VIDEO: John Sergeant waltzes off
VIEWERS favourite John Sergeant bowed out of Strictly Come Dancing - terrified he was going to waltz off as cha-cha-champ!
The former newsman whose enthusiastic but hopeless performances have amused viewers and infuriated judges announced he will quit after a final fandango on this weekend's show.
Show judges have claimed that underdog John, 64, and his Russian partner Kristina Rihanoff, were making a mockery of the contest as more talented contenders were voted off by his growing internet fanbase.
Cherie Lunghi got the axe on Sunday - despite John being at the bottom of the judges' leaderboard again.
John said he was worried his survival was now "irritating and annoying people", adding: "That's not what I'm about. I joined the show to entertain people and give them a reason to stay at home on Saturday nights and save some money.
"But as time went on it became increasingly obvious that I might have won. That is a frightening thought, a terrifying thought for me and for millions of people across country."
"The way the voting works means there was no viable Stop Seargent candidate. This is a contest I might have won but only after bruising battle week after week and frankly I couldn't do any more about it."
John's depature comes just a couple of days after judge Arlene Philips dubbed John a "dancing pig" and accused him of deliberately making a mess of his performances to win the sympathy vote.
Speaking exclusively to the News of the World, she fumed: "I fear our standard is being abandoned and it's becoming about who can be the most entertaining. It HAS to stop!"
Unhappy fans have reacted angrily to their hero's demise - calling for viewers to boycott the show.
Unseen SuBo video
Floods UK in pictures
Winking lovely
VANDAL AGED 2 NICKED
Bullies suicide drive
Nurses to be sacked for carers
M&S boss's secret file on 'nutters'
This article has 7 comments
this is a joke. how dare these arrogant judges to bully John off the show. what and why have we voted for him? despite the good cause, we want to get entertained by his dancing. everybody i know voted for him and everybody loves him. bastards. we wont be watching SCD any more and also stop voting for xfactor. bullying contestants off seems to be the thing to do these days;
By Josef. Posted November 20 2008 at 12:56 PM.
I think this is disgraceful. This is meant to be for children in need. Keeping him in the competition has raised a staggering amount of money from phone voters for him, then they make him quit!!! Yes it is a dancing competition but if it is on the television it is not only about dancing it is about entertainment. I think John should stay in the competition and raise that much wanted cash for children in need.
Why have we been allowed to phone and raise money and vote for him if he just walks off. This is not fair on the children or the viewer's. I think they will loose some viewers with this move.
By sian. Posted November 20 2008 at 10:35 AM.
Discusting, although he wont admit it he has been pressurised by those awful foul judges to quit. It is suppose to be an entertainment programme, not a professional dance competition. I have been a great fan of the progamme but will not longer be watching. !!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Karen Carr. Posted November 20 2008 at 9:12 AM.
aw. He was LOL. How would arlene handle thatcher?
By john shy fan ckub. Posted November 19 2008 at 11:11 PM.
thats good news good bye john.
By michael tunnicliff. Posted November 19 2008 at 9:14 PM.
I'm gutted Johns gone, I really enjoyed watching him dance although he wasnt as good as the others i still liked watching him and Christina, they were great together. What is the point in having this programme if ithe judges cant cope with the public votes? at the end of the day its suppsed to be upto us, now its not.
By Gemma. Posted November 19 2008 at 8:48 PM.
I am disgusted that John has been bullied out of the competition. It is the PUBLIC, those who pay for the BBC who decide who stays in the show. Those arrogant judges and dancers, and celebrities desperate to resurrect their careers should be ashamed of themselves. Who do they think they are? Well I hope these bullies are happy with themselves. John is a decent and honest man who has never done anything wrong and did not deserve to be bullied out. BOYCOTT SCD!!
www.StrictlySergeant.co.uk
By David. Posted November 19 2008 at 1:12 PM.