Sergeant waltzes away from strictly

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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.