Dancing With The Stars is America’s answer to Strictly Come Dancing. In fact so similar is the show that they have the same theme music, two of the same judges and even an identical glitter ball!
This year some of their contestants seem familiar to me too, Steve Wozniak in particular stands out as the new American John Sergeant.
John Sergeant’s wife is said to be glad that he left the show, as she was unprepared for the media attention his persistence created.
“After last Saturday’s show, it was clear John was in the show for the long haul. The public were taking to his hopeless dancing and there was a desire to see him continue,” a source told The Mirror.
“For Mary this was all too much and she urged John to reconsider his position. John going on the show was a great idea to begin with and the whole family thought it was a hoot.
This weekend has seen the departure of two of the biggest characters in reality TV right now; Rachel Hylton and John Sargeant.
Rachel was pushed by the judges who – finally – voted her off while John voluntarily jumped, but the ironic thing is, while we the voting public were all studiously voting to keep the very likeable John in Strictly, many of us were equally studiously avoiding voting for the noxious Rachel. And while she was saved several times by the judges, poor John took the judges opinion into account over the public’s and left.
Fortunately, Simon Cowell and Cheryl Cole finally recognised that given that Rachel had been in the bottom two no less than three times, it was probably a fair indicator of the fact that she isn’t liked by the public. They also wisely acknowledged that although Rachel can undoubtedly sing, her talent wasn’t enough to carry her through what is as much a popularity contest as one about talent, and that’s where Strictly came unglued over John.
After Lisa Snowdon claimed today that John Sergeant was adored by his fellow competitors on Strictly Come Dancing, The Daily Mail has claimed that he was in fact detested by the lot of them.
John quit the show this week after claiming that he didn’t think it would be fair on the other dancers if he won, but other sources suggest that his decision was actually made because of the bad atmosphere between the celebrities backstage.
An insider told the Daily Mail: "John knew he had to walk out before he was completely destroyed. He has put a brave face on it but he has been made aware of just how loathed he has become on the show.
Strictly Come Dancing competitor, Lisa Snowdon has revealed that she tried to get John Sergeant to stay on the show.
John quit earlier this week after he realised that he might just win over some of the more talented dancers. But Lisa revealed that John was well loved by his fellow dancers, who wanted him to continue.
"I left this long rambling message on his answerphone, but it turned out that he’d already made his mind up. I was stunned. I’m really sad to lose him, we all are," Snowdon told The Sun.
The judges should all be ashamed of themselves and should realise that this show is watched by millions of people who couldn’t give a toss what their opinion is and actually judges, it’s US who pay your wages!
Since John announced that he was going to leave, several of the judges have furiously back-pedalled. For instance, Arlene Phillips is quoted on the BBC’s news website as saying,
Strictly Come Dancing presenter, Bruce Forsyth has revealed that he is shocked by John Sergeant’s decision to quit the show.
Forsyth told the BBC: “I feel sorry for John because he was put in the most awkward position. He looked at all the other dancers and knew they were better than him. Over the last few weeks he must have felt guilty in a way.”
Forsyth also has sympathy for the other dancers and judges who were put in a slightly awkward postition.
Strictly Come Dancing judge, Craig Revel Horwood has branded John Sergeant as having no courage after he decided to quit the show this weekend.
After spending weeks saying that John should not still be on the show, that he couldn’t dance and was making a mockery of the series, Revel Horwood is now saying that John should have stuck it out.
“I was quite shocked to hear the news,” Revel Horwood told Claudia Winkleman on spinoff It Takes Two.
BREAKING NEWS!! John Sergeant has announced that he is pulling out of the Strictly Come Dancing TV show after his endurance on the show made headlines in tabloids and broadsheets alike.
John is leaving the show as he realises that at this point there is a real chance he could win the show, and he wouldn’t want to deprive one of the ‘real dancers’ from that title.
In a statement, he said: “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.”
BBC One controller Jay Hunt said: “We are very sad to see him go.”
Sergeant, who was partnered with Russian dancer Kristina Rihanoff said: “I am sorry to say I have decided to leave Strictly Come Dancing.
Outgoing Strictly Come Dancing contestant, Cherie Lunghi, has accused flat footed John Sergeant of turning the show into a soap opera.
Lunghi also claims that John is only still in the show because of his sexy dance partner Kristina Rihanoff.
Cherie told BBC Breakfast news: “Kristina is a wonderful dancer and makes him look wonderful. I don’t know whether it’s a Marilyn Monroe fantasy or whatever, but it’s a show and it is entertainment.
It seems that even the Strictly Come Dancing judges are resigned to the fact that John Sergeant may just win the show and female judge, Arlene Phillips is urging him to practise harder and earn his place on the team.
Phillips told the BBC: “He’s not making much effort.
“The dancers are constantly working but John just sits there and reads the paper.
“A lot of people are non-stop practising, [but] to achieve what? Why don’t the girls just all throw off their clothes and the boys do a comedy dance? Is that going to help?”
Strictly Come Dancing judges are said to be livid that political broadcaster, John Sergeant has escaped the boot AGAIN, leaving accomplished dancer Cheri Lunghi to go home.
Arlene Phillips is said to be particularly angry at the result of the public vote. An insider told The Mirror: “Arlene thinks it’s a joke that John is still in it. It’s ridiculous that Cherie had to leave as she’s a much better dancer.
“She did see what people saw in John but she thinks that should be over now, it’s getting a bit silly. It’s got to the stage now where it’s time for John to go.”
Strictly Come Dancing host Tess Daly has pledged her support for John Sergeant following recent criticism of his performance in the competition.
John has received low scores from the show’s judges in recent weeks, but the broadcaster has continually been saved by the public vote.
Bruno Tonioli recently revealed that he’s “appalled” with the public voters who have supported John, adding, “I don’t understand it. It’s a dancing competition.”