Don't get me wrong her and Ricky are good dancers, but there is absolutely zero chemistry between them. She comes across as focused, but as dull as ditch water:yawn:
Compare the ITT training routine clips to any of the other contestants, D - U - L - L

There are already plenty of threads slagging Natalie off. Was there really a need to create a new one?

Much like Ricky! I think that is the problem with them - another partnership and their personalities may have been brought out. Karen brought out Marks personality but I don't think Natalie would have done, if you know what I mean. Natalie would have had her personality shown more if she had been with someone more outgoing - perhaps a Darren Gough, I'm not sure.

I do think they are both really nice people but, in interviews, I just want to go to sleep - and I feel bad for feeling that way because they are so nice!

Well she's a professional dancer, on a show that's supposed to be about the celebrities.
I think that's how they see it in other countries. I think she tries to take a step back, and not dominate the coverage.

I haven't watched the others - that could well be a fair point.

Has Ali?

Is there? where abouts?

I can't see any.

The OP has a point, I can't remember her saying anything remotely interesting or funny at all.

and does it matter the programmes not called Strictly Come Funny

Yes, lets have all light entertainment progs filled with functional, focused, bland and rather dull people shall we?

you may well roll your eyes but to me it doesn't matter if the professional dancer is "funny" or "interesting" I'm more interested in the celebrities ability to dance

Leaving any particular couples aside........can you imagine how dire it would be....16 couples with no personalities or natural wits or tantrums

Well, for sure - but personality is undeniably an ingredient.

It does matter to some SCD viewers though, unlike for example Dancing on Ice where its all about the celebrity really, the strictly pros have become as much celebrities as the people they are teaching, they are an integral part of the show and I am pretty sure that some people would have been put of Fred Astaire if they didnt like Ginger Rogers too. A dancing couple is a package and for some viewers that package has to be right or it doesnt work for them.

I'd rate her about as funny as Ola was last year...and about as interesting as most of the pros are most years.

Maybe they could get Peter Kay in for her next year would that make up for her perceived lack of personality

Peter Kay?? I thought we were on about fun personalities?

That would suit me I love Peter Kay, if he couldnt get her to lighten up then no-one could.

Isn't it all just in the editing? Ola was charmless and humorless last year and this year seems like a changed person. Mind you - I think it is easier to come across more fun when your celeb isn't the best as there isn't much pressure to come out on top. I loved Nat's relationship in the aussie dwts with Ian Roberts even though he was the WORST dancer...ever. Found this transcript from him about Natalie:

"For the first 6 months of this year I was involved in the show 'Dancing with the Stars' on Channel Seven, I can't tell you, it was quite possibly the best time of my life.

I mean the whole run of the show, and my partner Natalie Lowe who is actually an angel without wings, she has more patience then any other doctor I know but we were together basically everyday for 16 weeks I mean everyday rehearsing from up to four hours to times 12 hours because I was so terrible.

You could take it as seriously as you wanted, but at the end of the day the most gratifying thing for me and that whole process of that show was that we weren't kept in for any other reason than the audience where kind of saying 'oh god he's friggin terrible that bloke, isn't he, but he has a go and he always looks like he's enjoying himself'. I can honestly say that I did because I don't think there was a time I didn't burst out like laughing through the routine or if I missed a step it was funny to me because I was just like 'Nat I'm so sorry, I can't get this bloody thing right'.

We kept getting voted back in and it was almost like it got to a point where it was like for me personally it was like well you know it's almost like the general public were saying 'yeah mate, ok I'm not real happy on the way you choose to live your life', if they where saying that at all, 'but you know mate your giving it a go and I give you that you seem to be enjoying yourself'. Personally it was like the greatest reward, I mean to get right there to the final and then not just sell out to one of those stereotypes for cheap laughs."

The one thing that would make me switch Strictly off.

I agree with both of you- she is taking the step back to allow Ricky to come forward into the spotlight.

She hasn't been my favourite pro this year (and actually I did mind about her winning in her first series but I've got over that now!) but she has been growing on me over the last few weeks and I think she is doing her best to showcase Ricky.

I think that the VT's always show them working hard but they do seem to be enjoying themselves. OP have you thought that she might be shy- she is very softly spoken also and may not feel as comfortable in interviews as some of the others

FGS can we not just have some positive threads now please!

We only get to see what the BBC choose to show us ...

[quote=FelineFantastic;37208881]I agree with both of you- she is taking the step back to allow Ricky to come forward into the spotlight.

She hasn't been my favourite pro this year (and actually I did mind about her winning in her first series but I've got over that now!) but she has been growing on me over the last few weeks and I think she is doing her best to showcase Ricky.

I think that the VT's always show them working hard but they do seem to be enjoying themselves. OP have you thought that she might be shy- she is very softly spoken also and may not feel as comfortable in interviews as some of the others

FGS can we not just have some positive threads now please![/QUOTE]

Yes, she's positively bland

As are the numerous anti-Natalie/anti-Ricky threads. If you really think she hasnt said anything interesting or funny for the entire series, why feel the need to talk about it? Surely there are more interesting/funny things for you to talk about?

Errrrrm nope