do you think that Ricky's lack of interviews on ITT and other programmes (like Paul O'Grady for example) have contributed to his lack of public support??
After just watching him on breakfast i have just realised how little we know about him.

He was on POG a couple of weeks ago. And I guess it's the fact he's training in Liverpool that creates a bit problem in terms of ITT. Though you'd think the BBC would have a plan in place for that; he's not the first to train far away from London.
I think it's had some affect but not hugely. Not even a quarter of Strictly viewers watch ITT. Though I follow him on Twitter and I still don't feel like I know a lot about him, except that he likes Nando's. He could have used stuff like that (and do what Carol did with CarolCam) to interact with the public more. I do think the BBC could have done more pre-recorded interviews with him, like the one with James this week.

Possibly. Some characters don't need it - Phil wouldn't have done - but I think Ricky needs every opportunity to try and show some personality - which I am sure is there somewhere. When he is front of the training cameras his comments are soooo dull and repetitive (but most are by this stage). I do think we need discussion with him, proper questions, and that only comes through ITT coverage.

I definitely think it will have had an impact, but impossible to say how much. Less coverage = less opportunity to develop a character and story.

I also agree there's some truth in this. It's inevitable ITT viewers will engage more with the couples they see more of on the show. even if thats (ITT viewers) a small proportion of viewers, its still pretty significant in the grand scheme, because I think ITT viewers tend to be the more avid fans, and the ones more inclined to vote maybe.

I have interest in this, because I am really not a RW fan, and have tried not to fall into the anti-ricky thing, because I genuinely have no reason not to like him - so being an ITT-lover, this could well be a big part of the reason for me.
Last edited by milmol : 11-12-2009 at 09:40

I don't think it's anything like as big a factor as his dismal failure to develop an annoying catch phrase and get the right promotional t-shirts printed.

Can someone tell me when Ricky is absent from ITT, as I haven't noticed, or rather can't tell the difference.

the only time he's normally on is a Friday when he travels down to London

He tried with the Superman pants and the producers ignored them. It's their fault as much as his

The fool...he should have worn them on his head accompanied by random ejaculations of 'up, up and away' at regular intervals.

Ricky has a lot to learn about what makes a successful RTV campaign.

Ricky has been on Paul O'Grady I didnt watch it so dont know how they came across.

I think their absence on ITT has been a problem and I would like to know why there hasnt been an interview by video feed or taped earlier every week. In series 5 Letitia had to start Panto rehearsals in Nottingham before she was eliminated and Darren went to train with her and we have film of them complete with an interview (which I think was live if I remember correctly) There has been mention on the forum of Carol Smilie having a web cam with her in Glasgow when she was on the show.

I do wonder if there have been some problems between the BBC and Channel 4 over this with some contractural issue with Hollyoaks or something, I have no idea how these things work.

Ofcours a weekly interview on ITT may have taught us nothing new about them anyway, but we will never know.

Team Nittle, Team Nicki. Scenes of Natalie whipping him into shape literally. Or if they had even pursued the luv interest or strung the audience along. So many options and these duds went for hard work, not making a fuss and learning to dance. It’s like they set out to fail.

To borrow a phrase:

I don't think it's anything like as big a factor as his dismal failure to display an engaging personality and form a connection with the audience.

But then, judging by this forum at least, the far bigger problem is his partner's shortage of engagingness.

Aside from the feeble lack of an effective marketing strategy, it seems clear to me that Ricky should have focussed far more time and effort on developing Natalie's personality...in pursuit of that vital but elusive audience 'connection'.

If he did that, I'd definitley pick up the phone to vote for him and I'd do so, at least, twice!

What are the viewing figures for ITT? I can't imagine it makes that much of a difference.

Most people I know watch the Saturday show but aren't that bothered that they'll tune in to BBC Two every week night (I do, but then I'm on a forum discussing the show).

I think an issue with Ricky could be that he's trying so hard (and succeeding) to connect with Natalie that the audience seems to be behind the fourth wall. Instead of being let in to Ricky's performance, we're usually just watching it - we're purely the audience, we're almost there to judge, but not to be entertained. When something like this happens, then the audience will be more critical because of the judgemental characteristics of the couple's/public relationship.

