That's a lovely post.

I like Natalie well enough. A lot of the criticism of her personality (and otherwise) seems to me a bit lame and desperate and motivated by the fact that she's an obvious danger to other contestants winning (although I have doubts that she will win).

Her dancing speaks for itself.

I think she is smug but I like her the most of the girls.

Completely agree.

Natalie seems to me to be a straightforward, decent, hardworking woman who tries incredibly hard.

The 'smug' thing has just started to amuse me - it's the thing some people seem to say because it can be applied to virtually any tiny expression.

And it's a 'feeling' they have.

Goodness, yes, it's lame.

Yes, she can dance, that's for sure, but I don't get a thrill out of watching her. This is probably because she can already dance, which isn't her fault. She could be a perfectly nice person, but I don't know her so I can't say either way.

What is so wrong saying someone looks `smug` - especially when they have something to look smug about.

If I danced like Natalie I'd have a constant smug look on my face - day and night

The past 2 Mondays the losers have been asked who they wanted to win. The replies were Sophie she's a really good dancer and Abby she's a really good dancer, oh and so is Ashley. But no mention of Natalie at all! What's with that?

Nobody likes Natalie.

I doubt that it the case, however the others do have a lot to be envious of.

Perhaps they have been pre-warned not to say Natalie. I found it very odd given how friendly thew were that Rachel did not immediately say Abbey, she just sort of skirted round it by saying they are all good and deserve to win.

Yeah but they like who they like. Deborah and Rachel do know the other contestants and they connected to other people. That's their choice by instinct. You can't make anything of that

I want Patrick or Mark to win. But I'm not going to become alarmed or spy a plot because the outgoing contestants haven't mentioned their names!

But can't you see the problem in that?

She can dance like that because she has been trained to a very good standard already - I can't accept her as a valid contestant because of that.

I think she is lovely on screen and I am sure she is having a tough time from all the many vile remarks people are saying about her which she obviously hears or reads about.

She is a wonderful dancer and the show would be a real let down for me if she was not in it.

I hope she wins she is really the best dancer and that is what SCD is all about.

I like Natalie. Didn't read DS forums for the past two weeks because of my ban but if Natalie was getting a lot of unfair criticisms I'm sure the same can be said of Abbey, Susanna and Sophie.

Well said I hope she does not look in here and see some of things that are posted about her for effect.

That's given me more reason to dislike her. Nothing to do with her being a footballer's wife.
She is or was living the life of one.

well, you know how it goes. everyone else's criticisms are unfair, unwarranted, and probably a breach of the forum rules, if not the natural order, where as mine are justified, truthful, and probably inscribed on a tablet of stone somewhere.

I am shocked. I knew nothing about that and they call Peter a cheat. It looks as though she may have been the first to cheat in the relationship.

Its put me off her quite a bit...I didn't know much about her but it may be why she is not popular and ended up in the DO.I really was shocked tbh.

If I'm honest I have never taken to her, I have always felt she was one of those women desperate to be famous. Otherwise, why would she have married Peter Crouch Maybe because she couldn't grab a David Beckham?

It was 7 years ago. People change and they have obviously decided they want to be with each other.
Disliking her more because of an indiscretion not far off a decade ago is a bit daft imo. Ot have none of you evef done things in the past that you have moved on from since maturing and growing up?

Oh really, and yet she manages to top the poll with Artem as the most popular couple.

Luckily some of us in here can appreciate a great dancer, with a lovely vibrant personality.

True. 20 is a daft age for a lot of people. And, to state the obvious, cocaine does yer head in -- messes with the ability to sense an ordinary high and it makes people do reckless things.

I'm more impressed by her knowing that she's changed her life.

Yes it was years ago and she may have changed....or not, but seeing that report made me realise she maybe is not such a nice girl...if its in her nature to be so stupid and to commit over and over to cheating on someone then its foolish to think she may not do the same thing again. It just seems to me that she settled for Peter as second best. But what I was saying really was that now I see why she may not be that popular as it appears to be common knowledge even though it was not known to me.

Anyhow its probably best to get back on thread and discuss Natalie's personality...which seems infinitely more wholesome........says with fingers crossed

I agree - that said I've liked everyone this year - except Julien - yes even Vanessa has had her moments I loved her reaction to the waltz. I'm not sure about Abbey but I suspect it's because she's a girley girl and I'm really not rather than any character flaws on her part.