The Stage

People’s choice Sergeant quits Strictly Come Dancing

Published Wednesday 19 November 2008 at 15:15 by Matthew Hemley

Strictly Come Dancing contestant John Sergeant has quit the BBC1 Saturday evening show, claiming there was a “real danger” he might have gone on to win the competition.

Sergeant, who has been repeatedly saved by the public despite receiving the lowest score in the competition from the show’s judges for the last three weeks, said: “I am sorry to say I have decided to leave Strictly Come Dancing. It was always my intention to have fun on the show and I was hoping to stay in as long as possible. The trouble is that there is now a real danger that I might win the competition. Even for me that would be a joke too far.”

Sergeant, who has been in the show for ten weeks, thanked his dancing partner, Kristina Rihanoff, and “all those viewers who have been rooting” for him through the series.

The former ITV political editor’s decision to leave the programme comes following comments made by judge Arlene Phillips, who said earlier this week if Sergeant won she would be left feeling “desolate”.

In a statement, BBC1 controller Jay Hunt said: “John has told us of his plans to leave Strictly Come Dancing and we are very sad to see him go. He has been an entertaining contestant and is hugely popular with the viewers. We would have liked him to stay but we respect his decision to leave.”