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He's Strictly lazy, says Arlene in ballroom blitz on Sergeant
Danny Brierley17 Nov 2008
STRICTLY Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips today renewed her attack on shuffling contestant John Sergeant.
She accused the journalist, 64, and his partner, Kristina Rihanoff, of "fooling around" when they should be practising. Phillips also claimed he sat around reading the Guardian when other contestants worked on their routines for hours at a time.
The reporter again finished bottom of the judges' rankings on Saturday but was put into the next round by a public vote that saw actress Cherie Lunghi, an early favourite, dumped out.
Sergeant and Rihanoff scored 25 out of 40 points for their version of American Smooth.
Their routine was greeted with rapturous applause from the studio audience but given only lukewarm responses from the judges, including Phillips who called it "more Mickey Rooney than Fred Astaire" .
Sergeant's popularity with the TV audience has angered the panel, who feel it makes a mockery of the show.
Phillips told BBC breakfast news today: "There is nothing that is correct about his performances, he is just getting through the dances.
"In terms of dance everything is wrong with it - his posture, his movement, the position of his head.
"We are now in week nine and by week nine a lot of the performances and celebrities are doing brilliant things that you could not have believed they were capable of in week one.
"When they (the celebrities) put hours in the practice studio they are constantly working. They do not sit down, and I know with John he sits and reads the Guardian. A lot of time he and his dance partner spend fooling around. A lot of them are non-stop practising. If we're saying that it's about personality, why don't the girls just throw off their clothes and the boys do a comedy routine? Is that going to help?"
Phillips fears the future of the BBC1 show is being put at risk by the wave of public support for Sergeant, who has been labelled by others as a "dancing pig in Cuban heels". "I hope this does not go on to the final. I have not seen the figures but there must be legions of people voting for John," she added.
"If we are not true to ourselves and absolutely honest at that moment, in time people will see through us and it's like we are all playing a game.
"Our criteria is to judge it as a dance competition."
Meanwhile, bookmakers have seen a surge in betting on Sergeant, leaving former model Jodie Kidd as the rank outsider who must now be fearing for her place. The previously unfancied foxtrotter's odds have tumbled from 66/1 to 16/1, making him a real contender to win the ballroom contest.
Rupert Adams of William Hill said: "Just a couple of days ago it was science fiction to think Sergeant had a hope of winning but he is proving to be the most popular contestant in the programme's history and he now has to be considered a genuine contender."
Reader views (13)
Why do these judges not realise that this an entertainment programme.
They do not like John's performance but the public does like it.
Who are they to tell us what we should watch ?
- Bernard Parke, GUILDFORD, 18/11/2008 11:25
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As this is a talent contest then it should be judged as such and if the public cannot vote according to the talent, then we should take the vote away from the public and give it back to the professionals. This is not big brother where you vote for your favourite talentless person, it is a dancing competition!
- Katy, Waltham Cross, 18/11/2008 10:45
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We had a similar farce with public voting in Ireland, where John Aldridge (ex Liverpool footballer) won a TV charity singing contest without having a note in his head.
His "popularity" saw him through...sounds like we need two types of these contests in future (if we need them at all), with one catering to the "popular" celebrities who can't do what they're supposed to (either before or during the competition) -the public would love it !
- Mick C, Dublin, Ireland, 18/11/2008 08:50
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Mr Sergeant has dignity and integrity, which is more than can be said for the judges whose rudeness to him is unacceptable.
The decent thing for Mr Sergeant is to continue to take part in the show as it is clearly what the public want. The judges may be experts in dance but they are total failures at realizing that the British Public cannot be pushed or led to do anything it does not want. Especially by a group of judges who make cold suet pudding look appetizing and intelligent!
- Caplin, Diss UK, 17/11/2008 22:06
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Doesn't it make you mad that some people have so much talent, they hardly ever need to lift a finger, but sail through tests, exams and competitions. Its just not fair!
- Dhanraj, Basildon Essex, 17/11/2008 21:58
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Give the British public a chance - he hasnt won yet.
Its simply fun and even if he does win so what. He isn't the best dancer, we all know that, so it will be a hollow victory anyway. To many it will be a victory for the public over the judges, just hard luck to Rachel, Lisa, Tom or Austin who are seemingly far more deserving.
- Healey, Bagshot, UK, 17/11/2008 20:06
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This is all a sad reflection on people's lives. I mean, WHO CARES about this programme?
- Thoughtful, London. UK, 17/11/2008 19:16
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Yes--it's Light Entertainment-but if all this ends up as ridicule for the judges and for the presenters of the programme, then there won't be any competitors and there won't be another series.Pity.
All the BBC need to do is change the public voting rules a bit and this can be sorted easy peasy.
- William Grierson, Kimpton, UK, 17/11/2008 17:21
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The ridiculous language of this aged lady and her adolescent fantasies suggest that she should hang up her marking board.She has not had the sense to realise that we the viewers pay the licence,her fee,the phone calls and intend to call the tune.Her opinion is not written in stone and quite frankly would be of greater value if she showed us how to dance rather than pontificating in her childish way.
- Willy Heckaslyke, filey uk, 17/11/2008 16:38
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He should do the decent thing - and resign.
- John Problem, Hackney Wick, London, UK, 17/11/2008 15:59
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Would somebody at the BBC please explain to Arlene Phillips what "Light Entertainment" means.Its just a silly dancing programme where Celebs and the Judges make lots of money making people laugh.Can anyone really take it seriously with everyone dressed in such ridicules costumes.John gets my vote every week for pure entertainment value
- Selwyn Channon, epsom, 17/11/2008 15:27
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Just goes to show that these so called "professionals" might know about dancing but they know nothing of entertainment.
- Steve, london, 17/11/2008 15:12
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Arlene, why can't you accept that the public enjoy watching John Sergeant on the dance floor? We are happy that he gets a chance to read the Guardian during his practice sessions. He does have a life, you know. We don't all subscribe to the view that dance is a sado-masochistic obsession that must only celebrate raw youth and sexuality. Mickey Rooney was a great performer and a great mover, too, by the way. John, if music be the food of love, play on.
- Bloke, London, 17/11/2008 14:58
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