After enduring weeks of carping, John Sergeant has told them all to go to Hell. He’s resigning from the BBC’s “Strictly Come Dancing” and the show’s main talking point is disappearing with him.
Other contestants and judges thought it wasn’t fair that despite his lack of skills on the dance floor, he kept getting through simply because the public loves him.
“It’s not a personality contest, it’s a dancing contest,” they pointed out.
Do you think they were right, or should the public have been given the final say?
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25 comments so far
Sorry to hear John was bullied off. If not the “best dancer”, he must surely be the most “improved dancer”. He must have trained hard to lose so much weight, and he looks great for it. Well done John.
- Posted by KellyThis is supposed to be an entertainment programme where we see celebs who have no/little dance background train and the wonder is when you see people like Darren Gough learn how to foxtrot etc. If we the public want John to remain why the uproar? His face/age does not fit so he is bullied off the programme. Cherie has got better scores than Lisa so why did the judges vote her off? Maybe next year they should do auditions before selecting the final twelve?
- Posted by Nazirawhats the point of having this show then , john was doing his best we the public enjoyed his fun filled personality . his dancing was not the best but lets get things right here its a show for the public thats why we call in and pay for the calls if we want him in then so be it . i will no longer be watching the show now
- Posted by barry ryanIt is a pity the same could not be done with some of our so called political leaders and public sector managers. JS was a man prepared to have a go I suspect he was selected by a cynical BBC as someone who can be easily laughed at and dismissed as talentless, whilst a few luvvies can squirm their sorry way forward with all their ” …I Love him / her, but ….” nonsense. I for one will no longer watch the show as the whole point has been lost. As far as a competition goes it strikes me that there are only three possible contenders and the others are just filling the space. The fact we are then subjected to nightly gushings (LIONEL BLAIR et al)that reinforce my earlier point says more about the moribund BBC than anything else.
- Posted by JurgenSo good luck John Sargeant I for one will miss you, a manafter my one heart and a true gentleman.
I’m very sad that John has left the show, the public didn’t like Cherie enough, her dancing was certainly better but she didn’t do well all the time. No way would she have won it.
- Posted by Margaret HoggI also feel the judges should be ashamed of themselves for the way they have behaved. This is a phone-in show,
they knew agreed to judge their side.
I can also realise why John had done this and wish him well.
As from the 22nd of November i will be switching channels and will not be watching strictly again and i hope millions of viewers will follow suit. The reason is I am sick and tired of being insulted for voting for this couple. At the end of the day if John had been voted off those prima donna judges and dancers would have to put up with still being ellimated. There appears to be a really good group of contestants this year if they just want a perfect dance competition why? put in people of Johns age and ability in the first place. The show will live to regret this dreadful attitude to those who try there best and our British mentality has always been to help the underdog. Thats what makes us Great Britain.
- Posted by K HeritageCongratulations on such wise decision. The word STRICTLY in the title “Strictly Come Dancing” says it all!
- Posted by SophiaWhat a joke the program is, it is not a dance competition it is an entertainment program and John did that in bundles….if they wanted the best dancers only why not have private training for the best celebrity dancers before the show starts and decide the best ones before humiliating someone like John
The show has gone right down in my estimation…
- Posted by ScottWhat happens to the call costs voting for John now he has been hounded out..? Watching John was better than watching the boring middle of the road dancers.If you don’t like the rules don’t play.
- Posted by Richard GreavesOh John….I shall really miss you…but I can appreciate and respect your reasons. Have a lovely life.xx
- Posted by Sue MajorGet rid of these judges. They are not funny though they seem to think they are - pathetic
- Posted by Danone liners that might pass in judging a pub drag act. It is interesting now to see the hypocrisy as they run for cover and rewrite history. In any future series get some different judges and for the time being, give Arline voice lessons to tone down that ghastly shrill voice, get Bruno to drop hi Larry grayson impression, get len Goodman to stick to what he knows - dancing and not trying to be witty and just keep the waspish tweetings on Revel H quiet.Sergeant puts them all to shame.
bully boy tactics have been used to get rid of john..the only entertaining person on the show…wont be watching anymore!
- Posted by karen highamThe fun, joy and entertainment will leave the show when John and Christina goes. The judges should be ashamed of the way they have behaved - the public pay, so the public decides.