In comparison, Chris and Ola rely more on the public and their connection with them than the technical abilities of each dance (not that they don't focus on them, reading some threads you'd think he just reads a paper during training all day ) - which means the audience are welcomed and accepted as being part of the dance, as being connected with it, to be entertained by it more than being judged. The audience approach is less judgemental and more relaxed because of it.

This is just an opinion, and just putting out the reason why I feel I'm not enjoying Ricky's dancing - he's seems a perfect gentleman off the dance floor.

He's got no story anyway. He hasn't been on a journey. There's no ladette/lad to lady/Lord story or hunk finds emotions or obvious improvement. He hasn't had the judges saying how bad he is. He isn't a bad dancer so he doesn't have to explain why he is still there. He hasn't done a funny dance so they can't discuss how funny he is or who had the idea .He hasn't got Ola bossing him into shape. He's not in a romance with his partner. His partner isn't well known or funny. He hasn't been taken to hospital with injury. Nor did he want to go to Blackpool. Problem is he's up against a male who has half a dozen of those stories.

Instead he's just got the same story - Ricky trying hard again, did well again, did a bit less well, did well again.

That's part of it but it's more than that.

Austin didn't have a story last year. Ability wise, Austin's story was exactly the same as Ricky's (see above).

However, what Austin did have was Tom. Two very different geezers competing against each other innit? Captures the public's imagination and gives each personable young man another dimension to bounce off just in case their own scintillating personality wasn't quite enough. Okay, we might think that both Austin and Tom had a bit more about them last year than Ricky does but who knows what Ricky might have done with a sparring partner?

It's not a new idea. Matt v Gethin was dreamed up in series 5. There, the marketing ploy was just as obvious and you could add that neither guy looked a natural at the start. Genius! Marketing dream!

Ricky has found himself in a unique position this year. He's flying the flag for the boys in terms of ability and he's had nobody who's really even come close for story's sake. he started good, he has no-one to bounce off, he's not on the spot, he's not a natural comedian and he's not had any traumatic happenings except those that may have been of his own making. It's really not the dreams of a Hollywood scriptwriter.

He may not have had as much ITT exposure as the rest, he may not be the most naturally jumpy bean in the bunch and he may not have the cuddliest pro partner of them all but even at the start of this campaign, did Ricky Whittle just have too much to do?

Maybe just too good.
I loved Ramps but I'm not sure if I thought from the start that he'd be awesome (at some stuff). So it was a surprise when he blossomed.

But Ricky has no "journey". He almost came across as a bit of a pro from the start. His quality was obvious.

Maybe if he were dancing on a broken leg???????

I think this a really good and insightful post and must admit the lack of a comparable rival for Ricky to develop a narrative had never occurred to me.

Maybe Rav was originally cast by the BBC with the intention of being Ricky's rival but, unfortunately, his dancing wasn't up to much. But, instead of coming up with an alternative storyline, the producers just ignored Ricky to the extent of almost airbrushing him out of the programme where the fanboys and fangirls get their fix.

Ricky has acknowledged this, in a lighthearted aside, that his dad gets more coverage than he does - jokey but he must know that what's happened has not been equitable.

It is easy to work out what the BBC tactic is here and that is to make sure their man wins by cutting back on the exposure of the best Dancer. This is the same tactic that is used on loads of similar shows. It is all in the edit.

Team Cola to win who says so the BBC do they are editing the non live elements of the show to suit their own agenda.

Technically - he is since he broke it a few years ago and the steel rod is still in the tibia.

John Barnes suffered the same lack of exposure and imo suffered for it. Anyone could be forgiven for thinking that Liverpool is in the outer stretches of the universe.

but it does seem to me that team Cola get inordinate amounts of coverage on ITT at the expense of people like Ricky.

I know his work schedule is toughest of all of them, but I think he has really suffered because of the lack of airtime he's had because the GBP haven't seen enough footage to work out he actually is a nice guy.

Shame on the BBC.

I love Ola but, to be honest, I'm really bored with the endless 'look how cute we are in training' footage

I am beginning to think the BBC want them to win and usually I loathe any kind of speculation or conspiracy theory rubbish.