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People power thwarts the Strictly Come Dancing judges
Robert Mendick17 Nov 2008
SO farewell then, Cherie Lunghi, you have performed your last waltz. For like those who have gone before you on Strictly Come Dancing, you have fallen victim to People Power, voted off the BBC1 programme last night despite not being the worst dancer on the series.
That accolade, of course, goes to the excruciatingly awful John Sergeant, the 64-year-old former journalist, who is so bad the nation has grown to adore him.
Ugly, fat, balding and a terrible dancer he may be, but Sergeant has made us all smile and laugh each week. And that is a precious commodity in these credit crunch-hit times.
So while the judges continue to give him - and by some distance, bottom marks - we the licence-fee payers have exercised our right to vote to keep Sergeant and his voluptuous dance partner Kristina Rihanoff in the competition.
Strictly's electoral system - and who better to understand it than a former political reporter - is designed to reflect both the tastes of the panel of judges and the viewers at home in equal measure. Each contestant receives half their total votes from the judges and the other half from the public.
Now, normally in Strictly we are guided by the collective expert eyes of the Gang of Four judges (Craig, Arlene, Len and Bruno, since you ask). Not this series, however. I suspect I'm not alone when I admit I can't tell a foxtrot from a quickstep. But when Sergeant dances, I know he's dreadful. It's just that he is too lovable and too entertaining to vote off.
As the series has progressed, the judges have grown ever angrier at their inability to get him removed from the competition. And as they get angrier, we, the public, are ever more determined to vote to protect him from their wrath.
The judges have tried everything. Two weeks ago, they were downright horrid. Craig gave him one point and stated afterwards he would have given zero if he had had the number on his score card. The public reacted in the way they know best - by voting for Sergeant in their droves.
Then this weekend, the judges tried a softly, softly approach, declaring the American Smooth his best dance but still ranked Sergeant bottom. That didn't work either.
Instead, he will dance again. How long he can keep his fabulous run going has become a matter for urgent debate. In the Mendick household, my wife is convinced he will be voted out once we get to the last few remaining talented contestants. I am not so sure. Like in politics, elections are all about momentum and Sergeant, who knows about such things only too well, is being swept along on a popular tide of goodwill.
So far, thanks to us, Sergeant has avoided the dance-off that would surely seal his fate. Instead, it is Miss Lunghi, at 56 the possessor of still-extraordinary legs, who has gone home. Light on her feet, elegant and expressive, she was pretty decent at ballroom. But she couldn't make a nation smile. And for that she had to go.
Reader views (20)
If the public voted which of the ''Judges''should go or stay..then they would all lose their overpaid jobs for just being ''up themselves'' Bring it on I say!
- Joyce Smith, Horsham---West Sussex, 19/11/2008 13:12
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people like john has shown that anyone can take up dancing without having to be fit and slim, he has made so many people watch this show that the judges should remember who pay their vast wages before they slag off the public its our fee paying that allows them to have air time and if they dont like the public having their say perhaps their the ones that should be voted off.
- Andy Wilkins, chippenham wiltshire, 18/11/2008 20:01
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keep voting for john!!! He is awful but so what!! People power counts!! They justify this show on the back of the public phone vote and then the so say experts are apalled by the decision!!! If their was no phone vote and the panel decided who left each week they would have struggled to complete a second term!! You take our money so put up with it!!!
- Steve Clarke, bristol england, 18/11/2008 18:27
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Well done John and Kristina, keep on entertaining! John is anabassador for 'us non dancers' . He at least has a go. The vitriolic and nasty attacks on him arise from pure envy.
I watch TV for entertainment not for 'serious dancing' instruction.
When we get to the last four couples, could we vote off one of the 'non entity' panelists.
- Poynton Pete, Poynton, Cheshire, 18/11/2008 18:16
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Much as I like John it was a shame to see Cherie go. Her legs on Saturday were good to look at.
- Robin Gillard, Northampton, 18/11/2008 17:31
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John could build a glittering new career for himself following this triumph, filling the entertainment void left by the likes if Richard Hearne (Mr. Pastry) and Max Wall!