SCD are happy to take the money from the public but not to respect their wishes to keep this couple entertaining us.
I don’t blame John for keeping his dignity and sparing Christina from people sniping and backstabbing about their performances.
People are voting for BOTH of them and what he lacks is more than made up for by her amazing dancing. For great watching they are way out in front.
For me all the joy has left the show and none of it is their fault………. 3 cheers for them all the way and good on you John for your decision - others should be ashamed not you.
- Posted by Judith WibberleyJohn is a dignified man. He had fun and new when to quit unlike some others. I feel, that after watching strickly it takes two, i want to say I am disgusted with how they discussed his decision, especially the comment that he got the attention he wanted, not in those words. I have watched every season and enjoyed it. It is disapointing to see him go but good on you John and take care!
- Posted by Tracey KingI find it a huge shame when a much respected political proffessional, doing his best to entertain on a family orientated show is forced to succombe to bully tactics. personally i think he made strictly 2008.
- Posted by mandyGood old John,the perfect antidote to those pompous twits,the judges.
- Posted by R BradyI am very sad to hear the news of John Sargeant leaving Strictly Come Dancing as it casts grave doubts on the moral fabric and attitudes of the producers of this show. I have been a Strictly fan since the first series but feel more than a little disappointed at the shabby way John has been treated. Every week John has come over as a man of integrity, (seemingly a rare thing indeed in the popular entertainment industry). He has received criticism with dignity and behaved respectfully to all concerned which is more than can be said for some of the judges and some of the other ‘celebrity’ contestants. John you will be sadly missed as the machine of this contest grinds to its, (now) inevitable conclusion.
- Posted by tinajudges where very rude and i would say ageist comments could have been made without being so personal and hurtful makes you wonder just how professional the judges are
- Posted by chris wrightWell i think its a shame he’s quit because it showed that the producers weren’t fixing the programme so he went out, its a shame that hes practically been bullied off the show though. In all honesty its a show for the people and its the people who vote - so if he’s getting votes surely the people want him to stay i don’t really see what all the fuss is about its only a fun competition i think people forget that.
- Posted by SarahTotally disapointed - if the public vote to keep someone in then what’s the problem? Nothing short of bullying here and such a great shame. Watching it now just seems like supporting those that ‘pushed’ him off so I won’t be watching again……
- Posted by KatyJohn’s career was over some long while ago, this was a golden oportunity to create publicity and ongoing work, he did not have to appeal to his viewers in the first/second playoff “my viewers will save me” - nobody else in this or previous series ever dipped to this level. No doubt he will now embark on a lucrative series of interviews, after dinner talks etc. This is a dancing competition not a horse show.
- Posted by BrianStrictly Come Dancing is an entertainment programme, using celebrities to draw viewers to the programme - it is not a dancing competition in the true sense. The public have a right to vote for whoever they want to keep. What is the point of having viewers phone or text in at their own expense, if the judges flout the outcome and do not respect the public’s decision? If it’s a serious competition then just use judges. If it’s an entertainment then let’s have John Sergeant back where he belongs in the next programme. I think it’s outrageous that he’s been put in this position by the judges. Where is the fun in that? If he doesn’t come back then I won’t be watching the programme again - what would be the point?
- Posted by edingirlIf John kept on going and ended up becoming a winner, no one is going to watch this Stickly Come Dancing show because it will lose the sense of competition. Think about other contestants who are working day and night to prepare this show. Good thing that he decided to drop out!!
- Posted by SoojinI think that the Judges should be SACKED, and a new Set of JUDGES should be chosen, People who would Know a Celbrity when they met one, John Sergent IS an International Celebrity, An International Journalist, An International Interviewer, and An International Gentleman.
- Posted by Edward NorthThose Judges are OLD HASBEENS, that never Have BEEN In John Sergaents CASS.
Let’s not forget that John Sergeant was invited to appear on the programme - but now the judges have pressured him into quitting because he’s “not a dancer”!! In desperation at the furore, the BBC have now offered to refund the cost of calls to every John Sergeant voter. But why? If they hadn’t pressured him into quitting, they would have no obligation to refund voters. Yet another BBC PR fiasco. Viewing figures for Strictly will fall now that Sergeant has been axed.
- Posted by Nosher Edwards