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Sergeant waltzes away from strictly
Last updated at 14:10pm on 19.11.08Former political journalist John Sergeant is pulling out of Strictly Come Dancing.
The 64-year-old has received strong support from the public despite constant criticism from the judges.
Waltz off: Sergeant has walked out of the reality show
Sergeant said in a statement: "The trouble is that there is now a real danger that I might win the competition. Even for me that would be a joke too far."
BBC1 controller Jay Hunt added: "We are very sad to see him go."
Earlier this week, Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips claimed that, instead of rehearsing, Sergeant "sits and reads the Guardian".
The veteran broadcaster came bottom of the score table for the third week in a row with dance partner Kristina Rihanoff but the pair were again saved by the public vote.
Phillips, who has been a fierce critic of Sergeant's performances, told the BBC: "There is nothing that is correct about his performance.
"His posture's wrong, his feet are turned in, he hasn't got the rise and fall, his head's on one side.
"In terms of dance, everything is wrong with it. When the performers and celebrities put hours in the studio they are constantly working. They do not sit down, and I know with John he sits and reads the Guardian.
"I think a lot of the time he and his partner spend fooling around.
"We've never had anyone this bad who has gone this far. It is a little bit disheartening when the public are voting for a non-dancing Mickey Rooney."
A string of groups were been set up on social networking website Facebook in support of Sergeant, who dropped as low as 16-1 with some bookmakers to win the competition.
But Phillips, 64, told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: "I personally would like to see him off the show. I would be desolate if he won."
Actress Cherie Lunghi last weekend became the ninth celebrity to leave the show, even though the judges praised her "breakthrough" performance.
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Reader views (8)
This is an ENTERTAINMENT show, it is NOT the olympics. The public were entertained, they voted for John Sargeant and enjoyed watching him. If the BBC are to teat contestants like this - rather the judges - then they shouldn't be o the panel. Yes the winner uusally gets lucrative things out of winning, but I think they have lost sight as to it being fun! If it gets more 64 years olds out there dancing then the programme would have done good!
I think the LEAST the BBC can do...is to bring him back as a 'surprise' on the final show and get him to do a short routine an dbe presented with a "gentleman dancer" trophy or something
- Jane Skillin, London
This is a real shame... this is an entertainment programme, which raises money for charity! The more people who vote the more money they raise... John was great entertainment and I, for one, was looking forward to seeing him attempt the Jive!
- Beverley, London
This is a dance competition after all -and even if he is entertaining, there should be no way that he should win the show. It would have made a mockery of the whole programme if he won it, which would have been possible with all this public support. You can't say the judges have done a hate campaign against him when they have only ever judged his dance talent -that is what they are there to do after all. Len gave him a 7 and Craig a 5 at the weekend -that's hardly being nasty to him is it?! And this much is true, he does NOT work as hard as all the other competitors -why should he be in the same league as them? It's time for him to go, that's for sure. However, even though I don't like him I don't think he should have stepped down of his own accord, that's a shame he felt he had to.
- Sarah, London
What is the point of having the public vote if the judges are forcing favourite contestants off the show with hate campaigns
- Danny Bennett, London England
Well I am really disappointed. It's a television entertainment for goodness' sake and everyone has started to take it far too seriously. John and Kristina were great fun to watch and this news has spoiled my day.
- Melinda, Guildford
I'm absolutely disgusted that John Sargeant has felt that he should leave this show...Why?...So what if he cannot dance? At least he makes it entertaining as opposed to watching a bunch of has been, fame hungry, clapped out desperados attempt to worm their way back into the public's affections!...The judges that have shamelessly launched a campaign to get him ousted typify exactly what they are - mediocre, fame seeking morons!
- Ali Sichilongo, London
This is an appalling shame and disenfranchises the voting public who, according to the rules, have the right to save whomever they wish. This establishes the dangerous precedent that the judges are now able to bully and affect the result of the competition if they do not agree with the public. If this were purely a dance competition then abolish the public vote and allow the judegs sole discretion. I would warrant that ratings would plummet as the inherent popularity of the show is that we the public decide.
I very much hope that for the sake of the thousands of people that have supported him and those that appreciate his and his partner's efforts, he reconsiders and reverses this travesty of a decision.
Shame on the judges who have contrived to force this situation and shae on those dancers who should remember that we do not watch the programme for them but for the celebrities who are the stars. John must stay because he has done no wrong.
- Manuel, London
The judges should be ashamed of themselves. John and Kristina played by the rules - yes, he's not the best dancer, but it was entertaining to watch. I know it's a dance competition, but if they don't want "oldies" to remain in the competion, long after they (the judges) feel they should've gone, then don't invite them on the programme!
Perhaps they should get rid of the dance-off and go back to being voted off by the public - I wonder if Cherie would have left if that was the case - Cherie's cha cha was FAR better than Lisa's salsa!
- Sarah, Enfield