I can't wait!
- Ron Mortlock, London England, 18/11/2008 13:50
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I would not say that John Sergent was only picked for entertainment value. It was not until they started they found out he could not dance.
I think the first few weeks you want the underdog to come through, but now at this stage of the competition, and regardless to other comments here. they go into this knowing it is a DANCE COMPETITION, I think enough is enough and they should be voted off next week.
As for those of you who slate the programme without watching, how do you know it is rubbish.
- E Sullivan, London, 18/11/2008 10:10
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The public is overriding the 'experts' something the politicians fear. Life would be so neat and tidy if it wasn't for the great unwashed and their untutored, 'off message' culture.
- Dave Morris, Sunderland, 18/11/2008 08:36
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It's not funny - never has been. He's a smugly smiling hand on hip old geezer who just loves to get his mits on a lovely young gel, eh what!
Don't overdo things John; think of your ticker...
- Croydongeorge, Croydon, UK, 17/11/2008 21:04
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If the judges are so adamant that this is a serious 'Dance Competition' and should be treated as such...why did they allow John Sergeant (a portly gentleman with no co-ordination) to enter in the first place?
For entertainment value, that's why! Sergeant is clearly delivering this week on week and thats the reason he sails through each round! The BBC are therefore getting exactly what they wanted and should stop abusing the poor bloke!
- Richard, London, 17/11/2008 17:14
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Watching washed up so called celebs dancing week in week out is the most dullest thing you could watch on tv. Its about as dull as watching them go for a dump Those judges are also a bunch of fools.
I'll let Brucie off though as he is a legend, still don't watch it though....
- Anon, London, 17/11/2008 16:28
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I am starting to get annoyed at everyone trying to make out this show is a serious dance competition. First and foremost it is an Entertainment show. That's why they use novice celebrities and not ALL professional dancers. I'm voting for John in future now that my favourite has left.
- Joanne, Walsall, West Midlands, 17/11/2008 15:58
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Once again, proof that we champion the underdog and the mediocre.......which explains why this government is still in - just.
- Eddie K., Teddington, Middx. UK, 17/11/2008 15:24
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John Sergeant was asked by the production team to Enter Strictly come dancing for the ENTERTAINMENT FACTOR.And that is exactly what he has given,Entertainment, by the Bucketful.Get real all you so called Judges you have what you wanted entertainment and a fat pay cheque.The paying public love John and if there is any justice He will WIN He gets my vote every week simply because he makes me smile and entertains me.Is'nt that the whole Idea of the show? And you can tell he's enjoying himself and not taking himself at all seriously .Many thanks John
- Mr Strictly Dancer, Faraway Land, 17/11/2008 14:33
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Sergeant will get voted off once he's in a dance off in the bottom two! That will be it then - finally! This is a DANCE contest, not a popularity context!
The whole thing's ludicrous!
- Joyce, London, 17/11/2008 14:07
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Much fuss in the media over this. Solution is simple - let the judges vote (as the experts) on each dancer then allow the public to ring and vote on the bottom four only.
- Eddie, London, 17/11/2008 13:56
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The Yorkshire pudding encouraging us to vote for the couple we would like to see next week,the unnecessary rudeness of the judges,the partisan comments of Forsyth,the OTT language of the luvvies praise,the narcissm of several "personalities" all good reasons for voting for John Sergeant
- Willy Heckaslike, leicester uk, 17/11/2008 13:19
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I have never voted in any of these silly programmes.It is just another way of getting money out of the licence payer.And for Gods sake its only a bit of fun for over paid celebs,How ever I will vote for John to keep him in and to get him to win!Just to show those over ego over tanned (and Im talking the male dancers here)type from winning.Good luck John
- Selwyn Channon, epsom, 17/11/2008 13:11
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What a pile of cack this show really is
zzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Up the X Factor even though that show is starting to lose its appeal now the best two singers are out
- Brucie Da Ducie, London, 17/11/2008 13:00
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"Ugly"?! They said that of Danlel Graig, too: Go Sock It To 'Em John!!
- Roz, Chamonix, France, 17/11/2008 12:54
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