'Cos Ricky had all the personality of a dust mote on camera?

Natalie's done a good job with what she's had to work with, and she doesn't go crazy to get attention like some others we could name (no, I'm not thinking of Aliona). I still think her jive with Scott was a better and more memorable dance than just about anything Matt and Aliona did last year - and that's despite being a huge fan of Matt and not at all of Scott.

I don't really like the partnership with Audley, although I think that's simply because he can't dance at all. Nothing wrong with the concept of the routines, the choreography or his self-belief, which are all the areas Natalie can influence, so she must be doing something right. And as others have said, not once has her head gone down this year when faced with the biggest duffer of the series bar Nancy.

EDIT: Forgot to mention how much I like Natalie's ballroom dancing and that fantastically graceful top line. It might be heresy but I'd rather watch her than Erin

I've always thought Natalie was very sweet and she's definitely one of the best choreographers among the pros. Natalie, Pasha, Artem and Kristina are my top pros this year, in that order - atlhough I suspect Kristina's low placement is more because Jason irritates me than because of any problem with Kristina.


^^^ Agree with this competely! I have a feeling that's part of the reason why Denise Lewis didn't beat Jill Halfpenny - because the voting viewers didn't like her competitiveness. And I'm saying this as a fan of Jill, who is still one of my all-time favourite Strictly contestants.


Remember watching Natalie dancing with Ian in the pro dances in her first series? They were sublime together!

My favourite pro.

I've always liked her. I think she's very supportive and she seems like a genuinely nice person.

I warmed to her from day one of the first series (that she took part). I think she's an elegant determined performer who always seems to want the best for her celeb (and usually does well with content filled routines). Plus she's pretty and uber fit!

Feels weird that I'm using the description of content more than I have with any previous series of Strictly.

natalie has always been my fav female pro ever since she joined in(closely followed by Katya). Fantastic choreographer, I'm still saddened tat Ricky and her didn't win. Scott's tango last year was amazing and refreshing.
I do hope she stays a bit longer...but....guess you can't teach natural talent

They were wonderful weren't they

I think she's lovely and always have. I never understood the dislike towards her especially as it was based mainly on her being 'competitiive' - they all are!

Giving her Audley has done her wonders- she seems a lot less serious this year- she doesn't seem to mind having someone who isn't a great dancer, like I thought she might.

I love Natalie - she's been my favourite pro since her first year, but I've really enjoyed seeing a different side to her this year and seeing people warm to her.

Although I preferred her with Scott and Ricky (so many standout routines), I think she's been brilliant with Audley and definitely got the best out of him - I expected him to be the first to go!

I was never her fan of hers but she is showing far more warmth this year with a less able partner

I could be wrong but I think ballroom is her speciality whereas aren't most of the other pros Latin specialists?

Yes, I think you are right but, unlike Erin & Anton, her Latin is also very good.

Itotally agree with everythig said ,Think Natalie is fantastic and miss her amazing partnership with Ian Waite,Some of the best and inspired pro dancing.

lovely girl, great dancer and teacher but strange looking!

sorry to be shallow

Yeah me too! Wasn't very keen on her at all the last 2 series, but I love the way she's working with Audley. Has been great to see how hard she's worked with not such a good dancer after Ricky & Scott!

I agree, she is an all rounder. I don't think Erin's Latin is that bad though.

Have always liked Natalie and enjoyed her routines. Loved her Jive and VW last year with Scott.

She must do something right with her partners as she seems to have been fairly successful in the Australian version of SCD as well.

I like Natalie and think she's one of the best female pros.

She's becoming bearable and Aliona is taking her place as completely annoying now.

And this comes from a big Matt and Aliona fan from last year.

Completely adore Natalie, she is amazing and i agree that it has been good to see her with a less accomlished dancer. She has said on twitter she is having the time of her life, she obviously loves what she does, would love to see her win next series.

She is a great choreographer and an excellent teacher. She shows great patience with her celebrity partners and produces great choreography to showcase them to their best ability. I also miss her pro dances with Ian but I had privilege to see them perform exhibition dances at a charity event earlier this year, the dances that night were spectacular.

She has always been my favourite since her partnership with Ricky. Fabulous dancer and choreographer.

Wasn't keen when she started. She seemed very "needy", but time passes, and she was BRILLIANT in the Pro-Tour, (both dancing and personality) and since then I've become quite a fan.

JJ

Completely agree. I just could not warm to her in the first 2 series, she always came across *to me* as smug (having drawn "contenders") and I also felt she made the routines about her rather than her talented partner. However this year when she has someone who clearly isn't a contender she is coming across much better, the smugness has disappeared and I am indeed warming to her.

As for Aliona, last year I didn't understand all the criticism she was getting on here. This year I get it!

I think the reason a lot of people didn't like Natalie to start off with (including me) was due to a remark she made on ITT - think she was with Ricky. She asked Claudia whether anyone had ever gotten a 10 in the first week