not the done thing

So is jumping up and down and squealing when the public save you ok (when you're standing there with two people who have just been put in the dance-off), but it's not ok when the judges do it?

Not that I remember her jumping up and down. And she did go over and console Laila, in fact Bruce had to shoo her off so that he could interview her and Anton.

Exactly, in the heat of the moment she was excited that she and Ricky were in the semi, it's no different a reaction to any of the couples that squeee with joy that they are safe.

Immediately after that she was offering her commiserations to the others.

I hate Nicole Kidman and Mel Gibson, but they're practically American so it's OK to dislike them

Natalie's really not so bad; it'd be totally boring if we were all the same. I like the contrast of her steel against, for example, Ola's cutesy fluffiness and Erin's coolness.

I still don't think she is anything like as competetive as Katya .. she used to throw stuff at poor Phil

I have no hostitility towards Katya (why would I anyway?) but what you posted is another example of pros we've seen being a lot more competitive and apparently unlikable. We've had Katya yelling Phil, Ola at Chris quite badly sometimes, The Very Suspicious VW Bump, Brian at Ali and Laila at Anton then Anton says of Laila: "I feel like the cat who's got the cream" (see Monday's ITT) and yet when Natalie (who's come across quiet more than anything) does some kind of dilute or dreamed up version of the above she needs to be burned at the stake? Excusemewhat? I think some people are freaking out too much on these forums. I just watched the dance-off result: there was no jumping for joy but what I did see was a crossing of fingers in hope. Like other couples who go through I expect her to be excited about it. As posted above she did console Laila for so long she had to sprint off as Bruce closed in. Some people just take it way over the top with her.

I'm sorry, why do you think this means you can comment on me?

I've posted a comment based on the thread title and a couple of other posts. Have I insulted her in this thread? I've merely pointed out why I'm not too keen on her. I dont see why you have to make a personal comment about me.

They did so much jumping up and down that it was Laila and Anton who approached them and not the other way round. Thats why Bruce had to shoo her off.

After the disatrous Tango that amazingly received 35 out of 40 she said that she'd like to be in the dance off so they could do it again. I acknowledge she was probably joking but, does anyone find that funny? Its things like that

You couldnt be more wrong, she jumps in deserved delightedness, hugs Ricky, then immediately goes to commiserate Laila and Anton...giving a very warm hug to Laila. She also states in the post-DO interview they would be missed.

What do you want her to do, fall to her knees in front of Anton and scream to the judges 'save them, we are not worthy'?

I can understand some people dont like her personality or whatever but reasons like that are really unfair. All the pros who get saved in the DO celebrate in their own way and deservedly so.