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Now even the dancers are arguing over Strictly's John Sergeant
Danny Brierley18 Nov 2008
THE improbable star of Strictly Come Dancing has found an unlikely ally - the wife of a dancer he has just helped to kick off the show.
Ola Jordan, married to James, the show partner of actress Cherie Lunghi, is a fan of political reporter John Sergeant and his two left feet.
Sergeant has neatly sidestepped eviction through his affable demeanour, which appears to have worked its magic on Mrs Jordan, a 26-year-old Polish dancer.
She was also on the show until her partner, GMTV presenter Andrew Castle, was voted off two weeks ago but has since joined the army of fans whose support is keeping Sergeant in the competition.
Her irked husband, still clearly smarting from his eviction, revealed today: "I want to see the best dancer win but I do understand people are voting because they love John Sergeant, including my wife.
"Some people are saying I am a sore loser but it is not about that. I just want to make sure the best dancers stay in the competition. I understand the show is successful because we have people like John Sergeant but enough is enough." Lunghi, who was sent home along with Jordan on Sunday, said the Strictly underdog had turned it into a "soap opera".
She told BBC breakfast news today Sergeant's survival was down to his blonde dance partner, Kristina Rihanoff. "Christina is a wonderful dancer and makes him look wonderful," she said. "I don't know whether it's a Marilyn Monroe kind of fantasy or whatever, but it's a show and it is entertainment.
"It is almost like there are two shows going on. John is dancing and competing but there is this whole soap opera thing and there is sympathy for the character."
Lunghi, 56, revealed that Sergeant apologised to her after her exit. She became the ninth contestant to be voted off while the flat-footed political reporter survived.
But Sergeant has hit back at his critics. He said: "I'm treated as if I've done something wrong. It's very hard work and anyone who sees my rehearsal tape and knows I've lost two stone will realise I'm not reading newspapers all the time."
Bookmakers have shortened the odds on Sergeant winning.
Reader views (11)
It was his vote people voted for him. He asked them too. He went into it playing political games and ruined a much loved show.
- Alison, Sevenoaks, UK, 25/11/2008 20:53
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The Strictly Come Dancing format began, years ago, as a decent dance competition, but the last couple of years has descended into a celebrity soap. Thank God John Sergeant has gone. Can we have the dance competition back again?
- Mary L, Leicester, UK, 19/11/2008 13:30
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And now the vindictive know all judges have won & John S is withdrawing.Whoever is chosen to win this rotten show will not have beaten John Sergeant.It says a great deal about these judges who I trust will not be invited to take part next year.
- Willy Heckaslyke, audierne france, 19/11/2008 12:41
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why should he step aside?? it's not his fault the public are voting for him. They invited him on the show and everyone has now ruined the experience for him. he has now since left the show amid all the controversy, it is an entertainment show, not the Olympics.
- Nl, London, 19/11/2008 12:35
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Sergeant was obviously invited into the show for comedy effect (as was Don Warrington this year and Tarbie and Willie Thorn in past series). If the BBC wants a dance competition, it should only invite celebs that are under 35 and under 12 stone! After Arlene was such a bitch towards John and Kristina on Monday (after the judges' obviously choreographed charm offensive on Saturday), I am going to vote for them and I've never voted on a 'reality' show in my life!
- Paul, London, 19/11/2008 10:24
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I really cannot believe this story continues to carry while the world is going mad.
- Thoughtful, London. UK, 18/11/2008 17:16
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I hope John wins! The show is a farce anyway. I'm voting John and I don't even watch the show! Hopefully by him winning it will make a mockery of the whole reality show genre and so will come the shows demise! Every week we get a little bit closer to the end of this genre - LONG LIVE KING JOHN!
- M George, London, 18/11/2008 17:13
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I've never seen it, but surely the point of the show is that the public vote for who they want to see in the competition. If you don't want him there, vote against him. It's not up to him to 'step aside' if people keep him in the show.
- Kw, London, 18/11/2008 17:09
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while it has been quite amusing up to now I think john seargent should step aside in the interests of the pro:
dancers and the public who want to see the best dancers win. come on john be a sport.
ken moody
sheffield
- Ken Moody, sheffield, 18/11/2008 16:16
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He may have lost weight but is that just because he was not doing any exercise before. I am not a fan of John, I too with the rest of my family believe he should have been off the show weeks ago. People who are more talented have gone and it is not right. If he wants to be a comedy show maybe he should try out The Comedy Club in London! Come on everybody lets get the see some reality here. If by some chance John gets to the final then the show has just become a farce and quite possibly people will no longer watch it. Now that will be a pity!
- J Spencer, Devon, 18/11/2008 16:07
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I wish all these critics of John would get a life. It is entertainment not a proper competition and the BBC is milking it for all it's worth.
If he had been put out in the first round the show would have lacked his input and it would only have meant that all the sore losers would have lasted for one more week.
- Bill Anderson, Edinburgh, 18/11/2008 15:34
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